How long do handlebars last?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 248
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
How long do handlebars last?
Assuming they're not ultra lightweight and haven't been in any devastating crashs, how long can one expect a handlebar that sees normal but regular, even daily use to last?
Has anyone seen handlebars fail under normal use(i.e not freeride, dh) that seemed to have nothing other than their age against them.
Has anyone seen handlebars fail under normal use(i.e not freeride, dh) that seemed to have nothing other than their age against them.
#2
Ferrous wheel
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,388
Bikes: 2004 Gunnar Rock Hound MTB; 1988 Gitane Team Pro road bike; 1986-ish Raleigh USA Grand Prix; mid-'80s Univega Gran Tourismo with Xtracycle Free Radical
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Zinn suggests two years. That's alloy bars, probably with regular use. Whatever that means.
I have used 25-year-old Cinellis with no problems (yet), and I have used a 45-year-old steel bar on a Raleigh road bike.
There are so many variables involved that there's no hard and fast rule about how long a bar will last. I've yet to see one fail personally -- but I have no doubt that it happens.
I have used 25-year-old Cinellis with no problems (yet), and I have used a 45-year-old steel bar on a Raleigh road bike.
There are so many variables involved that there's no hard and fast rule about how long a bar will last. I've yet to see one fail personally -- but I have no doubt that it happens.
#3
Young and unconcerned
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Merry Land
Posts: 4,123
Bikes: Yeah, I got a few.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would assume there are a great many other things that will fail long before handlebars... I imagine the frame would go first, but who knows... It would depend greatly on the material, amount of use, and even things like length.
I can't imagine it being something you need worry about.
I can't imagine it being something you need worry about.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Originally Posted by Treefox
I would assume there are a great many other things that will fail long before handlebars... I imagine the frame would go first, but who knows... It would depend greatly on the material, amount of use, and even things like length.
I can't imagine it being something you need worry about.
I can't imagine it being something you need worry about.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,706
Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 840 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
251 Posts
I had a backward-angled touring-type handlebar that did not make it through the mounting. With an arm of force present, due to the backward placement of the grips relative to the end of stem, the torque from the hands would make the handlebar rotate within the stem. I continued to tighten the handlebar within the stem, without being able to prevent the handlebar rotation. Eventually I noticed that the handlebar already caved in in the area of its mounting. I switched to an identically shaped steel handlebar and was able to secure it without much problem.
#6
Senior Member
They certainly are not wear items. Replace them when they bend or break.
__________________
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
#7
Senior Member
Yeah, there's a wide variance. I've had bars last 10-years and others that snapped after 2-years. The ones with a smooth bulge in the middle that doesn't use a sleeve with sharp-transition seems to be more durable. It depends upon the usage-pattern and the ones that's broke were stressed to high-levels with lots of sprint-practice. There's a reason track-bikes use steel bars....
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 260
Bikes: 200x Coppi w DuraAce 9, 82 Schwinn Voyager 11.2, 2004 DeBernardi Track, 83 Centurion Elite RS, and some others.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
broke the bar
I broke the alloy handlebar on my fixed '78 Schwinn Supersport. I was leaving a stoplight, doing a track style standing start (arms straight, weight forward, stomping for all I was worth.) The bar tore at the bottom right next to the stem. I didn't crash, but did have to walk the rest of the way to work.
#9
Young and unconcerned
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Merry Land
Posts: 4,123
Bikes: Yeah, I got a few.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by HillRider
Well, I don't think any reasonablely light handlebar will outlast a frame and, even it it might, failure has much more severe consequences. I've gotten 20,000 miles and more out of light-but-not-stupid-light bars (240 - 260 gms Al bars in 42 cm c-c length road type) and never had one break so I'm confident they will last that long.
(including a really scary looking front fork that sheered right off when someone couldn't make a sharp turn and flew off into the ditch on the side of the road... I suppose the fact that the owner was getting it repaired boded well for the health of the owner)