CanadaWriter

Hi folks,

I'm currently based in Eastern Europe and can't find butterfly handlebars anywhere. I see on ebay you can order them from vendors in Hong Kong for fairly cheap. We're talking about $20.00. Is that far too cheap? I'm thinking handlebars are just a chunk of metal after all. The vendor selling it has 30,000 positive reviews -- though he sells other things.

If it is too cheap, anyone have any suggestions about where to get them delivered in Europe?

Thanks!

AnkleWork

If you are asking about the quality of the handlebar, sorry I can't guess the quality of a handlebar sitting in an unknown warehouse. Figure importation duties into your cost.

fietsbob

Why not get them from an Italian company SJS Cycles UK, sells Modolo, I have a couple made by ITM for Koga Of NL.

in the USA we have several companies selling a $20 trekking bar from a Taiwan exporting Manufacture..

I expect the NL Company BBB has a few TW source companies for theirs too..

You talking U$D 20 delivered?







...

2_i 

Quality control is obviously a problem for products from China, but within that it is still possible to buy reasonable products cheaply. In the majority of cases if the quality was a problem for a product bought off Ebay I got a resolution, full refund or partial refund and only in a few cases I needed send the item back. So what you really risk is the waste of time and potential haggling if the quality turns out lacking.

CanadaWriter

Thanks for that! A quick look showed that SJS wanted a hundred Euros for their bar! SJS Cycles wants about 35 Euros but that's without the foam padding.

And yes it's 20 dollars delivered. So looking at your info I"m starting to think it's not worth the risk...

CanadaWriter

Well this is what I'm thinking, but I'm trying to figure out if it's within reason. Do you think there's a chance the metal could bend or break on the road? This is for a fairly long tour so...can't take too many chances. Just enough chances!

fietsbob

Of course Which China? is always an open question ... a lot of good bikes and parts come from Taiwan, ROC...

2_i 

I tend to restrict my Chinese purchases to items that are not critical. Taiwanese products, as mentioned, are a different category, but I would still keep one eye open. Hong Kong deliveries cannot be often now told apart from mainland.

Crankycrank

Cheap Chinese metal products are always a crapshoot. Not worth the gamble on a long tour. Think of the expense if they failed on you and you had to wait a day or several to get some new bars at premium prices or you may not be able to source them at all depending on where you are. No way anyone here could give you a good answer as to whether some anonymous cheap product is going to last on a tour of unknown conditions or length. Stick with the proven brands. What country are you in now? It would help to know so someone can give you a good source to buy from at a discount.

CanadaWriter

I'm in Romania now. The good news is that since it's EU I can order anywhere in the EU and not have to pay duty. We also have a Decathalon here, but they don't have butterfly bars. I've been to about 3 of the major LBSs here and no luck.

2_i 

Try

https://www.bike-components.de/

I ordered from them into US with no problems. In general such handlebars have been pretty popular in Germany so I would look around there.

fietsbob

Asked the shops if they'd order them for you, & they said no, or you just did not see them hanging on the wall, and left?

Kimmo

How about AU$40 for carbon drop bars weighing 220g?

That's too cheap, but mine didn't break when I tested them before fitting, and they're hanging in there

CanadaWriter

Dude that looks amazing! And good prices. Thank you!

CanadaWriter

You have a good point. I will make some more visits.

Stormsedge

I purchased trekking bars from Velo Orange...

https://velo-orange.com/collections/handlebars

Later, bought the Crazy Bars. Both good quality.