Handlebar replacement??

[cmosentine]

Hey all: I have seen a lot of discussion on handlebars lately. I have never has a problem with the stock bars. What are the advantages of going with replacement bars??

I saw the Protaper SE at the bike shop yesterday and the FARKLE gland began to salivate. They sure are pretty.

[Sudzz]

Only reason to replace the stock bars is if they're not comfortable. For me, the stock bars have too much sweep and put my wrists at an uncomfortable angle which caused tingling and numbness in my hands at times. I also wanted to go a little higher with the bars so getting new bars solved both of those problems.

If you like your stock bars, there's really no reason to change 'em unless, like you said, you want something new and "pretty".

PS - Some people change over to a bar with a crossbar so they can mount more electronic gadgets.

[GrayStrom]

I switched mine out for a while, but found them to be worse for me than the stock bars. It was funny- when I put the stock bars on I took more time to adjust them, and now they are absolutely perfect for me. Sometimes I do things the hard way.

[awd505]

Greystrom - what bars did you try?

The Protaper SE ATV Hi is what others say work, but I hold them up in riding position and my hands turn out at the wrist more then stock. A good point is they don't sweep down word like stock but wrist position is wrong.

I am trying to figure out an MX (fatty) and use 1.125 clamps that mount to the stock clamps. It will add height at the mount point however the MX bars have less rise then ATV. Just have not taken my bike to a shop to play with them installed.

Being 6'7" I'm hoping to raise the bars as much as possible with out having to increase the length of wires, hydraulics etc....

[GrayStrom]

I had a set of Moose CR-Lo bars on it. They were too straight... when I covered my brake and clutch levers my wrists were always turned way out, and my hands would go numb. I was trying to make the bike more sporty, but it just isn't that type of bike... works better for me stock.

[Scarlett Harlot]

I installed Protaper ATV Mid bars on mine this afternoon. Thanks for you help Matt. They have considerably less sweep than the stock and the ATV Highs. I was looking for just a hair more forward lean in my sitting posture and I needed to correct that painful Guantanamo interrogation corkscrew elbow/shoulder spastic position that the was induced by the stock bars. Haven't had a chance to ride it yet-too much yard work interfering with my riding time-but sitting on the bike my arms now fall into position beautifully. Nearly perfect alignment of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist with the wrist in a perfect neutral position and my weight is now just slightly forward and off my aching tailbone. It will surely need some fine tuning but I am really optimistic that this will do wonders for sitting comfort.