What would create a stiffer final setup:
- aluminum stem + steel bars
- steel stem + aluminum bars

I'm thinking specifically about the Nitto Jaguar and B123 models.

- eyefloater

Ps. Yes, I know how steel + steel and aluminum + aluminum would turn out.

hmm i'm not sure, i want to say the steel stem al bars, but i dont know.

Keirin riders for the most part sport Ally bars and a steel stem. expensive though. Steel bars and Ally stem should be heaver, although thats what I ride because its cheeper.

Ally bars $> steel bars $
Steel stem $> ally stem $

at least in the case of Nitto threaded 1", and Nitto track drops. You wouldn't be asking the question if you were going to do anything else, RIGHT? Cinelli aside.

Milo

Since you brought up numbers, here are the ones I worked out going by the Business Cycles prices (and, yes - 1" threaded):

Al bar + Al stem:
$152
660g

Cr-Mo bar + Cr-Mo stem:
$196
1135g

Al bar + Cr-Mo stem:
$230
770g

Cr-Mo bar + Al stem:
$118
1025g

I've been trying to figure out a nice "compromise" between performance and cost ... while still being a slave to my sense of aesthetics. I hit the wall when I realized I didn't know which would have more effect on steering stiffness (stem or handlebars).

- eyefloater

word. Nice rundown.

That sorta what I expected, but I am amazed at how close the all ally and the ally bar + cr-mo stem are in weight. for me the steel stem is just so hot, but the all ally look is quite fine and nearly a bill lower. I like the shiny bar look thought if you aren't going to wrap it.

For me its less in the steering and more in the "ouch pothole" factor (I ride an ally frame and fork). I am sure if you got a pair and didn't like one element you could kick it quickly on the "for sale" section. People like nitto stuff. I would be surprised if you noticed that much, but I don't really know.

Thanks for the numbers, cleared up some of my misconceptions.

Milo

Ya, it isn't a big issue for me. Realistically, if I walked into a shop tomorrow that had a random used Nitto stem/bar combo sitting their in my sizes I'd spring for it on the spot. This thread is moreso a "get schooled" question - I'm always trying to learn something new about bikes and this was the latest thing on my mind.

I bought an alu jaguar stem and cro mo bars from business cycles. I figured this would be a pretty stuff ride so I also got some track grips. Problem solved.

In my experience, the steel bar and an aluminum stem feels stiffer than a steel stem and an aluminum bar.

The aluminum stem doesn't have a lot of surface or feel - less flex the shorter the stem is or better built (like a Thomson vs. a Cinelli Groove).

Aluminum bars will feel flexy all over and into your hands and arms. You can feel this on a sprint or when you get into the drops.

I now run a steel stem with steel bars. It's a weight penalty but the feel is tremendous.

interesting data, eyefloater.

My opinion's changed over handlebar setup recently. I loved the stiffness of my CrMo stem and bars but since I put on an ally stem and chopped ally bars, I've come to value lightness and the improved handling _so_ much more. I'm faster with this setup. The flex irks me, but that's why I'm looking for a Ti stem right now (edit: and stiffer Al bars).

Adam's right with that too - there is a different feel when using an all aluminum set-up, it just feels lighter and faster. I recently rode at the track with the Deda Newton Pista and OS Deda bars to match. It feels flexy in a sense but it also "feels" quicker if you know what I mean.

The oversized aspect makes up for the stiffness issue and in the end I think it comes down to feel and weight.

Thats really cool info. I ride an IRO jamie roy and was wondering why I really had to throw her into turns. I like that, sorta like a GS ski but I didn't know if it was frame geometry or something else. Looks Like I should keep in mind my big honking aluminum threadless stem and my Cr-Mo drops. Thanks guys, I was just thinking about that today.

Milo

I've had steel stems that flexed a lot more than I like when I'm out of the saddle, and I've never had that problem with aluminum, so I swear by aluminum. In general, nicer, more desirable bars are usually aluminum, but it really makes no difference to me, as they both seem pretty stiff and I'm not a weight weenie. (Those Nashbar moustache bars come to mind. While it would be nice to get the $80 Nitto Al ones, the $10 Nashbar ones seem a little more tempting.)

i've always wondered, why is it that steel bars are supposed to be stiffer than aluminum ones, but an aluminum frame is stiffer than steel?

Alu frame is stiffer because it uses oversize tubes. On the other hand, bar diameter is sort of fixed.

It is easier to build up the stiffness with size than with Young modulus.

You can not gain too much with oversized steel tubes, as there is only so thin tube wall which is stong (not stiff) enough locally to prevent dings.

hmmm... thanks.