Cafe-racer-ish handlebar - What do you think?
08-12-13, 05:01 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 11
Bikes: None
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cafe-racer-ish handlebar - What do you think?
I'm thinking about installing a cafe-racer style handlebar on my hybrid commuter. Looks like a more natural position and it's not as big as a moustache handlebar. What do you guys think?
08-12-13, 05:27 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
Those bars look great but I'm sure they're expensive and custom made. Have a look at the FSA Metropolis bar in the flipped down position. It has a flattened area of the bar to grab when you want to be in a tuck position.
08-12-13, 05:50 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 11
Bikes: None
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No way I'd spend twice the price of my bike in a handlebar!!!!
I was thinking in a BBY (bend by yourself) solution. The idea is to bend mine to a similar shape and saw 2" from each side
Mine looks like this one:
I was thinking in a BBY (bend by yourself) solution. The idea is to bend mine to a similar shape and saw 2" from each side
Mine looks like this one:
08-12-13, 06:37 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,835
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2337 Post(s)
Liked 2,813 Times
in
1,536 Posts
I put these on my converted italian job (torpado) $32 (might need shims for your application)
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ar-22-2mm.html
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ar-22-2mm.html
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
08-12-13, 06:45 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 336
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
08-12-13, 07:01 PM
#6
tougher than a boiled owl
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rocky Coast of Maine
Posts: 1,125
Bikes: Fetish Cycles Fixation / Fuji S12S / Gary Fisher MTB / Raleigh Grand Prix / Ross Professional / Kent comfort cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have one of these that I cut 1.5in off each end and thinking of using it on one of my vintage restore projects. It narrows it up some and feels alot better. I wouldn't recommend bending the alloy ones though as mentioned above.
08-12-13, 07:42 PM
#7
George Krpan
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westlake Village, California
Posts: 1,708
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Run your riser bar upside down. It will get you in a speedier position and it has a cool, old timey "scorcher" look.
08-12-13, 08:12 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 126
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
looks pretty cool, but i am not sure how comfortable it would be, i like my drop bars because of all the different hand positions. definitely cool though, i ran a pair of cafes on my moped before... haha
08-12-13, 09:41 PM
#9
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,428
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3129 Post(s)
Liked 1,698 Times
in
1,026 Posts
O,G, that Seven is a bad-as*ed SS!
08-13-13, 05:50 AM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 11
Bikes: None
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's what I thought yesterday. I will try it today on my commute and if it's nice, I'll cut off the ends.
This is not aluminum, so if I feel that I need it a little more curved, I can bend it a little
08-13-13, 07:52 AM
#11
Banned
Try this one :https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/condorina-bar... Not Ti, TW made of steel so affordable .
08-15-13, 11:32 AM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 11
Bikes: None
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ok guys, 2 commuting days later, my impressions so far
- During the first day, my palm was hurting, probably due to the memory of the old position in the new situation.
- Today my hands got better, since I pushed my torso a little more down and could unlock the elbows. But got my lower back burning a little at the end of the commuting (7km, but with a 66m/316ft height brigde in the middle). I believe it could be related to the new position.
I'll do it like this for a couple of days to check if my 42yo body can handle the new position without complains
- During the first day, my palm was hurting, probably due to the memory of the old position in the new situation.
- Today my hands got better, since I pushed my torso a little more down and could unlock the elbows. But got my lower back burning a little at the end of the commuting (7km, but with a 66m/316ft height brigde in the middle). I believe it could be related to the new position.
I'll do it like this for a couple of days to check if my 42yo body can handle the new position without complains
08-15-13, 12:04 PM
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Montreal
Posts: 11
Bikes: None
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Forgot to tell the most important part. I'm much faster than before with the same apparent effort.
Maybe my beer belly is pushing the legs down
Maybe my beer belly is pushing the legs down
08-15-13, 06:42 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: WKY
Posts: 730
Bikes: 2014 Trek Crossrip LTD, 2013 Raleigh Misceo
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You will gain a position when you cut the ends off the bars. With the ergo grips, just holding the "end" of the bar with the heel of your hand on the wide part of the grip, is a pretty comfy position for me.
08-16-13, 06:52 AM
#16
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,428
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3129 Post(s)
Liked 1,698 Times
in
1,026 Posts
Just as an FYI, the bar shape in the OP's post and on the moped are properly called clubman bars (oft fitted to cafe racers) or Ace bars.
08-16-13, 07:02 AM
#17
Banned
these guys make bars that look quite similar to what you have there and are usually quite reasonably priced. the German trekking bike makers love stuff made by them (adjustable stems ... recoil seat posts ... handlebars) so their quality must be quite good to go on €2000+ bikes sold to Germans.
this is their handlebar selection and they can usually be ordered directly from the factory on eBay (in the US) ... I think they're more widely available in Canada
https://issuu.com/artfile/docs/satori-eu2014
this is their handlebar selection and they can usually be ordered directly from the factory on eBay (in the US) ... I think they're more widely available in Canada
https://issuu.com/artfile/docs/satori-eu2014
08-17-13, 08:16 AM
#18
Banned.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,363
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The bar look a lot like Luv Handles made by Rody Walters at Groovy cycle works.
https://www.groovycycleworks.com/Pages/LuvHandles.aspx
https://www.groovycycleworks.com/Pages/LuvHandles.aspx
08-17-13, 09:03 AM
#19
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,428
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3129 Post(s)
Liked 1,698 Times
in
1,026 Posts
The bar look a lot like Luv Handles made by Rody Walters at Groovy cycle works.
https://www.groovycycleworks.com/Pages/LuvHandles.aspx
https://www.groovycycleworks.com/Pages/LuvHandles.aspx
Thanks for the link!
08-17-13, 09:26 AM
#20
Banned.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,363
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Remember as it says there is a waiting list to get a set of bars. turn around time is not to bad and well woth the wait. I have 2 sets and and will be putting a TI set on order for next race season. also have a seatpost from him. Oh yea and the bike in my avatar, thats my Groovy!!
08-17-13, 09:46 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 869
Bikes: 2008 Dawes Haymaker 20XX Leader LD515 TotoCycling Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 30 Times
in
19 Posts
I don't like it, but if it works for you and is more comfortable then give it a shot.
