-=(8)=-

I did a google search before I posted here but couldnt
come up with anything usable in a timely fashion..........
There is some stuff for MTB but the rise isnt enuff and most spec on websites
arent too complete as far as dimentions go........

Are there any BMX type crossbraced bars that will fit
a 31.8 stem ?? Blue anodized would be cool too !
But I wont press that issue !

Thanks in adavance !!

CMcMahon

First off, you're going to be hard pressed to find any anodized bars in general, since probably 99% of BMX bars are powder-coated chromoly, and most of them come in one color: black.

Secondly, what exactly are you asking? For a bar that will work with a stem with a 31.8mm reach? Because as long as your stem can use a bar with a 7/8" clamp tube (which all BMX bars I've seen, ever, use for the clamp tube), any bar will work. I think that the real question that you're asking is one of rise, upsweep, and backsweep.

-=(8)=-

I guess I should have provided more info..........

I am trying to modify a Specialized P2........not a BMX bike. The bars are a 31.8mm in
circumferance......real fat at the stemclamp. I want to keep the stock stem but want BMX
style bars. I like them more and MTB bar options are sort of limited for my tastes so that is
why I am asking here....As I mentioned, websites dont publish dimentions and DansComp who I used to
buy stuff from doesnt load on my computer anymore. You guys know more about this stuff than I do
and I am hoping someone might have encountered this problem before and has a quick answer for it......

Thanks again for help.....

dooley

The only BMX type mtb bars I know of are DMR Wingbars, but even those are 7/8" and they come with spacers to fit 1" stems, and they're steel.
Maybe get a seatpost shim and split it in two to use as a spacer?

frozin

you'll need a new stem unless you can find some mtb company that makes a high rise handlebar. bmx is 7/8" standard.

-=(8)=-

Thanks guys !

I guess Ill have to keep looking on MTB pages until something comes up !

bmexican

what kind of ountain biking are u doing? i moutain bike but i cant imagine using bmx bars. they would sit way too high. id rethink ur plan.

CMcMahon

Maybe he's thinking of using some low rise cruiser bars, like the old S&M Gay Bars?

the watcher

Bump but I am also looking at a similar set up for my hybrid (if I'm interpreting the OP's requirements)

Anyway, I think the OP is thinking of something like this for his MTB if the cruiser theory with bmx bars is right:
Sinz Cruiser (for BMX) Cro-Mo Bars

The diameter of the bars isn't mentioned, even on the manufacturer's site linked above, however having read this thread, I assume it's 7/8" rather than the 31.8mm which the stem on my hybrid is?

I am actually thinking of something similar myself for my urban bike except I actually welcome the upright posture (not sure about the op since he never commented on bmexican saying that the handlebars would be too high for mountain biking). Like the OP, I have a 31.8mm stem. I saw the below recently so maybe it can be done? Any comments/ideas welcomed:

Alice's setup

I think it would be a nice possible setup for my commuter setup if I can just work out how to fit relatively subtle 11 degree back sweep cruiser-bmx bars like in my first link. I say relatively subtle compared to actual cruiser bicycles with those handlebars where the ends of the bars are practically perpendicular to you

Cheers and sorry for bumping but figured it's better to post on a thread where there is already some useful info in case anyone else wonders about this in the future.

fuji86

Sinz has aluminum bmx bars too. but it looks like they're painted from the link ?

https://www.sinz-racing.com/productpages/sbh-04.html

Street rider

Never seen a pair of BMX bars made with a "fat stem clamp". Looks like you need to be searching for A) a new stem, or B) a pair of high rise MTB bars.

the watcher

I wonder how the girl who posted her commuter in the 2nd link I left managed to fit some on then? I know from reading the thread that she had an adjustable (I think it was up to 45degree rise) stem, so maybe that stem also accepted both MTB and BMX bars if the receptacle part of the stem (where the handlebars slot in) was adjustable too?

Fuji86, thanks for the info, I'm sure it will help those looking for alloy bars, however I am hoping to get cro-mo handlebars which is one of the things which got me looking at BMX bars since that seems to be the main type of steering where you can find a lot of people offering cro-mo versions. So far, I haven't found a decent set of high rise cro-mo handlebars in the UK, but I'll keep looking in case I can't fit a suitable stem in my hybrid.

Anyway, I'll check with my LBS when I pick up my bike next week, however they tend to not be very helpful when it comes to 'unconventional' mods to bikes.

My bike is a Marin Muirwoods 29er with a cro-mo frame if that helps with any forthcoming advice, cheers.

Edit: Just found this post which advises using shims to allow bmx bars to fit in a 31.8mm stem:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=1#post7661532

Now if only I could find a good quality cro-mo stem somewhere...

Edit2: Just realised that fitting the 22.2mm BMX bars might be problematic in terms of refitting my 31.8mm gear shifters and brake leavers. They might be adaptable enough for the slightly larger 25.4mm bmx bars some places sell but 22.2mm might be pushing it?

I think I'll just need to keep looking for some suitable cromo MTB bars which sweep back 12 degrees and are narrower. The ones on the muirwoods 29er are far too wide, esp when squeezing between the curb and the cars when traffic is at a stand still.

the watcher

Incidentally, is there any reason why all stems seem by aluminum? Esp when looking for a riser one. I even looked at jump bikes/bmxs which, like my muirwoods, have a cro-mo frame, forks etc for strength/durability, but even those have 6061 alloy stems connected to the cro-mo handlebars. I reckon if one of the main companies like Thompson or Race Face produce a cro-mo stem line, they'd have that entire niche market to themselves...

The only steel stems I have found so far are old quill stems using hi ten steel.

the watcher

Maybe I'm missing something obvious here:

I was going to put a new stem on my hybrid Marin Muirwoods 29er when I pick it up. It has 1 1/8" forks (whatever it's called!). My current headset is: 1 1/8" Alloy Threadless. If I really like riding with bmx bars (couple more test rides pending) is there any reason why I can't just install a bmx 1 1/8" stem and then easily install the 22.2mm bmx bars of my choice?

Also, am I right in assuming that ALL bmx bars and stems will have 22.2mm diameter for the bars/steering (and not 25.4mm like the smaller MTB size)? Only ask because for some of the bars/stems, like the Sinz pro bars, they don't actually mention the diameter ANYWHERE! This includes the manufacturer's site, lots of retailers and the 2011 catalogue.

Wondering about the 25.4mm since I thought that size would look slightly more natural on my double-butted cro-mo framed 29er which currently has 31.8mm bars. So far, I haven't found anywhere selling 25.4mm bmx bars. However a lot of retailers/manufacturers (for whatever reason) don't deign to mention the diameter of their handlebars.

Cheers

Street rider

about 99%, if not quite all of them, are the same diameter. Even really crappy cheap ones. And yea a "bmx" stem should work just fine on your forks. And you're looking for a low rise bmx bar too right?

the watcher

Well I don't want the bars to be level with my upper pecs/chin like some people I see when cruising on their BMXs which just looks uncomfortable for riding around town (although I'm sure it's really useful when doing jumps). However I did want to be able to sit in a comfy upright position due to aversion to panniers and carrying around 5-10kg in my backpack. So I was looking at bmx bars with a moderate rise/height like 5" rather than the larger 8" height bars.

Thanks for confirming the 22.2mm bmx stem fitting with the current fork. Like I said earlier, I don't want the drama of getting into it too much with the LBS. I just need to check with them when I pick up my bike if the Shimano Acera shifters and brake levers from the 31.8mm bars will fit on 25.4/22.2mm handlebars, otherwise this forum has filled in all the information I need to try this out

Cheers

Street rider

If you go someplace like Danscomp, they have low rise cruiser bars, and those should be perfect for what you want

the watcher

Thanks for the link however I'm trying to avoid importing anything from overseas if possible. Also, like a lot of places, Danscomp haven't mentioned the stem size for their handlebars so I'll assume it's 22.2mm.

Since it looks like my gear shifters and brake leavers won't fit without shims on a 22.2mm handlebar (which I'm avoiding) I'm not looking only at 25.4mm handlebars. I was originally after 31.8mm like the OP but I think that's too optimistic since very few people try to mod their cro-mo 29ers with 31.8mm bars to cro-mo 29ers with 31.8mm bmx bars

I have found a couple of wing bars which are 25.4mm but no wing bars with crossbar for that size (in UK). Esp since I'm after black cro-mo ones and need it wide enough to fit my shifters/levers back on between the grips and before it meets the crossbar and dips down. So...guess I'll go with the 25.4mm wing bar if nothing else. Highest rise so far for it is around 3". Ideally I'll like to see how a 5" rise feels.

Street rider

Why not just go with shims? can't be all that bad?

the watcher

Not sure really why the aversion to it. I think somewhere along the line where I was doing late night research prior to picking up the new bike, I'd picked up on some arguments online against the shims.

Anyway, i went with Atom Lab Cro-Mo bars with a 3" rise and 25.4mm clamping area..quite reasonably priced at £35 and the quality of their cro-mo bars looks good and is apparently ok for street jumps or something. Also went with a short 50mm Thomson Elite MTB stem which should suit more aggressive riding as well as provide a more upright riding style compared to the 100mm stem I got as stock.

Maybe someday I'll look into getting a quality 25.4mm cro-mo bar if a suitable one ever comes on the market. One issue is the couple of suitable 25.4mm crmo BMX bars I did see had far too high a rise (7.75" or 8.75") whereas I was after something with 5" rise max.

Cheers anyway, can't wait to install the new stem and bars when they arrive, hopefully this weekend

jrecoi

Early 80s British mountain bikes used BMX bars and stems, along with long headtubes in order to get a high posture similar to that of motorcycle trials riders. The idea was that with the rider standing on the pedals, the rider can quickly shift their body weight and manhandle their way through nasty bits of technical singletrack.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38236150@N06/3516370418/

The other effect of the high posture was that it simultaneously unweighed the front wheel, making it easier to hop it when encountering rocks or mud, and weighing the rear wheel, which has the effect of improving traction in the mud.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38236150@N06/3515560693/

This setup can be changed by rotating the bars forward, which has the effect of turning the handlebars into pseudo-Bullmoose handlebars.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/38236150@N06/3516371042