Cheap vs. expensive handlebars
 

I have a pair of cheap alloy road bars that came with an old bike I got from bikesdirect (picture included). Recently i've been using bullhorns on my fixed gear, but wanted to venture into the realm of drop bars.

The bullhorns I use are Nitto rb-002, and I like them a lot. Thus I was considering buying some Nitto drop bars. However since I have the current ones sitting around, I thought why not try them out first? The only thing is I need new bar tape, and cable housing, thus I don't wan't to set it all up and then have to buy new stuff if I did get the nittos.

So here is my question: Besides reducing weight, what other advantages do more expensive/nice handlebars offer over cheap ones? I'm small, (5'4" and 130 lbs).

Lastly, these were advertised as "track bars". Can anyone confirm whether these are track or road drops?

Thanks!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=438353

Those bars look like road bars with track grips on them. Track bars have very rounded "shoulders"; the outboard turn of the tops so when out of the saddle sprinting, that corner does not slam your forearms. The drops themselves have the big round typical of (Edit) older bars designed to have brake levers.

Ben

cheap and expensive are a matter of perspective.. IMO all nitto bars are cheap...
You have to decide what it is you like about bars, what you want out of them, what they give you over what you have now and decide if it is worth it to you.

Thanks, that's what I thought. So these look like they'll take brake levers?

Good point.

Well i've never used drop bars, ONLY bullhorns. Here is what I like: that they feel solid and don't flex. LOL

So with that in mind, i'm guessing I should just try these cheap(er) ones I have.

If you ignore weight, there is potentially a bigger difference between similar priced bars with different shapes than there is between similarly shaped bars with different price tags.

Small differences in the bar, reach, drop, width and curvature can make a big difference to some riders. Others would barely notice a difference, if they notice at all.

You will find some expensive proprietary bars with flat tops or other unique features... some love them, some don't.

As far as the bars you asked about. I wouldn't buy bars labeled as track bars for road use when there are so many inexpensive options available... But I do agree with the above. Those don't look like a typical track bars to me.

Likely weight &/or stiffness are factors in price. Also, many road bars have channels for cables to run. I would also look at mfg quality. I like Nitto bars. Never had a problem with the 3 or 4 bars I've owned. I've also run other ally bars & the classic bend feels about right to me, on the nitto's. They have a nice stiffness to them & they don't
break the bank, financially. They aren't the lightest but, light "can" mean a sacrifice in stiffness.

Like most things concerning road bikes, the usual difference between cheap and expensive is just aesthetics- i.e. look and feel and status- like wearing a Rolex vs. a Timex. Both will keep good time. The previous owner of one of my bikes put $300 carbon handlebars on it. I like them- they look cool- but honestly, I can't tell any difference between riding them and the stock alloy non-flat-top bars on my old Klein. They're both just as comfortable. I never would have paid $300 for ANY handlebars.....but I am glad to have them, just as I am to wear a decent Citizen watch instead of a Timex- even though they'de do the exact same things.... Just Aesthetics.

more expensive 7075t6 alloys allow thinner tube wall (lighter)

and post bending heat treatment resists bending in use , over time.

Old cheap bars sag.


Track events have different bar type needs..

Matched Sprint vs Pursuit .. Hipster street fixies you may not like the Deep drop narrow Sprinters bars.. except for the Looks..