Is 810mm/820mm handlebars too wide?

[Neeko DeVinchi]

Hi everyone. Figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and introduce myself on EBR and make a thread to see what all of you have to say .

Anywho long story short, I'm a rider of 6foot 3inches with a wide chest. So typically, my preferred handlebar length is no shorter than 800mm wide (not including grips). But in recent years, I've noticed that I'm opting to spec my bikes with lounger bars (shorter stems to counteract your default neutral riding positioning). But the other day, I slapped on 810mm handlebars on my short travel trail ebike and absolutely loved it.

I imagine that there is an arrangement for using wide bars when riding in enclosed areas in certain trails whereby you could clip your bars on a tree. But I consider that no different than a rider who 'on occasion', gets the odd pedal strike when climbing technical trails.

I guess gone are the days when 810mm/820mm handlebars were reserved for downhill. Even in the xc world, I'm noticing a trend that racers are running shorter stems and longer bars.

Anyway, love to know what you all think. And yes, I deliberately didn't go into detail discussing handlebar material (alloy vs carbon) or handlebar clamp width (31.8 vs 35)

 

[ChezCheese:)]

At first handlebars which are wider than your shoulders feel cool, but after racking up some hours on your bike, you may find your shoulders and neck get sore. Also, it gets to be a pain to maneuver your bike through doorways. I cut mine down so my arms are more in line with my shoulders, and if definitely feels better. Much easier to get through doorways, too.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Neeko: You're overthinking it. I have owned different e-bikes with handlebar width of 680 to 780 mm. I have never thought the bars could be too wide. (Standard road e-bike bars felt too narrow to me although I perfectly understand the intention of drop bars). You seem to ride an e-MTB and say yourself you like wide bars. Stick to that thought!

What is your e-bike?

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

Neeko: You're overthinking it. I have owned different e-bikes with handlebar width of 680 to 780 mm. I have never thought the bars could be too wide. (Standard road e-bike bars felt too narrow to me although I perfectly understand the intention of drop bars). You seem to ride an e-MTB and say yourself you like wide bars. Stick to that thought!

What is your e-bike?

Lol. I've lost count as to how many ebikes I own. But they vary between well known brands, boutique brands and even ebikes I've built.

But perhaps you're right. Maybe I am overthinking it. Some of my riding friends have....'criticized' my decision to go wider but I am reminded, I am the tallest and broadest rider of our group.

Still. Goes without saying that everyone has their preferences

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

At first handlebars which are wider than your shoulders feel cool, but after racking up some hours on your bike, you may find your shoulders and neck get sore. Also, it gets to be a pain to maneuver your bike through doorways. I cut mine down so my arms are more in line with my shoulders, and if definitely feels better. Much easier to get through doorways, too.

I see your point @ChezCheese:). Even I recognise that storing my bikes when not in use results in me having to undo the stem bolts and turn the bars so that each bike doesn't take up as much room in my storage facility.

I did try 780mm and less to begin with before but quickly found myself going wider and wider.

But you're right about wider handlebars being a nuisance when getting your bike through doors

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Some of my riding friends have....'criticized' my decision to go wider but I am reminded, I am the tallest and broadest rider of our group.

You are a person who has the full right to make your own decisions. There are very few e-MTBers in these Forums (they do exist though). As you say, your friends are concerned about aluminium/carbon or 31.8/35 mm stem diameter I think you are above it!

Still. Goes without saying that everyone has their preferences

Amen to that!

I tell my traditional cycling riding mates this: "I am an e-biker. We're different" For instance, my gravel cycling buddies all ride drop-bar gravel bikes. I came to a group ride with my Vado SL as closely matching a gravel e-bike definition as possible, only with flat handlebars. A friend spotted SQlab Innerbarends 411 grips (that mimic drop-bar hoods) and made this comment: "These are too wide apart". To which, I replied "It is precisely as intended. You need the access to brake levers and to the shifter". And he got it!