Making the right choice when it comes to MTB handlebars is generally neglected when it comes to. The structure of a handlebar can have a significant impact on the way a bike rides because it is the MTB wheel and a dynamical weight bearing contact point. Most riders who purchase off-the-shelf bikes will probably ride the handlebar that comes with the bike, and it's essential trying out different configurations to discover the ideal MTB handlebar for your riding and identify preferences and prospective benefits.
You'll have greater control on - tricky terrain, breathe easier on climbs, and feel less sore at the conclusion of your ride if you've chosen the correct width, rise, and sweep for yourself and riding style.
Check out our top MTB handlebars below, or go straight to the bottom to learn more.
Here are the best handlebars for mountain bikes you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: Spank 800 Spike Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike
- Runner Up: Spank 780 Oozy Trail Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike
- Best Budget: Funn MTB Alloy Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Premium Choice: SQlab 3OX MTB Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Best For The Buck: OneUp Components Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Best Lightweight: Race Face HB13 Turquoise Handlebar Mountain Bike
| 6 Best Handlebars For Mountain Bikes | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Spank 800 Spike Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike | |
Runner Up | Spank 780 Oozy Trail Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike | |
Best Budget | Funn MTB Alloy Handlebar Mountain Bike | |
Premium Choice | SQlab 3OX MTB Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike | |
Best For The Buck | OneUp Components Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike | |
Best Lightweight | Race Face HB13 Turquoise Handlebar Mountain Bike | |
Best Overall: Spank 800 Spike Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike
- Alloy handlebars
- Vibrocore technology
- Foam core is high quality
- Weight is added on foam
Motorcycle riders have used foam-filled bars for years to reduce engine vibration, so it's no wonder that this basic technology has found its way to the cockpits of mountain bikes.
It's not simply packing peanuts in the Spike bars, they're made from a special open cell foam with the proper thickness to muffle trail noise. There is a substantial difference between the foam-filled bars and a normal set. It's hard to determine if they're as excellent as carbon, but they're not far off.
Even though they cost a little less than a pair of carbon bars, the Spike 800's are a sturdy handlebar that won't shake your hands.
| Spank 800 Spike Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
Item weight | 5lbs |
Material | MGR Super 6 Alloy |
Color | Black/Blue |
It’s been a World Cup Winning bar for the last 2 seasons!
Runner Up: Spank 780 Oozy Trail Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike
- Lightweight
- Vibrocore vibration reducing
- Variant color options
- A bit pricey
A hardware manufacturer, Spank Industries manufactures everything from wheels and hubs to pedals and handlebars for bicycles and mobility scooters. As a lightweight aluminum version, it includes Oozy Trail's exclusive Vibrocore technology. To increase rider convenience, the handlebars are packed with foam to reduce high-frequency vibrations as well as trail input to the hands. Weighing in at 278g with a 25mm rise , the Oozy Trail is the lightest aluminium crossbar we tested. Most trail riders should be able to use the 780mm wide bar, which is marked with cross lines and can quickly be cut to fit your needs or tastes.
In addition to the 25mm rise variant we tested, it appears in a 15mm rise version. As a result of its shot-peening process, the bar features a black anodized finish with five logo color choices.
| Spank 780 Oozy Trail Vibrocore Handlebars Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
Item weight | 1.15lbs |
Material | Aluminium Super 7 Zirconium |
Color | Black/Grey |
The Vibrocore foam is clearly unmistakable inside the Slimy Path handlebar. It runs about the entire length of the bar.
Best Budget: Funn MTB Alloy Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Affordable
- Comes in 31.8 and 35mm clamp diameters
- Heavy
Look no farther than the Funn Full-On if you need to replace or enhance your factory handlebar. This set of 6061 aluminum handlebars is a steal at this price, and will likely be a productivity increase above many complete bike builders' standard aluminum handlebars. In addition, the Full-stiffness On's makes it easy to maneuver while minimizing trail noise.
In spite of their slight flaws, the Full-On bars are a great value. This bar weighs 335g for our 785mm broad and 15mm rise test bar. In terms of vibration absorption, the bar we tested works well, but it can't quite match with the more expensive aluminum and carbon variants.
| Funn MTB Alloy Handlebar Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
Item weight | 1.15lbs |
Material | AL6061 |
Color | Grey |
The Funn Full-On costs a division of any other bar we tried, however they still perform honorably on the path.
Premium Choice: SQlab 3OX MTB Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Lightweight
- Reducing discomfort through ergonomics
- Pricey
- Backsweep may be too high for some users
SQlab approaches sports ergonomics from a very scientific standpoint. They may be most known for their bike seats, but they also manufacture a limited selection of mountain bike handlebars that are designed to reduce rider pain via superior ergonomics. Unlike other manufacturers, SQlab produces its 30X Carbon bars with backsweep.
The 30X Carbon is fairly costly, but SQlab also produces an aluminum model that has the same sweep and rise settings and is not as pricey as it is . We also discovered that their rise measures were significantly different from other brands.
| SQlab 3OX MTB Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 1 x 1 x 1 inches |
Size | 30mm |
Material | Carbon fiber |
Color | Grey |
In case you encounter wrist inconvenience with customized bars, the SQlab 30X may demonstrate to be a more friendly option.
Best For The Buck: OneUp Components Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Balanced feeling
- Nice vibration dampening
- Super light
- Only 35mm clamp
One Up Components is recognized for thinking outside the box, and their carbon bars are a perfect example of this. The clamping surface is 35mm, and the bar appears egg-shaped, with the horizontal plane remaining 35mm for a few , while the techniques focus rapidly thins out to 22.2mm.
One Up is capable of adjusting the vertical flex for comfort while maintaining the horizontal plane strong for precise steering by shaping the carbon into an oval shape.
According to One Up, when compared to other carbon bars and foam-filled aluminum bars, they noticed a 21 % improvement in horizontal resistance with an increase in steering firmness.
| OneUp Components Carbon Handlebar Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 35 x 5 x 3 inches |
Item Weight | 8.8 Oz |
Size | 35mm |
Material | Carbon fiber |
Color | Black |
Technical secure carbon bars.
Best Lightweight: Race Face HB13 Turquoise Handlebar Mountain Bike
- Stiff
- Quick to respond
- Pricey
- Doesn’t absorb as vibration as expected
The Race Face Next 35 is a much lighter, narrower variant of the Race Face Next R and SixC bars with a 35mm clamp diameter that shares the same shape and price tag. RaceFace claims that by switching to a 35mm clamping plate, they were able to eliminate material from the rest of the bar without compromising stiffness or strength.
The 8-degree back and 5-degree upsweep places your forearms in a comfortable spot, and the carbon performs well to absorb noise coming from the front of the bike, working to maintain exhaustion at bay.
| Race Face HB13 Turquoise Handlebar Mountain Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Product Dimensions | 31 x 8 x 3 inches |
Item Weight | 7.05 Oz |
Size | 35mm |
Material | Unidirectional carbon |
Color | Turquoise |
The Race Face Next handlebar is the lightest bar and high end in the Race Face lineup.
How To Choose The Best Handlebar For Mountain Bikes?
Material
The majority of handlebars are built from aluminum and carbon fiber, although there are a few titanium variants as well, which are more expensive.
As a result of its low cost and robustness, aluminum bars might be a touch harsh when it comes to vibration dampness. Hardy aluminum handlebars are the way to go for downhillers or anyone who crashes a lot.
As well as being lightweight and rigid, they also absorb a lot of vibration. However, they are. Because they don't break down in a consistent way, aggressive riders tend to shy away from carbon fiber bars, despite the fact that they are often stronger than its metal cousin. It's as though the carbon bars don't bend or dent, they just snap.
Sweep
Angle of the grips is called sweep. There are two types of sweep: backsweep and upsweep. A bike's backsweep, as the name indicates, is how far the bars curve back towards the rider. Most bikes have back sweep degrees around 0 - 12 degrees, however some extreme types have angles as high as 45 degrees.
To begin with, upsweep is a distinct measurement from rise, which we'll discuss in more detail later. Despite the fact that not all bars constitute an upsweep, many do, measuring between four and six.
Clamp
Handlebars of mountain bikes are also no exception. The bike business is replete with norms that are anything but conventional. A growing number of manufacturers are breaking out into 35mm, which is the most usual. As a result, any grip will engage with any bar, regardless of the clamp's diameter because they all taper down to 22.2mm.
It is believed that the bigger 35mm bars are stiffer and stronger, and require less clamping force to avoid slipping because of their larger surface area.
So, if you want to go from 31.8 to 35mm, you'll need a suitable stem.
Width
MTB handlebars have been broader as time has passed, since it lowers the handling qualities and helps you breathe more fully. There are a variety of bar widths offered, ranging from around 600mm to well over 800mm, depending on your height and riding style.
You can always trim a few more mm off the end if you get something quite broader than you think - Just ensure you double check it.
Rise
It is the huge distinction between the grips and the clamp region of the handlebars that determines A negative rise bar is available for cross-country cyclists with extreme bike fits, although most handlebars rise from zero to 50mm. As a general rule, gravity-focused bikes will have a steeper bar while cross-country bikes has a flatter bar.
Which Brands Make The Best Handlebar For Mountain Bikes?
Funn
They’ve been in commerce since 1997 and went through the final 20 years making a difference for riders to have more fun on their bicycles. They make cutting-edge components that can withstand tip top racer mishandle but at a fetched price ordinary riders can afford.
Spank
SPANK Industries is one of exceptionally few brands within the world, with in-house plan, advancement and fabricating of their total line of interesting and exclusive components. They don't outsource the fabricate of their plans to mechanical scale factories. From delivery of the most elevated quality crude materials, they really make their item themselves in our entirely claimed plant, which is called FRATELLI Industries.
Conclusion
In terms of improving your bike's comfort and performance, a handlebar may not be the first thing that springs to mind. But picking the correct one may make a world of In your hunt for the right replacement mountain bike handlebar, there are many aspects to make up your mind, but perhaps the information gearinstant given here will help you make an informed selection.
