Handle bar lenght

[texano999]

Handle bar lenght my new orbea 2023 is 800 ! it seems too much for me …i ma 1.72 cm size M bike. Thinking to cut it at least 780 or even less …suggestion?

 

[irie]

I'm 1.78m and have cut my bars to 760mm which is my "sweet spot".

Any longer than 760mm and unused bar sticks out beyond my hands.

(I originally cut a bar down progressively 1cm at a time)

 

[Mikerb]

In terms body fit whatever width enables to grip the bars whilst keeping your wrists as a straight line with your forearm with elbows slightly bent outward. So a lot depends on your shoulder width. Be aware that most grips have an end stop that adds about 5mm per side as well.
In terms of handling, shorter bars make for faster steering ......too short and that can make steering twitchy and the bike difficult to control on rough trails. Longer bars provide more leverage and slower steering responses.
My bars are cut to 760 on one bike which is mostly used for forest trails and 770 on the other which is used for rougher gravity trails.

 

[Paulquattro]

You can be the only one to decide your bar length
I dont like wide bars i think they slow the steering down to much and have more chance of you tangling up with a tree on tight fast trials
Personally im around the 750 mark
What you can do is move your controls in board and your grips and shorten the bars effectively till your happy then cut off the ends that way theres no guessing and frequent cutting .

 

[texano999]

You can be the only one to decide your bar length
I dont like wide bars i think they slow the steering down to much and have more chance of you tangling up with a tree on tight fast trials
Personally im around the 750 mark
What you can do is move your controls in board and your grips and shorten the bars effectively till your happy then cut off the ends that way theres no guessing and frequent cutting .

I have shoulders 420 and on my road bike i use a 420 handle bar

 

[rzr]

Handle bar lenght my new orbea 2023 is 800 ! it seems too much for me …i ma 1.72 cm size M bike. Thinking to cut it at least 780 or even less …suggestion?

i'd say it depends on your riding. yes, 800mm is too much for you probably.
but what's best, 780? 760? 750 ?
depends how close trees are...
on my bike, i'd be happy with 780mm (181cm), but because of trails I have around my place, i prefer 760.

 

[rzr]

Any longer than 760mm and unused bar sticks out beyond my hands.

this means your brake levers are set too inside. (you put your hands on handlebar according to your brake levers' positions)

 

[Mikerb]

I have shoulders 420 and on my road bike i use a 420 handle bar

There really is no correlation with road bikes. The head tube angle is much steeper, tyres are much narrower and riding surface much smoother.......and in a normal riding position much more rider weight is over the front of the bike.

 

[irie]

this means your brake levers are set too inside. (you put your hands on handlebar according to your brake levers' positions)

You may put your hands on handlebars according to brake lever position, but that does not mean that the brake levers and bar grips are in the ergonomically correct position for your physiology, riding style, and personal preference.

In principle hand position on handlebars should be set first, followed by brake position. In practice, most riders know exactly where they want their brake levers to be set in relation to their hand position on bar grips, so both bar grips and brake levers are moved together.

 

[mike_kelly]

Something to be aware of when cutting down handlebars. First many bars are reinforced on the ends and only "allow" being cut to a certain limit. Second you may find that your handlebar hardware needs a certain amount of handlebar space i.e. the grips, brake levers, shifters etc. Often the center section of the bars tapers for a long way and you can't put handlebar hardware on that taper. This limits the maximum amount you can cut off. I would have 700mm bars if I could manage it but it is not possible on the bars I like.

 

[steve_sordy]

Don't be too keen to shorten the bars, you can't saw it back on!
Give each reduction (simulated or not) a good go before deciding.
If you have carbon bars, tape the end first and be careful not to inhale any of the dust or get it in your eyes.

 

[mike_kelly]

Yes cutting carbon bars is an important warning. Carbon dust is not good for you and there is no way to get it out of your lungs once it is there. So take cutting seriously. I cut carbon with a saw under water and for as many things like cutting handlebars I don't use a saw. I use a pipe cutter which does not produce dust.

 

[irie]

You can be the only one to decide your bar length
I dont like wide bars i think they slow the steering down to much and have more chance of you tangling up with a tree on tight fast trials
Personally im around the 750 mark
What you can do is move your controls in board and your grips and shorten the bars effectively till your happy then cut off the ends that way theres no guessing and frequent cutting .

Not if you have, as I do, grips with fixed end caps.

 

[rzr]

grips quite often are way bigger than your hands, you can move controls 1cm more inside (on both sides), effectively 'shortening' handlebar (grips) by 2cm. (or maybe even by 3cm)

 

[RustyIron]

Handle bar lenght my new orbea 2023 is 800 ! it seems too much for me …i ma 1.72 cm size M bike. Thinking to cut it at least 780 or even less …suggestion?

Since it's a new bike, you might want to give it a few rides before hacking off material that can't be put back. You might find that the longer bars allow you to push it into corners and maintain control through the chunk.

 

[irie]

... In terms of handling, shorter bars make for faster steering ... Longer bars provide more leverage and slower steering responses.

Also depends on stem length.