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Bars with backsweep

Oct. 11, 2022, 1:15 p.m.
Posts: 478
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: tashi

Salsa Salt Flats are my choice for my abused hands and arms. Sweepy and comfy but normal enough for shreddin'.

11 degrees back, 6 degrees up, 800mm wide, no rise, choose your price point.

I had the carbon version of this bar on my Rocky Element and I found them quite stiff and uncomfortable. The bends were nice, I just found it crazy stiff. I think they might have been so stiff due to the extra material they added so you can mount tribars to them. #sillybikepackers. Flat bars will always be stiffer compered to riser bar. The salsa just felt like a brick, no flex I could feel.

I now have the Carbon Nukeproof 31.8 12mm rise (flat bar) and it is way more comfortable. Its no SQ Lab Flexx bar but it feels just right for my Element.


 Last edited by: heathen on Oct. 11, 2022, 3:29 p.m., edited 1 time in total.
Oct. 11, 2022, 3:10 p.m.
Posts: 2668
Joined: April 25, 2003

Interesting.  

I can only vouch for the aluminum versions, no over stiffness problems for me with those.

Oct. 13, 2022, 7:03 a.m.
Posts: 1097
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Posted by: craw

Does anyone know of a 12' bar that's 800mm wide? I've been running the SQ Lab 12' carbon in 780 and it's been surprisingly good but I think when I do a new build soon I want to go back to 800.

Could also run those weird plug width extension things

These? https://www.amazon.ca/Controltech-Terminator-Handlebar-Extension-Length/dp/B07T97G1B9/ref=asc_df_B07T97G1B9/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335360571978&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1093996331685869295&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1001970&hvtargid=pla-813126885013&psc=1

Anyone try these? They don't instill a lot of confidence.


 Last edited by: craw on Oct. 13, 2022, 7:07 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Oct. 13, 2022, 9:01 a.m.
Posts: 2668
Joined: April 25, 2003

Holy heck, those seem like a bad idea, particularly combined with bar ends like the listing suggests. 😬

Oct. 13, 2022, 9:52 a.m.
Posts: 16254
Joined: Nov. 20, 2002

Back in the day a buddy extended some flat bars by epoxying in some hardwood plugs I think it was 1" on each side, so he was really good craftsman and he didnt die

20mm is 10mm on each side which is not alot so would you notice i if you didnt know ?

Oct. 13, 2022, 9:09 p.m.
Posts: 182
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

I've been running 9* backsweep Deity and E Thirteen bars for the last 4 years and I've been looking for a 35mm bar with more backsweep (between 12 and 16). Since it's against SQ Labs' principles to make 35mm bars, any of you know any alternatives in that diameter for rougher trails? I'd also add my name to the Chromag more-backsweep bar group! (But in 35mm)

Oct. 14, 2022, 1:28 p.m.
Posts: 1097
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Posted by: martin

I've been running 9* backsweep Deity and E Thirteen bars for the last 4 years and I've been looking for a 35mm bar with more backsweep (between 12 and 16). Since it's against SQ Labs' principles to make 35mm bars, any of you know any alternatives in that diameter for rougher trails? I'd also add my name to the Chromag more-backsweep bar group! (But in 35mm)

Chromag is quite stridently a one-size fits company most when it comes to things like bars and saddles. Same back and upsweep for all bars, same saddle width/length for most saddles, same chainstay lengths across a model.

Oct. 15, 2022, 3:40 a.m.
Posts: 1462
Joined: March 18, 2017

Posted by: craw

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Posted by: craw

Does anyone know of a 12' bar that's 800mm wide? I've been running the SQ Lab 12' carbon in 780 and it's been surprisingly good but I think when I do a new build soon I want to go back to 800.

Could also run those weird plug width extension things

These? https://www.amazon.ca/Controltech-Terminator-Handlebar-Extension-Length/dp/B07T97G1B9/ref=asc_df_B07T97G1B9/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335360571978&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1093996331685869295&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1001970&hvtargid=pla-813126885013&psc=1

Anyone try these? They don't instill a lot of confidence.

Yeah I actually thought it was Syntace or Problem Solvers that made the inserts

Oct. 15, 2022, 6:23 a.m.
Posts: 1097
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Posted by: craw

Posted by: Endur-Bro

Posted by: craw

Does anyone know of a 12' bar that's 800mm wide? I've been running the SQ Lab 12' carbon in 780 and it's been surprisingly good but I think when I do a new build soon I want to go back to 800.

Could also run those weird plug width extension things

These? https://www.amazon.ca/Controltech-Terminator-Handlebar-Extension-Length/dp/B07T97G1B9/ref=asc_df_B07T97G1B9/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335360571978&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1093996331685869295&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1001970&hvtargid=pla-813126885013&psc=1

Anyone try these? They don't instill a lot of confidence.

Yeah I actually thought it was Syntace or Problem Solvers that made the inserts

If memory serves those thread in bar width extenders weren't universal, they were an accessory for a particular bar designed to receive them. But if those Control Tech ones insert deep enough is it such a bad idea? My grips only have clamps at the inside end anyway...

It looks like Syntace makes some 12' backsweep bars but they're also 780 and 31.8. There is an opportunity here for someone to be the only brand to offer a 800/35mm clamp 12' backsweep bar (Dear Chromag). https://www.syntace.com/en_GB/products/handlebar/mountain-bike/?p=1


 Last edited by: craw on Oct. 15, 2022, 6:25 a.m., edited 1 time in total.
Oct. 15, 2022, 3:17 p.m.
Posts: 1462
Joined: March 18, 2017

*Shudders at 35mm* 

Wild that my 850T sled and 300F trails bike somehow are able to be piloted with flimsy 1-1/8" bars.

Oct. 16, 2022, 8:46 a.m.
Posts: 1097
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Posted by: Endur-Bro

*Shudders at 35mm* 

Wild that my 850T sled and 300F trails bike somehow are able to be piloted with flimsy 1-1/8" bars.

I've been back on a carbon bar in 31.8 and it is really good. I only mentioned 35 because that's what a lot of people have.

Oct. 16, 2022, 10:23 a.m.
Posts: 182
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: craw

Posted by: Endur-Bro

*Shudders at 35mm* 

Wild that my 850T sled and 300F trails bike somehow are able to be piloted with flimsy 1-1/8" bars.

I've been back on a carbon bar in 31.8 and it is really good. I only mentioned 35 because that's what a lot of people have.

I've read or heard an interview with an industry guy a few years ago who said that they went with 35mm mainly for aesthetic reasons. I bought a 35mm stem on my last build to feel the difference and sold my previous bike with the 31.8 so I'd like to stay with what I currently have even if it's harder to find a bar I'd like. 

Even though I don't have any problems with my E13 base bar (9 back/5 up), I'd be curious to try a 12 or 16 backsweep bar. Sq Lab make a 31.8-35mm shim but I'm not sure I'd want to use that. Maybe one day they'll flinch and make their bars in 35 😅

My favorite bar ever was an old steel Bontrager Crowbar (25.4), that I had bought at the time because it was the widest available (like 2004-2005).

Oct. 17, 2022, 8:07 a.m.
Posts: 1097
Joined: Jan. 31, 2005

Posted by: martin

Posted by: craw

Posted by: Endur-Bro

*Shudders at 35mm* 

Wild that my 850T sled and 300F trails bike somehow are able to be piloted with flimsy 1-1/8" bars.

I've been back on a carbon bar in 31.8 and it is really good. I only mentioned 35 because that's what a lot of people have.

I've read or heard an interview with an industry guy a few years ago who said that they went with 35mm mainly for aesthetic reasons. I bought a 35mm stem on my last build to feel the difference and sold my previous bike with the 31.8 so I'd like to stay with what I currently have even if it's harder to find a bar I'd like. 

Even though I don't have any problems with my E13 base bar (9 back/5 up), I'd be curious to try a 12 or 16 backsweep bar. Sq Lab make a 31.8-35mm shim but I'm not sure I'd want to use that. Maybe one day they'll flinch and make their bars in 35 😅

My favorite bar ever was an old steel Bontrager Crowbar (25.4), that I had bought at the time because it was the widest available (like 2004-2005).

I've been using that SQ Lab 31.8-35 shim for over a year with no issues. The plan was to test the SQ Lab carbon 12' bar with my existing 35m clamp Atlas stem then buy a 31.8 NSB stem but I never got around to it.

Oct. 17, 2022, 12:14 p.m.
Posts: 1462
Joined: March 18, 2017

I was using a Renthal carb0n Fatbar 31.8 30mm with NSB 32mm stem before I switched to the SQ Labs 31.8 30X alloy 16º 30mm bar with Straitline DM 28mm stem

Oct. 17, 2022, 4:06 p.m.
Posts: 750
Joined: May 11, 2022

Now that I'm back on 800mm bar (my previous Fubar osx was trimmed to 770) I can't see going narrower.  It feels great where it's at.  If I was to trim it (to reduce tree impacts) I'd probably only take 2.5mm off each side.  I don't think 795mm would make a hell of a lot of difference as far as tree contact goes though haha.  I'm a very average 5 11 height so not sure why I'm smitten with 800mm.  Might be two factors: increased backsweep makes it more comfortable on my hands when gripped that wide and bike geometry.

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