Carbon fiber handlebars

Are they really that much lighter? I think you can get a good set of 215g alum ones pretty easily. I just looked up a set of FSA carbon bars, and they're 210g. Easton EC90's are 180g, but for $180. That's a $140 difference for a 35g savings. I dunno if I'd consider that worth it.

EDIT: Sorry, I misread your post, LOL. I thought you said they "were" significantly lighter. My bad.

I guess to answer your question, maybe some people are convinced they absorb vibration. I've never tried a set out, so I don't know.

Chuck731 said:

It seems that carbon fiber handlebars are not significantly lighter than good aluminum handlebars. What is the benefit of paying for them?

Personally, I dont see any point on paying those kind of prices for 1oz less weight . Also, aluminum bars tend to have variable/ good bends to them.. as opposed to Carbon bars tend to be lacking proper bends(I believe this is due to the carbon lay up process... in manufacturing the bars).

Basically , these things are for people with alot money to blow, .... maybe someone with an ALL Carbon bike :o

There is no weight saving. However, the carbon bars are much more comfortable. I recently replaced the alloy bars on my Trek 5500 with the new Bontrager carbon bars, and the reduction in road buzz is substantial. This is particularly noticeable in descents and cornering, where there is a greater feeling of control and stability because your hands are not fighting the vibration of the bars. This makes for safer riding as well as more comfortable riding. I have also just bought some Cinelli Neo Carbo bars for the Look 585 I am building up. I don't think I could go back to alu bars now - at least until I have a carbon bar snap.

Chuck731 said:

It seems that carbon fiber handlebars are not significantly lighter than good aluminum handlebars. What is the benefit of paying for them?

said to be more comfortable but for three times the price you can get some great gloves and bar tape .
mind you some people never get comfy so go figure .

down side ? aside from cost if you fall hard your walking home while it is possible to ride home with bent ali bars .

el Inglés said:

down side ? aside from cost if you fall hard your walking home while it is possible to ride home with bent ali bars .

Let's not forget the inability to use clip-on aero bars.

artmichalek said:

Let's not forget the inability to use clip-on aero bars.

Carbon bars can be made with a flat top portion that some folks may find more comfortable. The road buzz thing is probably psychological, but psychology counts I guess. They're more susceptible to damage from over-tightening brake levers and stem clamps and that can be a real problem.

el Inglés said:

said to be more comfortable but for three times the price you can get some great gloves and bar tape .

The price of carbon bars has really come down, and you can now get some good bars for not much more than good alu bars, such as Deda Newton. We're talking an extra hundred bucks and often a lot less - less than the price of shoes. Unless you're a cheapskate, given the investment of time and money you've already made in cycling, that cost is negligible.

BTW great gloves and bar tape are fine but don't do what carbon bars do.

Quoted post said:

The road buzz thing is probably psychological, but psychology counts I guess.

No, definitely not psychological. Try some, or talk to someone who uses carbon bars - the difference is very significant and immediately noticeable.

RossB said:

The price of carbon bars has really come down, and you can now get some good bars for not much more than good alu bars, such as Deda Newton. We're talking an extra hundred bucks and often a lot less - less than the price of shoes. Unless you're a cheapskate, given the investment of time and money you've already made in cycling, that cost is negligible.

BTW great gloves and bar tape are fine but don't do what carbon bars do.

No, definitely not psychological. Try some, or talk to someone who uses carbon bars - the difference is very significant and immediately noticeable.

I would just love to take some round section CF bars and do a "blind" comparison to some round section aluminum bars of the same diameter. Just run the bar tape all the way to the stem (to hide the material) and see if those magical buzz dampening properties are still apparent in a statistically significant way. I doubt they would be.

Ozark Bicycle said:

I would just love to take some round section CF bars and do a "blind" comparison ...

Then do it. You will be proved wrong.

RossB said:

Then do it. You will be proved wrong.

Well, gee, you can try this at home. Why don't you? You are the one making the extraordinary claim; a little statistically valid proof is in order.

DiabloScott said:

Carbon bars can be made with a flat top portion that some folks may find more comfortable. The road buzz thing is probably psychological, but psychology counts I guess. They're more susceptible to damage from over-tightening brake levers and stem clamps and that can be a real problem.

Very true...

And, bars almost always take a little impact when you crash. Personally, I prefer my crashes not to cost $250.

artmichalek said:

Let's not forget the inability to use clip-on aero bars.

Kestrel's $139 carbon bars do allow for clip ons.

Ozark Bicycle said:

Well, gee, you can try this at home. Why don't you? You are the one making the extraordinary claim; a little statistically valid proof is in order.

Why the f#@$k should I do an experiment to prove something that has already been demonstrated to me beyond any doubt? You are the one demanding that someone (other than you) conduct scientific experiments whose sole purpose is to vindicate your prejudices.

DiabloScott said:

Carbon bars can be made with a flat top portion that some folks may find more comfortable. The road buzz thing is probably psychological, but psychology counts I guess. They're more susceptible to damage from over-tightening brake levers and stem clamps and that can be a real problem.

Yeah.... and there might be a *slight* road buzz reduction w/ a carbon bar...... , but you know- as long as you have a quality frame set(Carbon, Ti. or Steel) ... with either a carbon or Steel fork ............ that truely cuts down the "road buzz" factor the absolute most (plus maybe add another aero bar- Spinacci for aero + more hand positions) . One should not have to rely on a carbon bar to reap those benifits 😉

RossB said:

Why the f#@$k should I do an experiment to prove something that has already been demonstrated to me beyond any doubt? You are the one demanding that someone (other than you) conduct scientific experiments whose sole purpose is to vindicate your prejudices.

I propose that you engage in a little scientific method to verify your claim (that the reduction in road buzz was "definitely not psychological"😉, and I'm the one with "prejudices"?

Ozark Bicycle said:

I propose that you engage in a little scientific method to verify your claim (that the reduction in road buzz was "definitely not psychological"😉, and I'm the one with "prejudices"?

As it happens, I have done the experiment. I owned aluminium bars. Now I have carbon bars. There is a clear and significant difference. To save you a trip to the dictionary, a judgment based on experience is not "prejudice".

Obviously I forgot that I need to produce a technical white paper with verified experimental results and peer review every time I post my experience on an internet forum ... Hey, where's everyone else's experimental results?

Chuck731 said:

It seems that carbon fiber handlebars are not significantly lighter than good aluminum handlebars. What is the benefit of paying for them?

They score highly on BLING!
A comparable 7075 bar (size-wise) is lighter in terms of weight and the pocket.

Chuck731 said:

It seems that carbon fiber handlebars are not significantly lighter than good aluminum handlebars. What is the benefit of paying for them?

Some of the C fibre handlebars are shaped to make them more comfortable in your hands.

Other than that they look good (AMOP) and maybe because carbon handlebars match carbon bikes.

But mostly its carbon for the sake of carbon. No real advantage.

Fox Farm said:

Kestrel's $139 carbon bars do allow for clip ons.

Duly noted. And they're a whole 30 grams lighter than the aluminum ones I got for $25.