B123 vs B123AA
 

Alright buddies, i've done a search and found nothing so can someone tell me the difference between the two? Weight/handling/crash durability?

Merci.

The AAs are made of aluminum, the others are made of steel. The steel bars weigh a lot more but cost less.

Yeah, the AA is alloy and therefore lighter. The steel ones are burly and stiff - I think most of the keirin guys run steel even though it's heavier, because if you're really doing speed, that stiffness is a good thing. Also, they look better and they're not bad when you ride them 'naked' (no grips). The aluminum ones are flexier, lighter and more expensive, and don't look shiny. I run the steels and they are fine - my bike is still very light even w/ Fusion rims and 80's Tange no. 2 steel, though if I switched out the bars and seatpost I could subtract a pound or two.

Not that it matters, but they don't - they run the AA bars with the steel NJS-Pro stem.

Thanks guys!

By the way, why the hell can't i find a 34cm Nitto B123? I love really narrow handlebars :)

Yes, that is definitely true.

Also, running track bars on the street is still monumentally
stupid.

damn this is the stupidest question to come down the pike in a while

have your ever looked at a product and actually read the description

No i get all my information from bikeforums.net

they're slightly different in size as well. see: http://www.businesscycles.com/tbars-nitto.htm

I don't really understand this anti-track bars sentiment after riding them in the streets myself. I run some 39cm Nittos and they work just as well as my flip/clipped road bars, except with these you can get super aero when the winds act up. Do I ride with my hands next to the stem like a lot of people? No. And my wrists have yet to hurt. The only thing I can see is that it wouldn't be the most optimal setup for long distances, as in riding to the suburbs and back, but for around the city, it's fine. It takes maybe a day or two to adapt and then they feel as fine as anything else. With all that said, some 125's may be better than 123's for street, but they're both track anyway.

is your stem a negative or positive degree stem mine is a zero so my track drops are fine on the street I also am built like big foot so I need something out there to grab

Me too. I think i'll get the steel bars.

Negative rise and it's fine. The stem on my other bike was almost level, slightly negative, and it was cool too. I like to ride in a foward position anyway, it's more comfy when doing speed.

you can't get any leverage or not nearly as much as you can with hoods/bullhorns.

werd me likey bullhorns but it is flat where I live so....

I was just going to make this same topic, weird.

So is it worth it? I was thinking of getting them.. I ride with the steel drops on the street and it can be a little rough on the hands.. would the Aluminum bars help? Are they too flexy for the track?

I was just about to order the steels in 36 and then you say they're rough on your hands. Damn you!
This may take some thinking about. I have some really ****ed up alu bars with no grips/tape, and they are they aren't hard on my hands. They feel nice as could be expected.

Could somebody tell me the weight differences between the steel/alloy in the same size?

Check the Business Cycles website, they list the weight.

As a general rule, steel is considered much EASIER on the
hands than aluminum. As for the idea that the aluminum
bars are too flexy for the track: Nitto aluminum bars are
still a standard item at all levels of competitive track racing.
If Theo Bos doesn't break them, then you won't either.

Damn, the steels are twice the weight...

300g is less than the weight of a decent sandwich. If you want the ride and look of steel, it's not a big problem. But if you like the flex, or the extra-nimble bar, then enjoy your weight savings. FWIW i have alloy bars on both my bikes (anatomic road drops and RB021s) and love the feel of both, but will probably put steel 123s or 125s on my next build.

Yeah, your probably right. The thing is, my frame is really really flexible aluminium, and it pisses me off a bit sometimes. 300g isn't a big deal.

Steel has generally been fine on my hands. I'm running naked tops and grips on the bottom, but that may change soon.

Shall we open a new can of worms about frame flex?