should handlebars and stem be the same brand?
 

...For both looks and fit.
Either way what are some your handlebar / stem combos

Mine are Ritchey and Deda.

Thomson/S-works.

if you have OCD, then match stem, bars and bar-tape.

or get a one piece carbon.

ocp

Ritchey/Winwood

I have matching stem, bars and seatpost. Therapy is helping.

Giant/3t

thomson/fsa

BBB/Pro

I think matching is not needed but if the combo works it can add to the look.

Mine...
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...armacSL3_3.jpg

Easton/Vision (FSA)

Attachment 141368

That looks great.

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3174/img1822dz2.jpg
FSA Wing Pro bars\ Holland stem. (And sorry about the photo taken from the wrong perspective).

my bars and stem are both deda but the stem is polished and the bars are matte black.

is that worse that not matching brands?

my new cg-1 has matching forks, stem, bar and tape (easton)

K-force FSA/Ritchey WCS

FSA / FSA. But I would mix and match to go with the best of the best.

I think the 3T bars and stem with the stripe looks the coolest, but they dont HAVE to be the same brand. Then again, there is the cool factor................ just sayin...

Control Tech bar & Forte stem

No, they don't have to match.

There isn't any law that I know of. I've often started out with matching on my bikes only to mix and match. I'm rather fond of Stella Azzura.

Easton EA90/3T Rotunda Pro

Easton bars, 3T stem.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

On my DEAN, I have an FSA handlebar with Thomson X2 Elite stem and seatpost. On my Specialized I'll be running Nitto bars, stem, and seatpost.

yes.



just because I bought a new 3t stem yesterday and it matches my 3t bars.