How Wide Should Your Mountain Bike Handlebars Be? 9

What's the best bar width for your riding style? Listen in as Marc Beaumont and Neil Donoghue discuss the pros and cons of narrow bars, wide bars, and everything in between. This video includes some helpful tips on finding your ideal width.

Now that you've got that dialed in, what about the rest of your cockpit? Be sure to catch our helpful setup video for more. A good setup can make your ride even better.

Credit: GMBN
9 comments

View replies to: How Wide Should Your Mountain Bike Handlebars Be?

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megatryn
9 years ago
My new Norco Range 7.2c came with 800mm bars, and I've decided to try it out for a month to see how i like it compared to the 760mm I run on my DH-bike and on my previous trail bike (I'm 1,73m. Go metric!). The first couple of rides it felt really weird, but after changing up the controls position it's starting to feel more natural. It's really good on the fast downhills, but feels very wide on technical and slow parts. I'm gonna cut them down to 780mm first, and then maybe 760mm.
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andyd33
9 years ago
I actually went narrower this year (gasp!) and I am very much happy I did. Amusingly, I am now back at the stem length/bar width combo that came stock on the bike, albeit with a different sweep and rise. I get the argument that bikes should be supplied with wide bars that can be cut to suit, but i prefer the alternative of dealing with a good bike shop who would swap the bar and stem instead.
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krisrayner
9 years ago
I love how most all bike reviewers say to go Wide Wide Wide, even changing out bars on test bikes, yet so many pro riders run right about 740-750 on trail bikes.
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alexarmanetti
9 years ago
780 is spot on for me but I'm also 6'4. You can cut wide bars down which is why they should be spec'd on bikes. I'd rather have bars that are too wide rather than bars that are too narrow.
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Nicholast
9 years ago
This. Being 6'4" as well and pretty wide in the shoulders, the wide bar trend was one of the greatest things that ever happened for my comfort and control. 780mm with 9 backsweep is my sweet spot.
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deathXsquad
9 years ago
are you referring to EWS? because i haven't heard of too many WC level downhillers running that width. most of the dudes in the top ranks of enduro are pretty short, and quite a few spent a lot of time in the XC circuit so they have certain dimensions they are used to. riders at that level are of a "at this point i know what works for me" mentality. most pros, testers, and demo guys (aka fit people to bikes for a living) i have talked to agree short stem and wide bars is a great development in bike fitting for the majority of the riding population. what wide means is very relative of course. I'm 6'3" and would never ride anything less than 780 again.
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