The Finest Mountain Bike Handlebars of 2024

Your mountain bike handlebar is an often-overlooked element that may rework the way in which your bike handles and feels. As the first dealing with interface of your bike, your handlebar is crucial not just for management however can have a big affect in your consolation as nicely.

Whereas mountain bike handlebars all look comparatively comparable, there are some fairly vital variations among the many myriad choices in the marketplace. Working with trendy supplies and building strategies, manufacturers have been capable of design handlebars with completely different efficiency traits to swimsuit nearly each want and choice, and that’s an ideal factor. It seems that the handlebar is, in actual fact, a efficiency element that may present various advantages, whether or not you’re looking for one thing stiff and exact, compliant and forgiving, or if you happen to’re attempting to loosen up your journey or dial within the match of your cockpit.

As of late, there are such a lot of completely different mountain bike handlebars in the marketplace it may make your head spin. Made out of supplies starting from carbon fiber to aluminum – even titanium, coming in 31.8mm and 35mm clamp sizes, and an entire vary of various rise and sweep choices, it may be arduous to determine which is the most effective handlebar for you. It doesn’t assist that each handlebar is claimed to be the most effective for (insert adjective right here) by their respective producers. So how do you select the appropriate one?

Final yr, we teamed up with Faction Bike Studio to do a first-of-its-kind group compliance take a look at of 42 completely different handlebars of their lab, adopted by rider testing to see how these findings translated to make use of out on the path. Armed with the data gathered throughout lab and rider testing, together with months of testing the bars included right here in the true world, we’ve received suggestions to swimsuit each want and funds.

Our favourite mountain bike handlebars are listed under, together with the most effective of the remaining that are additionally nice choices worthy of significant consideration. Our useful comparability chart exhibits all the fashions we examined and their specs at a look. Our detailed shopping for recommendation has all the data if you happen to need assistance deciding what you want, adopted by our FAQ part with solutions to widespread questions.

The Finest Mountain Bike Handlebars of 2024

---

Better of the Relaxation

Comparability Chart

Handlebar Mannequin	MSRP	Materials	Weight (dimension examined)	Width	Clamp Diameter	Rise Choices	Sweep	Stiffness Score (lbs/in)
OneUp Elements Carbon	$160	Carbon	228g (20mm rise)	800mm	35mm	20mm, 35mm	8° again, 5°up	371
FSA Gradient Carbon	$146.60	Carbon	237g (31.8 clamp/30mm rise)	800mm	31.8mm, 35mm	20mm, 30mm	8° again, 5°up	388
OneUp Elements Aluminum	$90	Aluminum	342g (35mm rise)	800mm	35mm	20mm, 35mm	8° again, 5°up	351
PNW Vary Gen 3	$69 – $74	Aluminum	309g (35mm clamp)	800mm	31.8mm, 35mm	30mm	10° again, 5°up	409
Roost Titanium Riser	$295	Titanium	303g (30mm rise)	800mm	31.8mm	Flat, 20mm, 30mm	9° again, 5°up	264
Race Face Subsequent SL Carbon	$180	Carbon	167g	740mm	35mm	10mm	8° again, 5°up	8° again, 5°up
SQlab 30x Carbon Handlebar	$320	Carbon	240g (45mm rise)	780mm	31.8mm	15mm, 30mm, 45mm	12° or 16° again, 4° up	not lab examined
Hope Carbon Handlebar	$215	Carbon	222g (31.8 clamp/20mm rise)	800mm	31.8mm, 35mm	20mm	7° again, 5°up	355
Nukeproof Horizon V2 Carbon	$150	Carbon	258 g (25mm rise)	780 or 800mm	31.8mm, 35mm	12mm, 25mm, 38mm	9° again, 5°up	451
Chromag BZA	$200	Carbon	230g (25mm rise)	800mm	35mm	15mm, 25mm, 35mm	9° again, 5°up	409
ENVE M7 Handlebar	$190	Carbon	243g (25mm rise)	800mm	35mm	10mm, 25mm, 40mm	8° again, 4°up	388
ProTaper A25 Aluminum	$109	Aluminum	317g (25mm rise)	810mm	31.8mm, 35mm	12mm, 25mm, 38mm, 50mm	8° again, 4°up	299

Why You Ought to Belief Us

To say that the staff at Bikerumor is gear-obsessed can be an understatement. Writing about biking gear is greater than only a job, using bikes can be our ardour, and we’re all the time on the hunt for merchandise that may enhance our expertise out on the paths. Over time, we realized that even a element as seemingly easy because the handlebar can improve our consolation and management whereas mountain biking. And, we’ve been lucky to check out a lot of completely different handlebars to seek out what we like finest. Nonetheless, there are such a lot of handlebars in the marketplace with varied claims about their efficiency traits, that it may be tough to seek out the right handlebar for you.

To study extra, we teamed up with Faction Bike Studio to do compliance testing of their lab to get some actual knowledge on the stiffness and compliance of 42 completely different handlebars. Then, we rider-tested a collection of these handlebars to see if the variations in stiffness/compliance had been noticeable on the path and what affect it had on our consolation and management. We discovered that there are notable variations among the many bars we examined and that the lab findings lined up with the rider expertise. Evaluation writer, Jeremy Benson, was one of many take a look at riders for the handlebar testing mission. As somebody who has struggled with numb palms and arm pump whereas using, Jeremy has spent years looking for the right handlebar that gives the perfect steadiness of forgiveness and responsiveness, and he has tried over 30 completely different fashions previously few years.

We began our testing by gathering 42 handlebars and having them despatched to Faction Bike Studio in Granby, Quebec for compliance testing of their lab. Every handlebar was put by means of the identical compliance take a look at to measure the deflection, or flex, underneath a predetermined quantity of weight utilized. These numbers gave us knowledge to match the handlebars by way of stiffness and compliance, as there’s in any other case no customary score system or scale. After the lab testing, we selected 4 fashions for rider testing, and you’ll take a look at this text and the accompanying video to see how we examined and what we realized. Along with testing the handlebars within the lab and on the path for our video mission, Jeremy examined all twelve of the handlebars included on this purchaser’s information to get a really feel for a way every mannequin performs out on the path. Our suggestions are primarily based on his real-world testing expertise and are knowledgeable by the outcomes of the Faction Bike Studio lab testing.

Shopping for Recommendation: The best way to Select Mountain Bike Handlebars

For such a seemingly easy element, there’s a stunning quantity to contemplate when selecting a brand new mountain bike handlebar. Within the following sections, we’ll focus on necessary components like completely different supplies, geometries, stiffness/compliance, weight, and extra that can assist you wade by means of the multitude of choices in the marketplace if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing new.

Materials

The 2 supplies which might be mostly utilized in mountain bike handlebars are carbon fiber and aluminum. In lots of circumstances, some manufacturers even make the identical handlebar in each choices. There are additionally a small handful of handlebars constituted of Titanium in the marketplace nowadays. One of many main components that differentiates these supplies is worth, however there are different variations we’ll cowl under.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is extensively used within the building of mountain bike handlebars as a result of it has a superb strength-to-weight ratio and it may be manipulated into completely different shapes and layups to tune them to provide desired efficiency traits, notably with regard to stiffness/compliance. One of many main advantages of carbon handlebars for a lot of riders is that they’re dramatically lighter than their aluminum counterparts, typically weighing within the neighborhood of 70 to 100 grams much less (relying on the fashions in query). Whereas that won’t matter to everybody, it is without doubt one of the less expensive methods to shave that a lot weight off an entire bike. Moreover, carbon fiber has an excellent capacity to soak up high-frequency vibration, comparatively talking.

It’s value noting that within the compliance (flex) testing on the Faction Bike Studio lab, the common stiffness of the carbon handlebars we examined was barely larger than the aluminum competitors. In fact, that’s a mean taken from our pattern of handlebars and doesn’t inform the entire story, notably given carbon’s vibration-absorbing properties. Actually, we’d argue that a lot of the carbon handlebars in the midst of the stiffness compliance spectrum truly do a greater job of dampening vibration and muting suggestions than equally compliant bars constituted of aluminum.

The first downside to carbon fiber as a handlebar materials is that it has the next manufacturing value that ends in costs that may be as a lot as double, or extra, than an equal aluminum possibility. And, whereas carbon fiber handlebars are extremely sturdy, they are often extra susceptible to break from blunt impacts, crashes, or presumably even the over-tightening of stem bolts or bar clamps in your controls. We all the time advocate utilizing a torque wrench when tightening something in your bike, notably when coping with carbon parts.

Aluminum

Earlier than the industry-wide adoption of carbon fiber as a fabric to be used within the building of nearly every little thing, aluminum was nearly the one recreation on the town for mountain bike handlebars. Comparatively talking, aluminum is cheaper as a fabric, and producing parts like frames and handlebars is less complicated and subsequently more cost effective. Nonetheless, it may be manipulated into a big selection of styles and sizes, though it is a little more restricted by way of tunability in comparison with carbon fiber. And, whereas it’s pretty light-weight, aluminum handlebars nearly all the time weigh fairly a bit greater than their carbon counterparts.

The outcomes of the Faction Bike Studio compliance testing within the lab confirmed us that, on common, aluminum handlebars are barely extra compliant than their carbon counterparts. That may be a very broad generalization in fact, as some aluminum bars are tremendous stiff, however total, aluminum bars are a bit extra forgiving by way of stiffness. That stated, past the flex of an aluminum handlebar, the fabric itself doesn’t take in vibration fairly as readily as carbon fiber, in our expertise.

Titanium

Titanium is the least widespread materials utilized in mountain bike handlebars, however manufacturers have been making frames and handlebars out of it for a lot of many years. Actually, I’ve a brilliant slim Bontrager Titec handlebar on my classic ’93 customized hardtail out in my storage. Titanium has lengthy been utilized in high-end bike frames, because it has a singular and forgiving journey high quality in comparison with metal or aluminum. Not surprisingly, that interprets fairly on to handlebars, and the Roost Titanium bars we examined are roughly 30% extra compliant on common in comparison with each the carbon and aluminum fashions we examined. In the event you’re after essentially the most forgiving bar, notably for larger impacts, the Roost Titanium bars are it.

Not surprisingly, Titanium is kind of costly, and the fashions we examined are among the most spendy handlebars in the marketplace. That stated, Titanium additionally has a fame for being extremely sturdy, so the upper worth could also be justified by its lengthy lifespan.

Clamp Diameter

Mountain bike handlebars are available in both 31.8mm or 35mm clamp diameters, and fairly just a few are provided in each sizes. In the event you’re getting a brand new handlebar to interchange your current one (and also you don’t wish to exchange your stem too), you then’ll wish to be certain you get the identical clamp dimension. The dimensions is usually printed someplace on the handlebar, normally within the clamp zone that will get coated by the stem, but when not, you may measure the diameter with a caliper.

For a few years, the 31.8mm clamp diameter was thought-about the “customary” till a number of manufacturers began making bars and stems with a 35mm clamp interface. Initially, the transfer to 35mm clamp diameters was to extend each the stiffness of the bar/stem interface and the handlebars themselves, and the final notion was that every one 35mm clamp bars had been stiffer than 31.8mm. Whereas which will have been true for a short while, it’s not at all a tough and quick rule and we’d name it an oversimplification. As of late, the stiffness of a bar is dictated extra by its design and building than by its clamp diameter, and there are tremendous stiff and really compliant bars in each sizes.

That stated, we did discover within the outcomes of our lab testing within the pattern of bars we examined, that the common stiffness of these with a 35mm clamp was, in actual fact, simply barely larger than these with a 31.8mm clamp. Once more, it is a broad generalization, however a notable development nonetheless. No matter clamp dimension, most riders ought to have the ability to discover a handlebar that fits their preferences.

Stem

The stem of your mountain bike is a fairly simple element that merely attaches your handlebar to your fork’s steerer tube. As such, alongside together with your handlebar, your stem is a part of a system that’s used to regulate your bike. Mountain bike stems are available in a big selection of styles and sizes that may play a task in your bike match (bar peak and attain), and ranging ranges of stiffness that may have a minor affect on the responsiveness of your dealing with. Relying on the stem, some can have a little bit of flex, whereas others are ultra-stiff, so that may be an element that’s value contemplating when upgrading your handlebar, particularly if you happen to’re going to a unique clamp dimension and have to buy a brand new stem anyway.

On the subject of motorcycle match, altering the size of your stem is a straightforward technique to successfully enhance or lower the size of your attain, which might play a big position in your consolation in addition to your bike’s dealing with.

Geometry

Mountain bike handlebars are available in an enormous assortment of rises, sweeps, and widths, all of which might play a task in your physique place, wrist alignment, and total consolation on the bike. And, by making adjustments to any of these dimensions, you may modify the ergonomics and match of your cockpit to dial it into your particular wants.

Width

Over the previous couple of many years, mountain bike handlebars have (fortunately) trended wider which has helped enhance each stability and dealing with leverage for our more and more succesful bikes. Whereas it varies considerably by model and mannequin, most handlebars for path or gravity using come within the neighborhood of 780mm to 800mm of their uncut, inventory width. Handlebars on XC bikes are typically a bit narrower, and the light-weight Race Face Subsequent SL is an efficient instance that is available in a 740mm width. Whereas the inventory width of a handlebar could be an ideal match for some riders, our our bodies are available in all completely different styles and sizes, and as a rule, most riders may gain advantage from trimming a brand new handlebar to a extra applicable width to get a greater match.

Handlebars which might be too slim may end up in much less stability and management, whereas bars which might be too broad can stretch your arms out too far and negatively affect your dealing with or consolation in different methods. Figuring out the appropriate width is usually a little tough, however when you’ve got a handlebar that you just already know is an efficient match for you, it could possibly be as simple as measuring that one and trimming your new bar to match. In any other case, we propose utilizing a calculated strategy as a result of slicing your handlebar is everlasting. Bear in mind, you may all the time make it narrower, however you may’t put materials again on, so begin slowly except you’re assured that it’s proper.

Handlebar producers anticipate that their bars shall be getting trimmed and most come marked with measurement strains on the ends to make it somewhat simpler. It isn’t too tough to trim a handlebar by yourself (there are some nice suggestions on-line), however if you’re uncertain or don’t have the instruments, any native bike store ought to give you the chance that can assist you out.

Rise

The rise of a handlebar refers to how excessive a handlebar rises over its size out towards each ends and it’s usually measured in millimeters. Rise is comparatively necessary to contemplate as your handlebar peak can have a big affect in your physique place, weight distribution, and total consolation on the bike. For that reason, many handlebars are provided in a number of rise choices to swimsuit various wants and preferences, whereas others are solely provided in a single rise.

Like the rest, there isn’t a one-rise-fits-all, and what works finest is usually a matter of non-public choice or doubtlessly the kind of bike that you just’re using. If, for instance, you are feeling extreme strain in your palms whereas using, it could possibly be that your handlebar is somewhat low and that strain could possibly be relieved by utilizing a bar with the next rise that shifts your physique place barely extra upright. Conversely, if the entrance finish of your bike feels too excessive, liable to wandering, otherwise you’re looping out on steep climbs, reducing your bar peak with a lower-rise handlebar may assist repair the issue. It’s additionally value mentioning that adjusting the place of the spacers above or under the stem can have an analogous impact in your bar peak.

The correct amount of rise may additionally be influenced by the kind of using you’re doing. Cross-country racers who prioritize pedaling pace and effectivity will typically journey in a extra aggressive, forward-leaning place, so it’s not unusual to see flat or 10mm rise bars on light-weight XC bikes. Conversely, those that journey tremendous steep terrain regularly will typically go for a higher-rise handlebar to lift up the entrance finish of the bike and assist stop their physique weight from being too far ahead whereas descending steeper pitches. Once more preferences range, however discovering the appropriate rise for you is a crucial facet of getting your cockpit setup dialed in for consolation and efficiency.

Again Sweep and Upsweep

Transferring out from the middle of the handlebar, the ends of handlebars are angled each up and again, and these angles are known as upsweep and again sweep. These angles are meant to supply higher alignment of the palms and wrists when gripping the handlebar within the using place. There aren’t actually “customary” upsweep and again sweep angles, though the candy spot for many riders is round 8° or 9° again and 4° or 5° up as evidenced by the truth that nearly all of handlebars in the marketplace fall into that vary. There are outliers, in fact, just like the Hope Carbon Handlebar with a barely extra aggressive 7° again sweep or the PNW Vary Gen 3 which has a considerably extra relaxed 10° again sweep.

Some riders can profit from extra improved ergonomics and wrist alignment provided by handlebars which have extra again sweep than the traditional vary talked about above, and luckily, just a few manufacturers supply merchandise to satisfy that want. One such handlebar is the SQlab 30X Carbon (or aluminum) which might be bought with both 12° or 16° of again sweep. Whereas that a lot again sweep isn’t essentially excellent for everybody, it might be precisely what some riders have to journey extra comfortably. It’s value noting that growing again sweep successfully shortens attain, so these choosing extra excessive angles like 12° or 16° may have to contemplate adjusting stem size to compensate.

Bar Roll

Straight associated to again sweep and upsweep is bar roll. When organising your handlebar, you wish to place it in order that the again sweep and upsweep are aligned within the place that feels finest for you, and that’s accomplished by “rolling” the handlebar ahead or again within the stem. Even slight adjustments to bar roll can play a giant half in your wrist alignment and the way a handlebar feels towards your palms. Adjustments to bar roll are fairly simple to make, so that is comparatively simple to experiment with to seek out out what works finest. Simply make sure you reposition your controls and grips to the right angles if you’re making adjustments to the bar roll.

Management Setup

Organising your controls (shifters and brake levers) correctly can even affect your wrist alignment and affect your consolation. Ideally, you need your shifter paddles and dropper lever to not intervene together with your thumb whereas gripping the handlebar however nonetheless be shut sufficient that you just don’t have to achieve excessively to press on them. Equally, the lateral place and attain of your brake levers ought to be adjusted to swimsuit the size of your fingers so to attain them simply. And, let’s not neglect your alternative of mountain bike grips as that may affect your consolation as nicely.

The angle of your brake levers is arguably a very powerful right here as it’s almost certainly to affect how your wrists are aligned when gripping the handlebar and reaching for the levers. In case your levers are too flat or too steep it may well trigger your wrists to bend an excessive amount of in in some way. In fact, what works finest is a matter of non-public choice and may additionally be dictated by the kind of using that you just’re doing. Identical to bar roll, adjusting the place and angles of your controls is fast and simple, so attempting various things to dial it in is fairly simple.

Stiffness vs Compliance

Compliance is a well-liked buzzword within the biking {industry} that’s used to explain parts that present some forgiveness by means of flex, and it’s utilized by many handlebar producers to characterize the efficiency of their merchandise. Compliance is basically the alternative of stiffness, and it refers to a fabric or object’s capacity to flex underneath load. Whereas flex might not sound like essentially the most fascinating trait in a handlebar, compliance can work to soak up among the forces from affect which might be useful and enhance rider consolation.

Developments in supplies and building strategies have allowed manufacturers to tune handlebars to attain desired efficiency traits whether or not that’s tremendous stiff, very compliant, or someplace in between. With out an industry-wide compliance take a look at “customary”, nonetheless, it’s arduous to know the place completely different handlebars line up on the stiffness/compliance scale in contrast to one another.

So, in 2023, we partnered with Faction Bike Studio to do a first-of-its-kind mountain bike handlebar compliance take a look at. We examined 42 completely different handlebars in Faction’s lab with a standardized flex take a look at to see how they range by way of stiffness and compliance (see the graph under to match), after which we did some blind rider testing to see if the lab take a look at outcomes are noticeable in use and the way that interprets out on the path.

As you may see, there are some fairly dramatic variations by way of stiffness, and in our testing, we decided that these variations are, in actual fact, noticeable whereas using. Consider it or not, there are some handlebars that may present enhanced consolation by means of affect and vibration absorption, however, similar to the rest, how stiff or compliant your handlebar ought to be comes all the way down to rider choice.

Stiff handlebars are identified for being tremendous exact and supply responsive dealing with, however typically it comes at the price of consolation. Then again, compliant handlebars are identified for offering extra consolation, however typically at the price of dealing with precision. Handlebars in the midst of the stiffness scale will usually present essentially the most balanced traits, the place they supply somewhat additional consolation with out sacrificing a lot by way of dealing with.

Many trendy handlebars, notably these constituted of carbon fiber, are being constructed with particular layups that permit for some vertical compliance to soak up affect whereas remaining horizontally stiff for dealing with and management. These efficiency traits might be arduous to steadiness, however some manufacturers and fashions of handlebars are doing it fairly successfully. Carbon fiber, and notably all the interfaces of composite constructions, does a greater job of absorbing vibration and serving to to dampen high-frequency suggestions which will in any other case be transferred to the palms in comparison with different supplies. However, as you may see within the graph above, lots of the stiffest bars we examined additionally occur to be constituted of carbon. Nonetheless, certainly one of our favourite carbon handlebars is the OneUp Elements Carbon as its distinctive ovalized form and carbon building present a tremendous steadiness of compliance, vibration absorption, and dealing with precision.

Identical to carbon handlebars, these constituted of aluminum range fairly dramatically by way of stiffness/compliance, however on common, we discovered them to be barely extra compliant within the lab testing. Regardless, there’s a big selection from tremendous stiff to extra compliant which might be seen within the graph above. Six of the ten most compliant bars are aluminum and two of the ten stiffest bars are aluminum, so you may have the choice to decide on your most popular stiffness. It’s value noting, nonetheless, that aluminum doesn’t take in high-frequency vibration fairly in addition to carbon fiber can, usually talking, though the bars on the extra compliant finish of the spectrum do assist take in larger impacts fairly successfully.

Titanium is way much less widespread as a fabric for handlebars, principally as a result of it’s dearer, however it’s identified for offering a singular, comfy journey really feel when used as a frame-building materials. This interprets fairly on to the handlebar software, and our lab testing confirmed that the three titanium fashions we examined had been essentially the most compliant in comparison with aluminum or carbon fiber. On the path, that distinction is noticeable and so they undoubtedly do take in among the affect forces from bigger hits. And, whereas we discovered the dealing with to really feel a tiny bit imprecise initially, it didn’t take lengthy in any respect to get used to it. The uncooked titanium additionally appears to be like superior, which doesn’t damage both.

Weight

The load of a handlebar most likely shouldn’t be a very powerful consider deciding what to purchase, however for the weight-conscious amongst us, it’s doable to save lots of weight in your bike with an improve if you happen to select. With most aluminum handlebars weighing in round 300g to 340g and most carbon bars starting from round 200g to 250g, it’s doable to cut back the general weight of your bike by round 100g (3.5 oz) or so. Whereas which will appear insignificant to many riders, there are many of us who may recognize the advantages of getting a lighter total bike weight, and in comparison with another parts, the price-to-weight distinction between a carbon bar and an aluminum one is less complicated to abdomen.

For these riders seeking to save essentially the most weight on a lightweight XC race bike, for instance, there are a number of tremendous mild handlebars in the marketplace. The lightest one we’ve examined is the Race Face Subsequent SL which is available in at a scant 167g at its untrimmed 740mm width. Whereas that width received’t enchantment to everybody, it’s nicely chosen for the XC software the place bars are typically a bit narrower than these utilized by path and enduro/gravity riders. Transferring up barely in weight, lots of the wider, burlier carbon bars are nonetheless very mild with fashions just like the Hope Carbon handlebar (222g), Oneup Carbon (228g), Chromag BZA (230g), and the FSA Gradient carbon (237g) weighing shockingly little in comparison with comparably sized aluminum choices.

Worth

You don’t have to spend so much to get a handlebar that shall be a efficiency improve over the inventory aluminum handlebars that come on numerous full mountain bikes. The aluminum fashions we examined vary in worth from $69 to $109, and there are many different choices in the marketplace which might be priced equally and can outperform the essential choices that many producers spec on bikes to economize. The price of a handlebar rises as the fabric will get fancier and the burden comes down, and carbon fiber handlebars fall in a worth vary of round $150 to $200. Whereas that’s clearly dearer than the aluminum choices, the burden financial savings is pretty vital and we really feel the efficiency helps to justify the upper price ticket. Going up a worth degree, area of interest merchandise constituted of unique supplies like Titanium or which have particular options like additional again sweep appear to command more cash. Whereas a Titanium handlebar or 12-16° again sweep received’t enchantment to everybody, they exist for many who want or need them, simply know that you just’ll be paying somewhat additional to get it.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions