JoBaram

Hi,
I orderd an Easton EC70 carbon handlebar which is 660 mm length.
My current bike has an Aluminum 640 mm bar.
I am 6ft 2" and like XC and moderate singletracks.
Is there a big difference riding longer or shorter bar?
I don't race but its nice to ride fast if you can. But I do like to handle better on climbing and going down in singletracks.
Does bar length related to type of ride? and how much effect it has?
Thanks
Jo

antman3249

ive heard that people get longer (wider) handlebars because they moved up to a bigger tire. it makes it steer different with a wider tire so the make up for that with a wider bar. so its gonna feel a little different

C Law

more climbing leverage as the bar gets wider. 20mm will make no difference in that respect.

cryptid01

^^agree w/ unsuspended. Wider bars also open up your chest area for better breathing, especially for big guys. My bars are Azonic, 685mm wide +/-.

seely

My head is going to explode trying to figure out this logic...

seely

On my singlespeed bikes I've used wide bars for the extra climbing leverage... it helps keep the front end more stable and lets you muscle it around more. On my geared bikes though since I generally am spinning more than mashing up a hill, I typically run a little narrower bar. As it sits my singlespeed has a 27" bar right now and my geared bike has a 25.5"... noticeable difference between the two believe it or not. Rule of thumb seems to be to have your bars slightly wider than your shoulders to allow for good control and to keep from compressing your chest.

jsigone

I have 23" Raceface flat bars on my XC hard tail and have 26" Answer Riser bars on my Giant VT2. The shorter bars are good for low speed techy stuff and a bit harder to steer at higher speeds (30+mph). The long bars are great at high and moderate speeds but very twitchy at low speed techy sections do to the increase of bar leverage. I'm also 6'2 and I prefer the wider bars for my size. I also like having more control of the bike at higher speeds where one little mistake can get you hurt. Just use more body balance through the slow techy stuff rather then turning the bars alot.

freeranger

Wider bar = more leverage, slower steering. You will see most downhillers and freeriders using wider bars than those riding XC, as the wider bar provides more leverage, if you hit a rock/boulder, you'll be able to more easily control the front wheel.

Narrower bar = less leverage, quicker steering.

Try this--ride your bike, put your hands on the bar, as close to the stem as you feel comfortable. You'll see how quick it steers, and if you hit something, not much control over the front wheel. The further out from the stem, the slower the steering gets, but the more leverage it provides.
Most riser bars are made wider so you may cut them down to the width which you like best.

JoBaram

Ok,I got it now.
I have only one bike (nice Stumpy) for all trails and XC rides.
Because of that I will try using the handlebar with its original width and see if the steering control is not effected much.
I like controll on the techy stuff areas so I think it will be best to have it wide.
By the way, Using a wrench torque is a must for carbon bars**********
Thanks guys

shane45

Yes.

Maelstrom 

I think all the answers are right. Its based on rider size a bit (I am big, I like wide bars for my chest) and on the style. I like wide bars on my dh bike to make steering crisper at higher speeds. Little narrower on my xc bike for the slow speed stuff.

Raiyn

Don't bother. We both know it's crap