2nd pair broken this year.
 

I commute anywhere from 50-70 miles a week on my fixed gear and I've had a very crucial part on my bike break twice this year: the handlebars. First time I had some cheap Origin-8 bullhorns and they broke right to the right of the stem. This opted me to spend the extra money to get a decent bar of handlebars so I bought some Nitto RB-002 for something like 70$. They broke on the exact same side in the same place as the Origin-8's. I had a pretty awkward one handed 2 mile ride to my parent's house for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm an average weight rider, 160lbs, and don't run that big of a ratio, 46/16. I had assumed that Nitto had a good reputation for quality so I'm assuming I'm doing something wrong here. I'm wondering if this is a common problem or if it's exclusive to me? Also, can you recommend a solid pair of handlebars that are going to last more than 5 months?

Here's a couple of pictures of the Nittos that just broke.
http://i39.tinypic.com/11hbimg.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/majvcj.jpg

Are you using 26.0 bars in a 25.4 stem? If not, you're most likely over-tightening the clamp.

Yikes! I'd get some steel bars and flop and chop 'em.

Looking at the pic, it looks like the top right stem clamp bolt is WAY more clamped than the top left. This is not good. You need to slowly screw each one in a bit at a time using a pattern. Top left, bottom right, bottom left, top right. Repeat that pattern often. Don't let one bolt get too far ahead of the others. Get a torque wrench.

Not sure if that's what caused this failure but it's not good.

The picture looks as if the stem is not tightened evenly because I messed with it right after the right side broke. I took them out on the sidewalk to check it out more thoroughly before realizing I still had a couple miles before I got home. I'm also not using a shim; they're both 26.0 bars and stem.

Get rid of the Origin 8 stem, and get something better. The way that bolt is cocked on the top right looks wonky. The clamp is clearly gouging the bar. Nitto bars are top quality. I race with Nitto track drops. They don't just break.

Holy ****.

That's very possible even though I was always very careful with tightening the stem bolts when putting the bars back in. Only problem is I have my steering tube cut specifically for that stem with no spacers underneath. Most sites I've seen don't display stem heights, is it going to be a pain finding one with equal or lesser height? Thanks for the reply.

Look for the term "stack height" to see how tall the stem you're looking at is. Measure or look up your current stem, 40mm stack height is common.

Alright thanks. Have any moderately priced 26.0's to recommend?

ouch, stem tightening issue?

http://www.retro-gression.com/produc...o-ui-85ex-stem
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_202442

My guess is that you're definitely having stem issues. I haven't been "in the game" for that long, but I've never heard of this happening.

Any particular reason you want to stick with 26.0? Everyone loves Thomson stuff either way.

If you wanted to up to 31.8, Retrogression has some nice options. I just received my Deda Zero-01 stem last week and I really like it. On the other hand, getting a 25.4 stem and flow and chop steel road bars seems like a good idea for you.

I would ***** to origin8. Thats kinda stuff is pretty uncalled for.

Do you have mega saddle to bar drop?

a cinelli vigorelli w/ origin8 stem and bars makes me sad :(

Haha, the stem was further back on my list of stuff to upgrade! The Origin-8 bars that broke were actually on my Kilo so it was more reasonable. Little did I know the cheapness
of the stem possibly might have tried to kill me, or at least led to my nice quality bars breaking.