Freestyle Bars

[sjetrider]

Has anyone ever run with bars that have a sweep back? I know oem bars come with them and the racers used to use like a 4 degree. But what about like a 3 degree sweep back ?

WDK makes this new BAD AZZ steering system that uses the 31.88mm mountain bike bars which in theory was a great idea. BUT, all these bars are either too short or have a 3 degree minimum sweep back on them??????? Is that going to be a problem?

I can say the bearing / turn system is the best I have ever used. I have had the same system with the regualar straight bars on my boat for 3 years and it has never been anything but , tight smooth and perfect and never needed maintained.

 

[scotts2t]

I run riser mountain bike bars, Easton monkey bars to be exact. 30mm rise. They have a sweep, not sure what degrees but i love them, transformed the feel into a more mx feel. Would never go to anything else again.

 

[scotts2t]

 

[550/440]

My RRP riser bars have a bit of a sweep too. I don't think they were built for racing, but you never know. I don't actually like the straight zero degree bars, they put my wrists at a bit of a strange angle for riding. Straight bars are for the gym - bench press!

 

[Soul Man]

Take a pencil or ruler or something straight and hold it in each hand like you would a handlebar (so that the long end of the objects come out toward the middle of your body. With elbows at your side, look down and see the angle they make. They will both be angles away from your body. This is what bent bars simulate: a normal wrist position with your elbows at your side.
Now bring your elbows out from your side (but keep your hands about the same width apart) and look down. The two pencils/rulers should be just about parallel.
Straight bars will be more natural position for your wrists with your elbows away from your sides. Riding with your elbows out gives you more room for your arms to react while steering, so straight bars are generally better, as you typically want your elbows out.

Do the same test, but just settle your arms into wherever you would feel most comfortable riding. Look down, or have someone look/measure the angle and that would be close to what bars you should get. If you have two sets of bars (straight and curved) you can do the same test and just see how your wrist feels with both bars when you have elbows at your side v. away from your body.

Go with whatever works best for your, but generally straight bars are better. Curved/angled bars were made to be ergonomic based on the average grip position of the hand, but the mistake they made was figuring that people would have their arms at their sides......

 

[sjetrider]

I dont know anyone that rides with their elbows in. No leverage that way at all. First rule of motocross is elbows out and get forward over the bars for an agressive reaction position.

If I am going to use this steering system I think I am going to have to try a 3 degree sweep (there are straight bars avail but only up to like 23" long) .
I guess the 3 degree bars are worth a shot.

 

[Sospikey]

I use MX bars with my CF steering system. They're 3.5 " rise and about 2" back-sweep. I do ride a lot of mountain bike and I like the wider bars with some back-sweep better on the ski. I made the change partly because I switch between my Superjet and X2 quite often and it always felt strange (as in narrow and straight) when going back to the Superjet.

 

[sjetrider]

I am going to try an Answer 680mm long flat bar with a 3 degree sweep and see how they work. Went to a bike shop this weekend and felt quite a few different sweeps and the lowest sweep they had was a 5 degree that did not feel too bad so the 3 degree should be OK to start.
Lots of choices in the 5-6 degree sweeps. Lots of different hieghts for risers and so forth.

I will post up some feedback when I get some time on them.