Shortening handlebars
 

I recently purchased a Specialized Sirrus x2 with flat bars. I think I may want to shorten my bars. I'm going to slide my shifter and brake levers in first to see how l like it. What would be the best way to cut the bars, saw or tubing cutter? TIA

If you don't have a cutting guide use the tubing cutter, they work great. Unless they're carbon of course, then you have to use a saw.

Use a tubing cutter. You will have to file off the flared end after the cut.

If you want to use a hacksaw, clamp a couple hose clamps on the bar to guide the blade through the cut.

If your a real techy, you can get a Park Tool SG-6 Threadless Saw Guide which is what I've used.

Not sure what flare is being referred to here as the blade will push the metal inward, not outward, but definitely use a tubing cutter if you have one available. Assuming it's a metal bar. BTW-you do realize that the trend in MTBing is going wide on the bars, even though it makes the trails feel a whole lot narrower haha.

It is a long time since I have looked at tube cutters, but in the past the ones I used had a taper on each side of the blade. When these finished the cut there was metal edge sticking out a bit as the tube end would have the same taper as the blade. If your tube cutter only has a taper on one side, then conceivably filling will be less significant, but even so I would probably still run a file around the inside and outside edges.

I also have found that I needed to file the outer edge of the cut. I used a rat-tail file on the ID, finishing with a machinist's deburring tool.

I shortened a pair of MTB flat bars for a S/S road runabout. Likely you're going to be putting grips on them, so the cut doesn't have to be as hairsplitting as you'd need for, say a steerer. I measured off the requisite 2" from each end, marked the spot with a Sharpie, wrapped the bar so the bench vise wouldn't mar it, then simply cut it with a hacksaw, eyeballing it to get a fairly perpendicular cut. It's a Al bar, so the saw went through it pretty easily. Cleaned up the ends with a file, reinstalled it (used a beercan shim so it fitted snugly into a 3T quill stem), fitted levers and grips, and done. This job doesn't really require that much thinking.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...430f29602f.jpg

I've shortened a few metal handle bars. A pipe cutter works great!
Remember.....measure twice, cut once. In this case, you'll have to do this 2x (for two ends):rolleyes: