Bar Horns?
 

Why do the current crop of MTB not have bar horns? Any particular reason?

Love the term, bar horns. Just not fashinable is my guess. Add aftermarket ones if you desire.

They are just tree hooks, they catch on vines and what not as you ride.

Basically it's because riser bars have pretty much taken over. Some of the need for bar ends (different hand positions, extra leverage for climbing, etc.) got negated because of the very nature of riser bars. Risers are generally wider than the traditional flat bars were (more leverage). Plus, between the rise and having more built-in backsweep and upsweep, they have better ergonomics leading to less fatigue (lessening the need for frequent hand position changes).

I've had bar ends on my HT for 14 or so years, they've never been a tree/vine catcher. If the trail features are such that you're catching stuff with your bars, then ANY bar setup is gonna present issues. Just my .02.

Thanks for the answers. I can see that they might catch stuff. Of course, I bought the bike in Arizona and the only thing there to catch was cactus--lol. Well, I think I will keep them. I was just curious why they were not installed on new MTBs.

i still love mine...i just put new tape on them...i might switch to risers but i still like the flats with the ends (er, horns). makes me feel like a goat...:rolleyes:

My daughter's bike has 'em on a riser bar...as will my SS buildup come spring, as well as my daily FS/AM steed. Fark fashion, I want 'em.

Right on.

http://www.tokyopop.co.jp/ugc/1/0/8/...ges/394351.jpg

Ban.

My bike had riser bars when I bought it and I put on the bar ends but found I didn't need them. I moved to flat bars because the risers were too wide for the trails around here (trails often go between trees that are too close together for wide bars to fit between). I switched to narrower flat bars and now use the bar ends regularly. So I guess that supports the "riser bars make 'em unnecessary" argument.

speaking of risers, i just posted elsewhere on an insane monstercross thread about playing around with my riser bars (as an experiment)...upside down, reversed, rotated back, forth...added bar ends to somewhat mimic drops, but the ergonomics are way different. some positions were interesting for about 10 minutes...some for less and some for more...

ultimately, the look and function might balance out best in a SSpeed hipster context.. not passing judgement. bike as a moving (kinetic) piece of art/sculpture should be about (of course) form AND function.

and FUNction...:)

but aside from that, i might hit a light trail on my mutantcross trek with the dropped riser bar...