How To Size Mountain Bike Handlebars

The majority of mountain bikes have 170mm or 175mm cranks which do the job perfectly well for most riders.

How to size mountain bike handlebars. Each type of bicycle is designed to fit a rider in a particular way. Possibly up to 800mm. Larger riders need a different size of the handlebar from smaller riders. It does not always mean that the handlebar comes in the wrong size.

Bars with 100mm rise aren t very common anymore and these days high rise bars are usually in the 40 50mm range about 1 5 2 inches. Bikes in the 900 range and up are coming standard with wide handlebars. If you think the bike you are riding does not fit well perhaps the problem is on the handlebars that are flat out. Mountain bike handlebars come in a wide variety of widths.

A narrower bar tends to suit that longer stem. A taller rider would need a wider handlebar to feel comfortable on the bike while a shorter rider will be more comfortable on a narrower handlebar. In this article we will lay out some important elements of handlebar performance shape size and construction so that you can make a more informed purchase decision. This is great but you need to make the next step and make them fit.

Mountain bike handlebar height. The positions of the seat pedals and handlebars are important for achieving the most comfortable ride possible. Handlebar width affects how your bike handles and feels out on the trail. Choosing the right amount of rise usually comes down to rider position on the bike.

What size mountain bike do i need. It s down to personal preference but longer travel bikes tend to need wider handlebars that allow you to exert more leverage helping force the bike to corner or to keep it heading straight on rough ground. Mountain bike handlebars are typically configured with zero rise flat bars all the way up to 100mm roughly 4 inches. There are a number of factors to consider when upgrading or replacing the handlebar on your mountain bike.

The problem is that the particular size does not suit the rider. For xc bikes using a longer stem gets you in a better position on the bike to put out more power efficiently. Even xc riders are going wide now. On average it s common to see the narrowest mountain bike handlebars on cross country bikes and the widest on downhill bikes.

If you re a downhiller you might want to consider going wide. Not all mountain bike riders can be comfortable riding a bike with a standard width handlebar because every rider has a different body size which greatly affects what width will best suit them.