As a sweeping generalization, high end aluminum bars will be lighter, and stiffer, due to the choice of alloys. This will result in a little more 'spring' or 'snappy' feeling, kinda like carbon, but at (usually) less cost.
The lighter, stiffer aluminum does give up a little in durability; some of the sub-150g XC bars from back in the day were notoriously brittle, and needed to be inspected after hard hits, and replaced every couple of seasons.
Originally Posted by
mtb_addict
I was shocked when I received the aluminum hbar, to replace my steel hbar.
The aluminum is much heavier!
All depends on the bars in question. The Ritchey Logic Rizer that replaced my crash-fractured Scott AT-1 is more than double the weight, 360g vs 141g. The Scott had a 2mm-thick clamp section, butted down to 0.8mm under the grips, while the Ritchey mics out at 4.1mm under the grips. While the Scott felt like a high-end kitchen knife, the Ritchey feels like a crowbar. I could probably tear down my garage door with it
