Handlebar Mods

[MarcD]

I was not happy with the width of the bars on the 2013 Turbo S. Way too wide for me. The 2014 specs say 580mm, but my bars were 680mm on the 2013. I ended up buying a Ritchey Pro Rizer, and trimmed 10mm from each side with a pipe cutter, making the total width 650-ish Plus they have 35mm of rise, with 3 degrees less back sweep. Very very happy with the new layout.

I also didn't like how the breakout controller was the lock on for the right grip, as I was constantly hitting the (-) button. So I moved that off the grip, shimmed it with some rubber pads and torqued it down. Then used a regular Specialized lock on for the right grip. Now the right grip I can torque to the full 6 Nm without worrying about the electronics.

Rode a few miles tonight and feel much more comfortable. As a comparison, I use 44cm width bars on my drop bar bikes, so the narrower riser bars feel much more natural for me. I didn't want to cut the Specialized bars in case I wanted to return everything stock.

 

[OldGuy]

On my 2014, the bars were def. too wide, so I cut 1/2" off each end with a tubing cutter.

 

[sodoff]

After 60 years of light weight, made to measure road & mtb racing bikes, I'm pleased to now be riding a Turbo Vado SL 4. It's perfect, but for one thing; the ridiculously wide 680mm handlebars! I can barely get it through my garage door, garden gate etc.
I was going to saw off 100mm, but realised that doing that would mean sliding the brake/gear/power levers to a portion of the handlebar that was asymetrical and would result in oddly angled bar furniture.
Currently waiting for some 580mm bars on order. Delighted to see @MarcD post, and that I'm not the only one!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

the ridiculously wide 680mm

It is pretty normal and modern nowadays. Wide handlebars give you an excellent steering capability. Of course you can replace your bars if you like. I have used SQlab Innerbarends to keep my arms closer apart, no need to replace the bars. And I appreciate multiple hand positions I can take with wide bars.

My other e-bike has same 680 wide bars. There, I used Innerbarends 411 and Ergon GP2 grips. Even more hand positions!

P.S. Now fancy modern MTB handlebars: 780 mm (trail), 800 mm (enduro). These are wide not without a reason!

 

[sodoff]

It is pretty normal and modern nowadays. Wide handlebars give you an excellent steering capability. Of course you can replace your bars if you like. I have used SQlab Innerbarends to keep my arms closer apart, no need to replace the bars. And I appreciate multiple hand positions I can take with wide bars.

My other e-bike has same 680 wide bars. There, I used Innerbarends 411 and Ergon GP2 grips. Even more hand positions!

P.S. Now fancy modern MTB handlebars: 780 mm (trail), 800 mm (enduro). These are wide not without a reason!

It may well be 'normal and modern nowadays' but I don't agree that it gives you 'excellent steering capability'. Quite the opposite in fact. The increased leverage causes instability and wobbling, as well as causing problems with getting through narrow spaces. 680mm is ridiculously wide and of no benefit in my opinion. Yet another marketing and fashion issue which we're all supposed to comply with.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

et another marketing and fashion issue which we're all supposed to comply with.

Why would - you think - premium brands use more material if the concept were wrong? Why are MTBs equipped with extremely wide bars? Not for the better steering on extreme, narrow, rough singletracks where the capability to corner fast is crucial? Have you ever tried the "counter-steering" technique used to corner very fast? Even gravel bikes are equipped with "flared drop bars" where the dropped part is wider than the top bar.

Vadorset, you are simply not used to the wide bars. Perhaps you used to ride a road bike before? (Road bikedrop bars are different). Nothing "ridiculous" in the width of modern flat handlebars!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Over the years, mountain bike handlebars have got progressively wider, because increased width can improve control of the bike. Some also believe it can open up your chest and improve breathing.

The wider the bar, the more leverage you can apply to the front wheel to force the bike onto more aggressive lines. Turning or wheel-grabbing forces created by the trail are also reduced at the bar end, so it’s easier to keep the bike on target.

A given amount of hand movement also has less impact on the steering angle of the wheel, so you have more accurate fine control of the front tyre.

The overall effect is similar to having a slacker head angle, which suddenly makes the price of a new bar seem reasonable.

Today, mountain bike handlebars tend to be between 700mm and 800mm in width.

How to choose a mountain bike handlebar – and our favourite trail-ready cockpits

Everything you need to know before buying a new mountain bike handlebar

www.bikeradar.com

 

[BioWheel]

It may well be 'normal and modern nowadays' but I don't agree that it gives you 'excellent steering capability'. Quite the opposite in fact. The increased leverage causes instability and wobbling, as well as causing problems with getting through narrow spaces. 680mm is ridiculously wide and of no benefit in my opinion. Yet another marketing and fashion issue which we're all supposed to comply with.

An advantage of wider bars is simply more room and the ability for more positions for your hands. On a long trip that's valuable to me. I have never experienced wobble.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I wanted to use bar tape so I need more room carbon fiber bars were the solution as you have a lot more useable space for stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JNR9G3M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[m@Robertson]

It may well be 'normal and modern nowadays' but I don't agree that it gives you 'excellent steering capability'. Quite the opposite in fact. The increased leverage causes instability and wobbling, as well as causing problems with getting through narrow spaces. 680mm is ridiculously wide and of no benefit in my opinion. Yet another marketing and fashion issue which we're all supposed to comply with.

As Stefan Mikes quoted above, wider bars give more control. Performancewise they do the opposite of what you're saying for the reasons he quoted. My Surly Big Fat Dummy came factory stock with 800mm bars and for a bike that runs so heavy thanks to its expected job, the extra width gave greater control. I had first hand experience with this as I pulled the bike apart and subb'd in 650mm bars and noted firsthand the decrease. So I extended those bars back out to 810mm (note the change in grip diameter). Feature restored.

Also just look around at bikes. They have wider bars now. I agree the bicycle industry is perhaps the worst offender on Earth in terms of made-up solutions to problems that do not exist, but not when it comes to creating safety concerns like you are alleging. Nobody's corporate legal team or BoD would sit still for taking a risk like that. Its the opposite.

I substituted an extra narrow set of 580mm bars for a bike that was essentially an urban pedelec. The narrow bars were for clearance in narrow spaces like what happens when you are lanesplitting between parked cars and cars on the road. Without question the bike was more jittery. A short bar means a small change has a greater effect. Not lesser.

 

[BioWheel]

Carbon fiber handlebars are so cheap on Amazon. But I would argue for a name brand like Richey. I purchased Chinese CF - seat post. After a month, on a MTB ride, bounced down on it from a root and it cracked and shredded. Thank goodness I didn't get hurt as a result. Had to ride back with no seat. Very difficult. Bought a Thompson Elite seat post after that.

 

[mschwett]

Carbon fiber handlebars are so cheap on Amazon. But I would argue for a name brand like Richey. I purchased Chinese CF - seat post. After a month, on a MTB ride, bounced down on it from a root and it cracked and shredded. Thank goodness I didn't get hurt as a result. Had to ride back with no seat. Very difficult. Bought a Thompson Elite seat post after that.

i would agree - carbon fiber is an extremely tough, reliable material when properly designed and manufactured … which i would not trust of a no-name manufacturer. they have very little to lose if your handlebar snaps and you suffer a catastrophic crash. you have much to lose.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Carbon fiber handlebars are so cheap on Amazon. But I would argue for a name brand like Richey. I purchased Chinese CF - seat post. After a month, on a MTB ride, bounced down on it from a root and it cracked and shredded. Thank goodness I didn't get hurt as a result. Had to ride back with no seat. Very difficult. Bought a Thompson Elite seat post after that.

I am not using it mountain biking its for on road otherwise I would work about it.