Ibis Carbon Handlebar

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As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, we live in a sea of carbon. Carbon frames, carbon wheels, carbon cranks, even carbon headset spacers and top caps! Good thing is, the majority of these components serve a performance-based advantage. One of the quickest ways to add performance to your bike is to install a carbon handlebar. The increase damping removes vibrations from the trail that quickly cause arm pump and fatigue. But just like most components out there, there are so many carbon bars to choose from. Although it may not be the most sought after aftermarket component, I got my hands on the Ibis branded carbon bar. With several rides on it, here are my impressions:

Quick Specs:

Carbon fiber construction

31.8mm clamp

Hi-Fi: 20mm rise, 800mm width design, ideal for 650b bikes.

Gloss black graphic accents

9 degree backsweep, 5 degree upsweep

$120 MSRP

Out of The Box:

There are a few key features that make the Ibis carbon bar stand out. The first is the black matte on black gloss finish. It looks really good. This looks makes the already stealthed-out logos even more hidden. As most handlebars have much more noticeable decals, the Ibis carbon bar’s stalthness is a great option if you are looking for performance with a clean look.

As for weight, that’s something that is missing from Ibis’ specs on their site. 

Throwing the bar quickly onto the Park Tool table scale and they came in at 232 grams, which is certainly lighter than alloy bars of the same specs but is about 20 grams heavier than most other carbon bars in it’s class.

Installing:

Installing the bar is plain and simple. Making sure to follow the recommended torque specs and you’ll be in business. 

There was one thing that I did find out while installing the bar however. That is, if you are not careful, the matte black decals are easily chipped off. I would have liked to have seen a little more durability in the finish of this bar.

On the Trail:

The Ibis carbon bar felt great out on the trails. It offered all the damping one would want which kept my hand comfortable throughout each ride. I did notice however on larger hits, the bar flexed a bit more than what I’m used to. I normally run the oversized 35mm clamp diameter which give the bar a slight advantage in weight and stiffness compared to the traditional 31.8 clamp diameter. Although I felt flex, it certainly wasn’t bad and shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you are looking into an cheaper option carbon bar.

Bottom Line:

Ibis’ carbon bar is a very decent bar indeed. It offers damping when you want it with minor flex. If you are a regular sized rider, you’ll be stoked on how it feels. If you are a larger rider or love to push the limits, I may recommend going a different route. The appearance of the bar is awesome but the finish can flake off pretty easily so be careful while installing it. All and all, I have been pretty pleased with this bar and would recommend it for the right rider.