Factors to consider when buying Mountain Bike Handlebars

• Material – The most common types of materials used in mountain bike handlebars are carbon, titanium, steel and aluminum.
• Carbon – If you are searching for a lightweight material, you should look for a carbon handlebar. These handlebars are very strong and durable.
• Aluminum – In terms of price, aluminum handlebars are very cheap but durable. You will also find that most of the handlebars are made of aluminum because they are lightweight and strong.
• Titanium – Titanium is very light but it provides the best shock absorption. Again, titanium bars are the most durable. Due to this, they are very expensive.
• Steel-These ones are extremely strong and sleek. Most of the handlebars that are made of steel also feature a chrome finish which gives them an attractive look. The chrome finish also boosts their durability.
• Clamp diameter- Most of the handlebars have a diameter of 31.8mm. This means that they fit perfectly on a 31.mm stem. Others have a clamp diameter of 35mm. If you decide to go for those with a diameter of 35mm, you should be ready to buy a 35mm stem.
• Width – A good handlebar should have a width of at least 750mm. The good thing about these handlebars is that they are more stable and gives you a better control when riding. Again, you won’t need to pay extra money when buying any of them.
• Weight – The weight of the handlebar determines the steering abilities of the bike. Therefore, you should ensure that the handlebar you have picked is not too heavy and not too light. Lightweight handlebars may be comfortable t ride but they may not provide great stability especially when riding on challenging trails.
• Rise- Most of the mountain bike handlebars are usually raised from 0-100mm. If you are searching for a comfortable handlebar, you should consider any that has a rise of 40-50mm. In terms of inches, the range should be 1.5-2 inches.
• Sweep – This is the angle in which the mountain bike handlebars bend to the back. The sweep is very important because it determined your body posture and comfort. There are two types of sweeps namely the upsweep and the backsweep. The upsweep is the angle in which the handlebar bends up from the stem. Backsweep is the angle in which the handlebar bends towards the back. These angles are an important factor you should consider when buying.

Types of mountain bike handlebars

1. Downhill bars- These ones are very easy to notice because they are the widest. They also have a range of 0-2 inches rise. As a result, they are very strong but they require oversize stems.
2. Dirt jump parts – Dirt jumps handlebars have a rise of 2-3 inches which means that they are a bit tall. They are made of aluminum and are available in oversize and standard diameters.

• Cross-country handlebars- These ones are either made of carbon or aluminum. They are very narrow and have a low rise bars.

Benefits of flat handlebars

• Position – If you love cross-country riding, they allow you to lean forward more easily.
• Light – Flat bars usually have less steel in their constructions which means that they are lightweight and cheap to produce.
• Narrow– Due to their narrow design, they allow you to ride even in narrow spaces like corridors and doorways.
• Versatile– Another benefit of flat bars is that you can easily attach various accessories like lights, phone holders and other items you may require when cycling.

Benefits of Riser Bars

• Control– As compared to the flat bars, these ones gives you a better control when cycling. They allow you to turn easily since you do not need to use a lot of energy.
• Wrist support– Riser bars allows you to sit further at the back . Due to this, your weight is distributed at the front which means that you won’t strain your wrists.

The Final Verdict

Handlebars are among the most important parts of a mountain bike because they help you to steer your bike. If your handlebars are not strong, you may not be able to control your mountain bike. Again, they allow you to balance your weight when cycling. This means that you should not just pick any mountain bike handlebar available on the market because not every bar will give you the best performance. However, you can pick any from the above list because we only considered the top rated products and those with advanced features. 

When we were doing our research, we also considered various things like material, price, comfort, durability and strength. This means that all the products will give you the best value for your money since they have been tried and tested for quality. However, you need to go through their features carefully to ensure that the one you have picked matches your requirements.