Best Set of Bars/Best Bend

djroggen

New member
I am sure this has been hashed out prior but I could find anything in a quick search. I am partial to the Pro Taper bars I had stock on my 06 YZ250f, never seemed like I bent them. Tweaked my stockers from my 2011 in a season, but if you have ever rode with me you would know that I am anything but a light/soft rider. If there is a line that looks ok but there is a tree I may hit, chances are I will bounce off/smash it. So I am up for any suggestions bend or brand. I personally like a little flex but mainly looking for an indestuctible bar.
 
I am sure this has been hashed out prior but I could find anything in a quick search. I am partial to the Pro Taper bars I had stock on my 06 YZ250f, never seemed like I bent them. Tweaked my stockers from my 2011 in a season, but if you have ever rode with me you would know that I am anything but a light/soft rider. If there is a line that looks ok but there is a tree I may hit, chances are I will bounce off/smash it. So I am up for any suggestions bend or brand. I personally like a little flex but mainly looking for an indestuctible bar.

The Twinwalls that have been coming stock on Six Days and Race bikes are darned near indestructible, but that translates into a very rigid feel and general pounding on your wrists. Renthal claims that they are the equal of a "standard" tapered bar with the cross-bar removed - you might try that.

I really liked the tapered bar on the 2010s and (std) 2011s, although it was a little low for my taste. Nice bend though. The Twinwall bend isn't bad if you can live with the height and stiffness (see above).
 
I'm with Cruiser, KTM SX bend for me. Low with very little sweep. The Hebo bars that came on my '07 are very close to the SX bend. I think I'm going with the Flexx bars for my '12 in the 10 deg sweep enduro bend. I hate tall bars so if I have to swap out the '12 Twinwalls might as well go all out.
 
I just put a set of Twinwalls on my '10 Ec300 with some 30mm riser blocks. Honda High bend, might be a tad tall. Took some hard spills on rocks last weekend, seem to twist the forks in the clamps a little, but the twinwalls seem straight.
 
I would love a set of flexx bars, but cost is one of those factors... Has anyone had any experience with the Woods Bend Contour Pro Tapers?
 
Really depends on what you like as far as sweep. I find all the Honda CR bends and clones like the woods/enduro bars have way too much sweep for me and bother my wrists, especially with the bars rotated foward past the fork center. I like very little sweep, but everyone is different. Find the specs on the bend you like and see what compares.
 
I too like the ktm bars...

the ones I have used are the oems. Nekken and Ktm are etched into the bar. Usually they are a gunmetal gray color. I am unsure if they are the sx bars as others above mentioned. Can anyone clarify??
 
Worst thing to do is rotate bars forward of the fork tube plane, ( even a little) if you do this you increase harshness (outside the actuation plane), reduce the moment arm making the steering heavier ( just like adding offset) and bring the angle of the grip passed the angle for straight arm strength in the wrist whilst standing and almost cocked wrists whilst seated. You also add height like bar risers. All round bad. If you are seated a lot intentionally, try more sweep lower rise, if you ride in the standing attack position ( or want to make yourself) less sweep more rise. Mx guys use the seated position for acceleration out of corners and into jump faces, managing their body position with upper body strength, hence the low rise larger sweep bars. Offload need the strength at low speed, technical sections and downhill, (standing) hence the higher rise lower sweep.
 
So I removed my cross bar on my stock twin walls. What an improvement. My arms are thanking me for it, I can tell you that. Can't wait for my flex bars now.
 
All ergonomic issues need to be figured out by the rider. Don't be afraid to try new things. Anyone remember how Scott Summers set up his bikes? Stock bend Honda bars, which were really weird, and he rode with his elbows turned in, kind of half sitting/half standing, butt over the rear fender. Looked crazy as heck! But 7 National titles ain't crazy.

I grew up riding old bikes which usually had a lot of pullback and were tall, so I tried to find bars that felt like those which made me comfortable. I even used ATV bars on occasion. I am tall with long arms and sit most of the time, so keep that in mind.

Then one magical day, I rode a friends bike ALL DAY with Honda CR High Bend bars. I think they were old 7/8ths Renthals. Not extremely tall, but a bit higher than most bars. With a whole day riding I got used to modern feeling bars and now I don't like bars with a lot of pullback/sweep, or extremely high bars. Slightly higher is ok, and fairly straight bend. I also had to get used to really thick soft grips. I now only buy Pro Grip Rally grips which are thick and soft. I hated the squishy feel at first, but due to an injury had to use them. They really help carpal tunnel and arthritis. Now anything else feels funky.

I also used to hate steering stabilizers. I could never seem to get used to them. Finally a buddy talked me into using one for several rides, and now I like em. Don't think every bike needs one, but they probably have some benefit on any bike in certain situations.

My point is, what you think you need isn't always what you need. I never used to try new setups on bikes. Now I probably experiment too much, but it helps me find ways around injuries and getting older. Besides, when you get old and slow messing with the bike's setup kind of becomes interesting. I probably should have done it sooner. You just gotta do what works for you.
 
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