Mechanic snaps counterfeit handlebars with his bare hands
02-01-16, 12:58 PM
#51
Uber Goober
Several years back, the steel handlebar on my Worksman cruiser broke. Made for an awkward ride home.
If you're going to test something, you need to have some standard that it's supposed to meet, then test it to see if it does.
Just tearing something up and saying "there, it tore up" doesn't prove anything. Yeah, I split an anvil in half with a laser beam, must be a defective anvil?
If you're going to test something, you need to have some standard that it's supposed to meet, then test it to see if it does.
Just tearing something up and saying "there, it tore up" doesn't prove anything. Yeah, I split an anvil in half with a laser beam, must be a defective anvil?
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
02-01-16, 12:59 PM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 762
Bikes: Kestrel RT900SL, 1975 Viner, Specialized StumpJumper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No carbon bars for me..what's the benefit of them? Vibration damping can be overcome with certain bar tape or even a layer under the bar tape, yeah? I have a nice set of Aluminum FSA Wing Pro's that are just fine. I think most pro teams don't even use carbon bars, right?
02-01-16, 01:10 PM
#54
Senior Member
I tried to find a video of someone breaking a low quality/fake aluminum handlebar, but all I found were videos of carbon breaking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP0PGlgsnrI
02-01-16, 01:18 PM
#55
I'm doing it wrong.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,875
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9742 Post(s)
Liked 2,812 Times
in
1,664 Posts
How could I possibly have been saying that in my post? I assume you mean "Do I accept the idea that they're that weak?" I certainly don't feel that my handlebars would break that easily, but I'm not about to try & break them to see. I also don't think that represents a typical stress that my handlebars are going to encounter.
My point was that it seems to take a lot of energy to keep this kind of intensity going, bashing a material like carbon. I don't understand the mentality. I don't choose to ride steel frames but I don't really care that others do, nor do I look for ways to denigrate the product.
My point was that it seems to take a lot of energy to keep this kind of intensity going, bashing a material like carbon. I don't understand the mentality. I don't choose to ride steel frames but I don't really care that others do, nor do I look for ways to denigrate the product.
02-01-16, 01:30 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
02-01-16, 01:32 PM
#57
I'm doing it wrong.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,875
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9742 Post(s)
Liked 2,812 Times
in
1,664 Posts
That's kinda my point. I don't think this video is bashing carbon...just cheap counterfeit bars. I ride carbon bars on my mountain bike and feel fine about the decision...but they are quality bars from a reputable company.
02-01-16, 01:51 PM
#58
Senior Member
I'm on my fourth year with a $50 carbon bar I bought from ICAN. It's fine. Also, alloy bars corrode and break all the time.
02-01-16, 02:02 PM
#59
Vain, But Lacking Talent
I think you are reading things into this thread that aren't there. This thread isn't bashing carbon, just bashing cheap crap. A cheap counterfeit aluminum handlebar will break in surprising ways too, I would imagine. People here aren't denigrating carbon, just denigrating cheap, counterfeit handlebars.
02-01-16, 02:34 PM
#60
Senior Member
Just noticed something:
So he pre-cracked the bars tightening the stem and then ripped them apart? maybe the bars shouldn't have cracked but this is a slightly different story than the headline.
The handlebars were bought online by shop mechanic Mattias Lundin, who wanted to take a closer look at some of the fake parts that he sees regularly on customers’ bikes.
“I bought this €30 handlebar as a “Zip SL70 Agro” to try out the quality and was not surprised when it started cracking when tightening it in a stem for the first time. It has the exact shape of a Specialized S-Works Aerofly bar and some kind of attempt on Zipp graphics."
“I bought this €30 handlebar as a “Zip SL70 Agro” to try out the quality and was not surprised when it started cracking when tightening it in a stem for the first time. It has the exact shape of a Specialized S-Works Aerofly bar and some kind of attempt on Zipp graphics."
02-01-16, 02:47 PM
#61
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
Reading comprehension, man. He heard a crack when he was tightening the stem. The bars didn't break at that location.
02-01-16, 04:06 PM
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
Why wrap the bars with bar tape if you just plan on trying to destroy them? I don't doubt that counterfeit bars are of lower quality, but I wonder why he "tested" them in this fashion.
02-01-16, 04:17 PM
#67
GATC
aluminum snaps too (and yes this became a very long commute)
02-01-16, 04:31 PM
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 218
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This is exactly why I bought carbon bars for my bike. I was shocked when I took the old bar tape off, how pitted they were where the shifters attach. They were sure to fail soon. After doing some research on this forum I opted not to go with the knockoffs. Instead I went with some FSA bars which cost $150-$200. Guess what they flex pretty good. Saw a pair of knockoff bars latter and they flexed just as much. If I had to do it again I would probably more seriously consider the knockoffs for $50.
02-01-16, 04:45 PM
#69
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
This is exactly why I bought carbon bars for my bike. I was shocked when I took the old bar tape off, how pitted they were where the shifters attach. They were sure to fail soon. After doing some research on this forum I opted not to go with the knockoffs. Instead I went with some FSA bars which cost $150-$200. Guess what they flex pretty good. Saw a pair of knockoff bars latter and they flexed just as much. If I had to do it again I would probably more seriously consider the knockoffs for $50.
02-01-16, 04:58 PM
#70
Vain, But Lacking Talent
So now we've come full circle to how dangerous aluminum bars are. 
By the way: if you sweat a lot, wear gloves and change your bartape often so you can clean all the salt off those bars.
By the way: if you sweat a lot, wear gloves and change your bartape often so you can clean all the salt off those bars.
02-01-16, 05:01 PM
#71
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 218
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You don't have to do that. Look at these like-new take off FSAs for $29 on ebay: FSA RD 300 31 8 x 44 CTC Ergo Road Bike Drop Handlebars | eBay
02-01-16, 05:08 PM
#72
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
I'm actually with you on the "Well, it wouldn't be loaded like that on a bike" ridiculousness in the case of these bars. The bars are clearly crap and don't belong underneath anyone that would rather avoid facial reconstruction surgery.
I saw lots of bars working at a shop, and some of them were scary. I was convinced I'd never ride with any until I picked up a nice set and tried my best to flew the hell out of them and saw that they were rock solid.
I saw lots of bars working at a shop, and some of them were scary. I was convinced I'd never ride with any until I picked up a nice set and tried my best to flew the hell out of them and saw that they were rock solid.
Just trying to understand here. Not familiar with the term.
02-01-16, 05:12 PM
#73
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
The whole thing is questionable, as in bogus.
I don't doubt the bars were cheap but the article smells like a bunch of bull****.
02-01-16, 05:25 PM
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 11,016
Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
11 Posts
Have had c/f EC/90 drop bars on our tandem (front and back) for 45,000+ miles . . .
02-01-16, 05:34 PM
#75
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Can't do as much in terms of shaping and ergonomics.
I have a aeronova knockoff for $50 shipped. Still going fine in spite of the DOR's choice not to maintain the roads or RR crossings. Always check torque. Always ride light, even if you're not a featherweight.
Also WRT OP video...to break any part with your bare hands, it helps greatly to stress a carbon part in a manner it was never engineered for...after ofc pre-weakening it by being ham-fisted with a hex wrench and over-torquing .
Also WRT OP video...to break any part with your bare hands, it helps greatly to stress a carbon part in a manner it was never engineered for...after ofc pre-weakening it by being ham-fisted with a hex wrench and over-torquing .