Kuwahara Touring Conversion - handlebars suggestions
#1
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Kuwahara Touring Conversion - handlebars suggestions
Hi! After the theft of my MTB, I want to use my old steel MTB Kuwahara Lion for touring (mostly paved/gravel).
I have to raise and change the flat bars with something more appropriate for a touring bike.
I selected these bars, any suggestions about?
1. Jones h-bar + ev. aerobar
2. velo orange grand cru seine + aerobar
3. SOMA clarence + aerobar
4. Origin8 bat wing / space bar off road + aerobar
5. Surly Open bar + aerobar
6. on-one mary
The aerobar is for a comfy position and as a support for roll bags, avoiding interference with canti brake cable.
I have to raise and change the flat bars with something more appropriate for a touring bike.
I selected these bars, any suggestions about?
1. Jones h-bar + ev. aerobar
2. velo orange grand cru seine + aerobar
3. SOMA clarence + aerobar
4. Origin8 bat wing / space bar off road + aerobar
5. Surly Open bar + aerobar
6. on-one mary
The aerobar is for a comfy position and as a support for roll bags, avoiding interference with canti brake cable.
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,929
Likes: 1,243
From: Montreal Canada
I've commuted and toured a little on a similar mountain bike, and as I'm sure you know, some of the bars you mentioned can be a bit pricey, especially if you are not sure if you will like them.
One direction that you can at least try, and very cheaply, is pick up some used risers with a slight back angle to the grip areas, these were very common on all kinds of hybrids and you'd be able to find some at a bike co-op for probably 10 bucks or less. The riser part will get the bars up a bit, and or you can change the stem also. I found the wrists angled back a bit too make a real difference. Add on some ergo style grips and bar ends and this also very much increases hand and wrist comfort. You can find inexpensive ergo grips but I'd strongly suggest ones that have those locking in place tightening bolts to keep the position just as you like (no twisting downwards)
Cheap bar ends work well too, you can also go to much better ergon brand grips which incorporates very ergonomic bar ends. All this stuff can make"mtn" bars a reasonable option.
Then there are butterfly trekking bars, you can find new ones for 20 bucks at nashbar, again you'll use existing brakes and shifters and with both these options, if your cables and housings are in good shape, you can just slide the old bar off and slide everything into new risers or a trekking bar.
Easy peasy and a cheap tryout.
Only you will know what you like, but I'd suggest trying these out before you spend 100 bucks on a bar or more, at least you'll see how diff setups work for you.
While you're at this, if suggest putting one of those adapters to be able to use face plate style stems, so much easier to change things.
A good bike store should have a "threaded" to "threadless" post thingee to be able to use stems with faceplates.
One direction that you can at least try, and very cheaply, is pick up some used risers with a slight back angle to the grip areas, these were very common on all kinds of hybrids and you'd be able to find some at a bike co-op for probably 10 bucks or less. The riser part will get the bars up a bit, and or you can change the stem also. I found the wrists angled back a bit too make a real difference. Add on some ergo style grips and bar ends and this also very much increases hand and wrist comfort. You can find inexpensive ergo grips but I'd strongly suggest ones that have those locking in place tightening bolts to keep the position just as you like (no twisting downwards)
Cheap bar ends work well too, you can also go to much better ergon brand grips which incorporates very ergonomic bar ends. All this stuff can make"mtn" bars a reasonable option.
Then there are butterfly trekking bars, you can find new ones for 20 bucks at nashbar, again you'll use existing brakes and shifters and with both these options, if your cables and housings are in good shape, you can just slide the old bar off and slide everything into new risers or a trekking bar.
Easy peasy and a cheap tryout.
Only you will know what you like, but I'd suggest trying these out before you spend 100 bucks on a bar or more, at least you'll see how diff setups work for you.
While you're at this, if suggest putting one of those adapters to be able to use face plate style stems, so much easier to change things.
A good bike store should have a "threaded" to "threadless" post thingee to be able to use stems with faceplates.
#3
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Joined: Mar 2016
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Thank You for your suggestions djb, yes a lot of pricey bar, my intention is to use these new components on a proper Touring bike in the future.
the h-bar, seems to matches a lot of my requirements but if the original price is high, the imported price in my country is a steal.
No local shop with a long quill or quill-threadless adapter, so I'm waiting for the Soma Riser Adapter.
Luckilly I have some used bars with similar style of the mentioned bars to try, probably I'll go with a wide dirt drop + aerobar or a slightly sloped moustache/flat moustache + aerobar.
the h-bar, seems to matches a lot of my requirements but if the original price is high, the imported price in my country is a steal.
No local shop with a long quill or quill-threadless adapter, so I'm waiting for the Soma Riser Adapter.
Luckilly I have some used bars with similar style of the mentioned bars to try, probably I'll go with a wide dirt drop + aerobar or a slightly sloped moustache/flat moustache + aerobar.
#4
Touring Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 278
Likes: 1
From: USA
Bikes: 23" Schwinn High Plains, 20" Trek 830 Antelope
Ultimate Touring bars!
This bar, "Casey's Chromoly Crazy Bar" has been absolutely amazing on my bike (see my signature):

Casey's Chromoly Crazy Bar, Noir
I've used a flat bar w/'bull-horns' and most recently a "trekking" (aka 'butterfly') bar, but neither have come close to my Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar. I've been using the trekking/butterfly bars for a couple years now and they have been great - they were a definite improvement over the flat bar w/bull-horns.
However, my new Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar has proven to be a huge improvement. The very comfortable (natural-feeling) grip section works very well with my commuting ride and i really like the "aero"/bull-horns (?) which allow me to stretch out on long, straight sections. I also like the junction of the "aero"/bull-horns with the main bar because it provides another "natural-feeling" placement and i find myself resting there the most.
Installing the Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar did require me to use a quill-stem adapter which added some cost, but overall the whole project was less than the Jones H-bar alone which i also strongly considered.
I was initially hesitant about the Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar because none of my local bike shops stocked it (or had even heard of it!). In fact, there are not many here who have used/tried/heard of it. But, for me, it has been a great decision and i'm loving 'em!!!
No, i don't work for Velo-Orange - i'm just very pleased with the product and hope others can experience the same enjoyment with them that I am.

Casey's Chromoly Crazy Bar, Noir
I've used a flat bar w/'bull-horns' and most recently a "trekking" (aka 'butterfly') bar, but neither have come close to my Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar. I've been using the trekking/butterfly bars for a couple years now and they have been great - they were a definite improvement over the flat bar w/bull-horns.
However, my new Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar has proven to be a huge improvement. The very comfortable (natural-feeling) grip section works very well with my commuting ride and i really like the "aero"/bull-horns (?) which allow me to stretch out on long, straight sections. I also like the junction of the "aero"/bull-horns with the main bar because it provides another "natural-feeling" placement and i find myself resting there the most.
Installing the Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar did require me to use a quill-stem adapter which added some cost, but overall the whole project was less than the Jones H-bar alone which i also strongly considered.
I was initially hesitant about the Casey's Chromoly Crazy bar because none of my local bike shops stocked it (or had even heard of it!). In fact, there are not many here who have used/tried/heard of it. But, for me, it has been a great decision and i'm loving 'em!!!
No, i don't work for Velo-Orange - i'm just very pleased with the product and hope others can experience the same enjoyment with them that I am.
Last edited by PolarBear007; 07-19-16 at 03:06 PM. Reason: ETA: photo
#6
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Joined: Mar 2016
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so I can eventually add an old aerobar or extensions where I desire.
#7
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
Bikes: '93 Cannondale T-1000, '03 Cannondale R800
You might have problems with an aerobar on an MTB frame. The top tube will be very long. I've read you want your elbows and shoulder at roughly 90 degrees when rest in aero position. So if you go aero bar, look for one that is adjustable, or meant for road / MTB bikes
I would take a look at what the Tour Divide mtb riders use. Lots of aero bars and flats there.
Jeff's Bike Blog
The H-bar is the best reviewed on your list. A lot of your choices don't have a lot of hand positions to choose from.
Personally I'd recommend using a threadless conversion quill stem and using some Salsa Cowbell 3 bars, but that will be a lot of $$$
Butterfly bars are a cheap option if you don't care about wind resistance
I would take a look at what the Tour Divide mtb riders use. Lots of aero bars and flats there.
Jeff's Bike Blog
The H-bar is the best reviewed on your list. A lot of your choices don't have a lot of hand positions to choose from.
Personally I'd recommend using a threadless conversion quill stem and using some Salsa Cowbell 3 bars, but that will be a lot of $$$
Butterfly bars are a cheap option if you don't care about wind resistance
#8
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
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The idea for the aerobars comes exactly from some Tour Divide cockpit I've seen on the web. I bought an aerobar with adjustable single arms it should work fine.
A dirt drop is very tempting but they comes all with 23.8mm dia. so I'll have to change controls. What about the Soma Gatorskin? similar dirt drop but with 22.2mm to take my mtb controls (and according to a review, is better with mtb control instead of road).
All in all I always had bikes with flat/rise bar, so a moustache/simil moustache it's probably the right way without mess things up.
A dirt drop is very tempting but they comes all with 23.8mm dia. so I'll have to change controls. What about the Soma Gatorskin? similar dirt drop but with 22.2mm to take my mtb controls (and according to a review, is better with mtb control instead of road).
All in all I always had bikes with flat/rise bar, so a moustache/simil moustache it's probably the right way without mess things up.
#9
Cousinmosquito
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
Bikes: Drop-barred Karate Monkey (10 spd), Singular Kite(9spd), Santa Cruz Tallboy(10spd), Santa Cruz Superlight(9spd), Litespeed Ocooee(9spd), Carbon road bike(9spd), Carbon Giant XTC(10spd), Bianchi D2 Chrono TT bike(9spd)
Hey dmas. I just finished this, probably too much information, but you may find it useful. There is a link in there to Joe Jaguschs bike, he uses the Soma Gator bar.
Jeff's Bike Blog: Hand numbness while bikepacking 101
Jeff's Bike Blog: Hand numbness while bikepacking 101
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