Handlebar Widths Part 2

[jethro10]

I kinda touched on the variety of widths in bars a few weeks ago, but this question is significantly different.

I've noticed that flat bars tend to be narrower, about 580-600mm, than Riser bars, which tend to be 680mm ish give or take

well apart from the 700+ flat bars for D/H use I guess.
But overall, flats = shorter
Anyone know the reason? or is my conclusion wrong?

thanks
Jeff

 

[mattsccm]

Roughly and generally. Flats (downhill excluded) are used on faster terrain eg roads and mtb racing. Width is not an issue so much as the need (percieved?) for wider bars for control on rougher ground. Hence super wide bars on down hill bikes. Even downhill stuff was riser until fashions changed a year or two ago. My down hill bars are 710 mm risers. Not the most aerodynamic things though as they put your arms in a very wide position. Therefore narrow bars for faster use.
throw in a touch of fashion, the dictates of the media and whatever Halfords are selling.
The answer ? But the width you like. Riser or flats will be largely unimportant. use a diffferent stem if need be to get height right

 

[3narf]

I use a nice wide riser bar on my Stumpy FSR- it's an XC bike really, with only 100mm of travel, but it's very rocky and technical round here and I use the extra leverage to compensate for lack of upper body strength.

 

[e-rider]

I ride 685mm on my MTB and 46cm on the roadie.