Carbon Or Aluminum Handlebars: What Is BEST?
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 11. 05. 2024
- Are carbon fibre handlebars as good as they first seem, or are they overpriced versions of their aluminium equivalents with an increased risk of snapping in half? In this video, Alex dives into the debate, explores the differences between each material and evaluates the pros and cons of each!
Carbon fibre or aluminium handlebars? 0:00
What you should consider first 0:34
What are the differences? 1:22
Cost: Aluminium VS Carbon Fibre 2:35
Weight 3:19
Strength 4:15
Material flexibility 6:21
Speed 7:41
Comfort 8:15
Conclusions - Tell us which material do you prefer in the comments 8:57
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Which material do you prefer for your handlebars? đ
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Which material do you prefer for your handlebars? đ
Let us know in the comments! đŹ
As a xc mountainbiker Carbon bars all the way
I wonder how much of carbon fiber parts were made just to compensate for skinny tyres/poor suspension with carbon fiber's ability to flex, but ultimately lead to wider tyres in the end.
Aluminum for me, im not a 100% confident on carbon material, yes they good and better in performance but stil want the alloy matterials.
Carbon
Carbon fibre on my mountain bike, aluminium on the road bike
All I know is, carbon fibre handlebars sell more torque wrenches than the aluminium handlebars.
A good point. But, we could probably do with torque wrenches on Alu bars too. Not for the bar but to not overtorque the stem clamp. Last week I dug out a mothballed bar/stem combo. In the 5years I'd ignored it the stem clamp had developped a serious crack nearly 60% across the front. And it is a good quality stem (Thomson X4). Not their fault - I almost certainly over tightened the clamp "just to be sure". We must never forget that aluminium will both age with time (change in mechanical properties: strength, hardness, dyctility, etc..) as well as fatigue even if only under a static load (i.e. tight bolts "stretching" the component).
I'm awaiting the arrival of my new clamp. Thankfully not expensive.
If you work on your own bike, why don't you have 1 cheap torque wrench anyways?
@@Real28irrelevant of price, you want a QUALITY torque wrench
Stripping threads is a bad idea too!
Fun fact ..... Alex said the words Handelbar/Handelbars 48 times in 10 min. in the video đ
"however" - 7 times :D
I heard " handlebar/ handlebars but never mind.
@@peterwillson1355 Ups ... Thats the German spelling for handle đ although In German they are normally called "Lenker"
ONLY 48 times, i must try harder!đ
Aluminium, better for the environment, easier to recycle.
I used to work for the largest waste company in America. Maybe you should research recycling. And what actually happens the materials that are supposed to be recycled. Recycling is a giant scam for people who think they are saving the world. So carbon aluminum it doesn't matter.
If only all our environmental issues were only due to bicycle handlebars material recyclability ⊠đ
lmao! Derp.
Well Maurizio Fondriest, the 1988 World Champion, a few years ago recommended Aluminium Handlebars when I asked for advice. "It is so much cheaper and therefore if you crash it is less painful to replace. And the weight really does not matter".
Never ride any quality carbon bars, because youâll realise that racers donât care about comfort.
I use the OEM aluminum handlebars that came on all my bikes đ.
Alex pretty much said everything that needs to be said in the first seconds of the video: the material of the handlebar doesn't matter nearly as much as getting the fit right: width, reach, drop, etc. Those things make WAY more difference than the material from which the handlebar is made.
In my own riding, reducing the width and reach of my handlebars resulted in an amazing improvement in comfort over long distances. I went from significant neck and shoulder pain on rides longer than 3 hours to being able to literally ride all day long with no upper body discomfort at all.
it's amazing what the correct "shape" of bars can do for riding comfort!
Deda Superleggera bars and stem, used them for over 15 years. Light, competitively priced, Di2 compatible and if youâre a weight weenie, check your love handles.
Love your videos, Alex. Clear, informative, and entertaining. Keep up the great work!
I've snapped several aluminum bars over the years. I've never broken a carbon bar in over 20 years. Now the third thing I do for a new bike (after pedals and saddle) is swap on Ritchey carbon bars. They are bulletproof and have the best shape for me.
Just fitted a cheap aero carbon handlebar and it has been good.....feels very strong and comfortable to hold especially with some gel pads near the brifters.....much lighter than an Alloy one. I took care to chamfer the stem clamp edges to void damage when clamping.
You left out corrosion. Aluminum handlebars corrode from sweat dripping on them. I had a pair of aluminum handlebars that had holes corroded through them from my sweat. The bike shop wouldnât put new tape on them because they were so corroded.
Wow! That's pretty impressive in a way, that you sweated through some handlebars!
Itâs Texas and I sweat a lot. I had a friend whose bars broke on him from sweat corrosion.
@@gcntech Mine is corroded as well. That's my problem too with alluminum bars. Well I live in the Philippines and normal temp is 30-34c so wet bar tapes is just normal every ride even riding indoors.
@@PepeDalinShow and the humidity is typically very high there, right?
@@TechSucht Yeah, so it actually feels hotter especially now with the heat wave.
Yay Alex! Very informative exploration of the topic. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Had aluminum, wanted a better profile and something to absorb vibrations and bumps better. Found a carbon set that did the trick.
Actually added 10g, but a far better ride. Comfort is king for long rides.
Both do the job nicelyđ . I find carbon bars to absorb road vibrations a bit better. Also I like the flat top versions to be nicer to ride on the tops. The weight difference is too small to be critical IMO. Aluminum wins on price obviously.
Carbon sworks bar is even on top of carbon wheelset has been the most noticeable thing I have switched which has given me more comfort.
Swtiched to a Farsport F1s carbon handlebar recently from the original TCR stock bar. Handling down twisty descents and overall handling confidence improved dramatically.
Perfect timing this video, been looking at that Avian bird brand super light integrated carbon handlebars
Some unbranded ones might be ones manufactured for big name brands but in QA don't meet the brand's stringent quality specifications but which meet minimum standards to be saleable.
Are they safe? Most probably are, but if you buy a brand name they're putting their reputation on the line so you are lowering the risk and the bigger the name, the bigger the reputation, the more they'll want to protect that name. Also if a batch has a defect, a brand would recall that batch whereas riders using unbranded ones would never know.
I have just ordered an alu bar to replace my aero carbon bar because:
1. I can't adjust the drop angle as I want, if I also want the aero portion to be most effective. i.e. horizontal.
2. The flat part of the bar is uncomfortable to grip and only allows one position, whereas you can grip a round bar wherever you want.
I got a mega deal from chain reaction cycles on a Vision metron 5d intergrated carbon handlebar.
Only problem was it cost Me ÂŁ200 to get them fitted and cables internally routed.
Bars were ÂŁ280 + ÂŁ210 for fitting đ±
I'm still really happy with them as I can't really afford a new top end bike yet so I've invested in the secondhand one I got by adding the best bits I can...
Did not like the feel of flexy carbon drop bars going downhill, felt sketchy, so I removed it and installed the alu bar back on my road bike.
The carbon bar on my offroad bike is a different story, I don't feel unsafe on that.
Aluminium. Separate bar and stem. Not aero.
Agreed. I want flexibility and I want to be as self-reliant as possible when travelling to, sometimes odd and remote, places with my bike. I'm not a big fan of internal cable routing either.
Same. All external routing preference to top routed.
Thank you for mentioning body position. A lot of one-piece integrated cockpits are very cool and aero, but if it doesn't fit you, you're loosing a lot of aero or torturing your spine throughout the ride.
USA: Carbon, Aluminum
UK: Carbon, Aluminium
Across the Pond, Carbon remains constant!
The extra âiâ adds weight
I bought my second hand enduro bike with a carbon handlebar. The forces applied on it are far more important than on road bikes, and it never broke after a few light crashes (including ending up in a tree trunk). It's simply very stiff and can be painful after a long day of bike park... I don't believe carbon aero bars will snap so easily, as many people believe. It's an incredible material. However price is high, and aluminium is a very good option to start with
I went from a standard round bar to an aero carbon bar. I gained about 1km/hr on my ave 30km solo route. But the biggest difference was sprinting and cornering, the carbon was much stiffer and felt much safer. When you press while cornering it doesnt flex/move and there isnt that delay in response. Under 50km/hr, cornering wasnt noticable, but above 50 km/hr, it makes those high speed micro movements much more predictable.
One key element in terms of durability was missing and that is corrosion. A carbon bar will not corrode under the influence of sweat and that is what makes me think about switching to carbon. For now, I have mitigated it with a full electrical tape wrap under the bar tape but a little bit of doubt remains.
How much do you drip onto you handlebar? There is the tape and your gloves. Donât get me wrong: carbon handlebars are better than aluminum one but a Formula 1 car is also better than your Dodge. The question is what is a sensible choice for an amateur. The answer for a Professional is clear cut: weight and aero are prime, everything else is irrelevant.
â @@svenweihusen57if you are using your bike on the indoor trainer - a LOT of sweat can end up on the bars. Tape actually makes the problem worse, as the salt can accumulate and moisture persist IN the tape, while hiding the damage that is being done.
@@svenweihusen57 There are enough examples of broken alloy bars because of corrosion. Itâs a thing. Aero is insignificant for non pros but having a flat top can be more ergonomic. There are some flattened alloy bars (like the Zipp Ergo I have on my bike) but it can only be shaped to a lesser degree.
I have a couple of carbon road bikes, the older of which I upgraded with a Canyon carbon integrated bar/stem. The newer bike still has the OEM ally bars and stem.
When I first used the carbon setup I felt like the handling improved and the vibration through the bars was far reduced. I put this down to the material.
When I ride the newer bike though, that feels good too, so much so, I've not bothered to switch the CF bars from the old bike to the new one.
I do think though that the CF bars/stem look way cooler!
I've got to say for a heavier rider like myself the high frequency vibration dampening of cf handlebars is quite noticeable not huge but has an impact on not so smooth roads over a distance. But you're absolutely right about impact of tired choice and pressure. Still it's an addition after you got thr biggest benefits taken care of. Also more modern aluminium handlebars are often quite lightweight.
Nothing to do with your weight, theyâre comfortable for all of us.
@@br5380More mass more deflection but sure there's benefit even when you're not as heavy
@@Przemo-c us lighter folk can use even lighter bars
I have two bikes both with FSA carbon handlebars. I just find the more comfortable to hold on to than a round, alloy bar. Plus they look better too, which lets face is important. My current bike had a raised bar (Specialized Hoverbar) which looked hideous. New bar is a FSA K-wing AGX gravel bar. 40cm with a slight flair. It looks great, didn't break the bank and is extremely comfortable.
Aluminium. Carbon handlebars just look silly on a steel frame. :-)
No carbon for me for like ever.
different levels to aluminum too. I have an alumimun bar from Soma Fab that has a really nice flex to it
I would say that the comfort on my bontrager one piece handlebar is my favorite part about the carbon handlebar the compliance and how comfortable the bike feels I'm surprised you didn't feel a difference That's why I recommend carbon in general
The wide flat top on integrated carbon handlebars is great for comfort.
Agreed. My bike came with carbon aero bars and the only advantage I've realized is that I find the flat tops to be a comfortable place to put my hands when climbing. However, some aluminum bars have flat "aero" tops and would likely be my choice had my bike not come with carbon bars.
Redshift sells fairly inexpensive rubber products that go under your wrapping to get this same effect. I have them on my bike.
Yep, which is why I fitted carbon bars on two of my bikes, then aluminum bars came in the same shape so went on another two.
Thank you for stating the human body is the least aero part of a bicycle setup. Agreed on the shapes of the frame, fork, and bars.
After two pairs broken carbon bars one 108 miles from home never again will i purchase carbon bars i am not alone many of my club members have reported similar situations as i have my club now bans carbon bars for club races as extra dangerous .
Aluminum because I am way past the point where 50g matters. I do spend a bit extra for good heat treated bars.
I have both on 2 different bikes. Notice no difference except vibration dampening on the CF bars. I would opt for CF on a TT bike and run what came on a road bike.
Here in Singapore my preference would be for carbon, the humid climate and sweating leads to a constant battle against corrosion , in two years here two aluminum handlebars have needed to be replaced.
That can also a factor with indoor trainers too, if youâre not careful
fancy shape -> carbon
classic shape -> aluminum
for me it's the pro ple ergo carbon, I just love the shape of it, unfortunately that shape is only available in carbon but for me it's worth it
Had a recent crash that broke my left DA brifters into pieces yet my Deda aluminum bars is still in excellent shape and managed to ride back home.
Would have waited for hours for a ride then and now searching for new brifters and bars if I was using carbon.
Glad I'm still not persuaded to use carbon bars.
I use carbon bars on all my mountain bikes, crashed multiple times, no issues whatsoever.
I use aluminium on all my bikes and they all have external cables (under the bartape of course). I like to try out a few adjustments in my equipment and position every now and then, and swapping handlebars is an easy job (with rimbrakes). One of my favourite handlebars was only âŹ15, has a kinda aero ergonomic top, compact drops, 40 cm wide with the right amount of flare and weighs 295 grams. The bartape is more expensive than the handlebar. By the way, depending on what bartape you use, you can easily save 50 grams by choosing a lighter option.
sometimes the best bars can be the cheapest! It's a very personal thing
Ritchey WCS aluminium bars are lighter than their carbon fibre counterparts
I did crack a carbon handlebar jumping a little speed bump on the road. It was tightened at the correct torque. I will never use carbon on handlebars nor seatposts
I've been using cf bars for over 20 years now, in particular on my now ancient MTB. Never had an issue and my ancient MTB is old enough to legally drink now and still had the original Easton bars on it despite numerous warnings back then that CF bars need to be replaced every 2 years and sooner if dropped etc
Which one's better fighting against rust and corrosion from sweat and rain?
the carbon ones
I like the flat tops of the Ritchey Streem II bar and the reach and drop of those bars are far more comfortable for my position on the bike. If I could find an alloy version with the same specs, I would not mind the minor weight penalty to save the money, but until then, it is what it is.
Those are super nice bars but I had to sell mine. The flat tops were great for reducing hot spots on my palms but were too big for my small hands. I had to switch to a round cross section Ritchey Ecocurve. I think that's one of the benefits of carbon bars. There are so many shapes available so you can fine tune what's most comfortable for you.
@@johnhutto71 yea I get it, I originally put some Zipp Service Course XPLR bars on my gravel bike, but the flare was just way too much for me and I could never get comfortable.
Carbon (nice to have a bit of flex) classic bar/stem
you need a HB Trumpet master class from Ali Clarkson Trials
đș
I prefer no handlebar at all.
đ
Yeah it's all just extra weight. đ
No frameset is better.
Jesus take the wheel!
no saddle more likeđČ
I suffer from Gearmentia. Keep upgrading my bike to make it faster and never remember between each upgrades thatâs it not the bike thatâs slow, itâs me.
đ
An INTEGRATED handle bar is by quite a margin much better looking without the (usually four) bolts on the stem that hold an alu or CF bar in place. Love your GCN videos, guys. Cheers from Montreal !
yeah, they certainly give a great appearance, thanks for the love â€ïž
The only carbon bar Iâd willingly buy over an aluminum one is the Coefficient RR or AR bar
What about steel or bambou?
If the carbon fiber handlebar does not last.. then think about the fact that the carbon fiber frame is subjected to much greater forces đ€
nonsensical analogy, apples vs oranges
@@keinpietz7697 đ but tell me how the Carbon fiber spokes can lastđ€
@@Jari1973 tell me how I don't drown in a bathtub yet I can barely swim in the middle of an Atlantic Ocean?
I'm perfectly fine with ALU fsa omega compact on my all road bikes.
I prefer alloy dropbar with palm rest that is paired with stand alone stem for superb adjustability.
When I replaced the OEM bars on my bike a few years back, I looked at both carbon and alu bars, both direct replacements forthe original (steel!) bars: same length, sha[e, clamp diameter, etc. The alu bars won by a mile due to cost. I don't think that carbon bars would break easier than alu, but there's no advantage to them when factoring in the price difference.
I can not go back to any round shaped bar after experiencing flat shaped (âaeroâ) bars. The comfort in various hand positions is huge.
Yep now you can now aluminum bars with the flat shape as well.
Round handlebars are also compatible with more accessories with their round cross-sections
it is certainly easier to buy a generic mount!
I've rode a decent number of bikes, including some decent carbon bikes, but I've never touched a carbon handlebar. So, I have nothing to contribute, except that carbon handlebars seem to be prohibitively expensive :)
I love my aero alloy bars on my road bike. But also love my carbon sprint bars on my track bikeđ
I donât unwrap my aluminum bars and inspect every time my bike falls over. Seen to many catastrophic carbon failures from repetitive small hits.
I look less at the material and more at the shape⊠I still like ergo bars. They arenât for everyone and some say they look goofy. However, after a several injuries I have found that ergo bars really reduce pain.
shape is certainly the most important thing to consider - comfort is key!
It's been a while since I'm considering to replace my handlebar and I'd gladly pick an aluminum one, but unfortunately the market doesn't care about aluminum anymore. I'd like an integrated, internal cabled model but I only find that in carbon.
hi! thanks for the comment. It's actually pretty difficult to produce an aluminium one piece bar, it would be very stiff though! Cheers
On my road bike I use an alloy handle bar. As it is too old for me to bother with carbon bar on that bike. On my hybrid I use an allo mountain bikev handle bar with a really small rise. On my mountain bikes I use carbon handle bars running 780mm width. I have changed the bar on my hardtail to the OneUp carbon bar which I cut down from 800mm to 780mm. As I wanted to change the way I wanted to mount my front light for riding at night. I changed it to the Nukeproof Horizon bar. On my full suspension bike. They are the same carbon bar as when Blake Samson had Pinkeye.
Handlebars are a very minor factor in aerodynamic efficiency and comfort. How much difference does an "aero" support make on the wind resistance of a billboard? Do you ride without bar tape? Padded tape and properly padded gloves make a lot more difference in comfort than bar material.
My Easton bars are worth the weight in gold. No competition
Bianchi have left the chat.
Know u right
While lost weight is better
U 4130&ti. Weight how lost body we
The problem with aluminum bars for me is it corrodes with sweat and you can't see that happening until you change your bar tapes. Tho I've been using my stock aluminium handle bars for 5 years now and so far it feels solid. It does have a lot of corrosion already.
We've seen some really bad corrosion over the years. It's always worth keeping on top of bar tape replacement!
If your budget allows and you can get them to fit, go for carbon. Pair small marginal gain of weight and comfort alongside tyres and pressures, but only if you can afford it. If not alu is more than suitable for 99.9% of what people need.
I bought one of my bikes second hand for about 200 euros, the handle bars are not carbon fiber. I just use that bike on the turbo and it's no longer safe for outside.
My other bike I bought new for 460 euros, the handle bars are not carbon fiber, I would normally use this bike for outside but I need to do some maintenence on it.
Recently removed a $300+ MSRP carbon masterpiece and replaced it with a $30 aluminum handlebar and couldn't be happier! Anyone want a slightly-used FSA K-WING AGX 44 CM?
i dont like technical development nonsense... i still ride a steel frame from the 70ÂŽs with 18mm tires. No need for all this hocus pocus!!! Still watching GCN in black and white, with my 56k modem
Still have a landline and a fax ? đ
A bi-cycle? Modern hokum. Just walk places or use your horse
đđđ
â@@petersouthernboy6327perhaps a pager? LOL
@@davidadamus177 oh well played
The shapes you can make the carbon in gives it the advantage imo
Bottom line seems to be that unless you are a pro racer, or have more money than you know what to do with, there is no real justification in going for carbon handlebars. Oh yes, and then that odd group of people who want to make it look as if they are pro's or have more money than they know what to do with đ
One thing for carbon handlebar that are beyond money or pros. It has a slight damping on road vibration.
@@viki6or Yes, but so does cycling gloves and they only cost a fraction.
@@_J.F_And thicker bar tape.
@@kokonanana1 Yes, that too đ
"you can't destroy the metal"
-Jack Black
Carbon for road, alu for MTB. Carbon a bit lighter and absorbs road vibes better, alu for strength (I crash my MTB with alarming frequencyâŠ)
How is it with "best before" date with carbon? I hear over and over again that carbon after a few years is a lot weaker than new. But I saw 30-50 years old aluminium bars that were as good as new.
Alu for me: PRO Vibe Aero Pursuit. 36 cm, look mint, cheap, internal routing, absolute pain to recable :D
internal cables can be a "tricky" thing sometimes!
I'm using steel. How much is the difference between that and the others? weight and feedback
Hi! thanks for the comment. Steel would probably be a bit more comfortable than alloy, but the weight would be quite a bit more. It is hard to give a more solid answer without a direct comparison
I base my choice on the bend, and I don't like flat or aero tops. My fave is an alloy shape that Pro hasn't made in a few years.
When you find the handlebar shape that suits you, it is a great feeling! (literally)
Alu for me personally. Expense and damage tolerance.
Now how about : the best SHAPE bars? Me, I like, no, I love, the "pista" or "criterium" shape (e.g. see Cinelli) with a gentler and earlier forward sweep of the top bar towards the hoods. It gets the top bar out of the way of your wrists when sprinting in the drops. And it looks "cooler" đ.
At my level aero won't have huge impact on my enjoyment or performance
There were some really cool shaped bars weren't there?! Pista's were lovely! Cheers
Why didnât you Show MVP riding with a snapped handlebar? đ
carbon bars are not always lighter than alloy. alloy bar and stems can get lighter than most carbon ones. especially lighter than aero bars. theres also reputable stem and bar companies that make super light alloy parts for cheap.
I have 38cm OG-Evkin round carbon bars
Iâm a big fan of carbon, and I have a carbon handlebar on my mtb. But for my road bikes I use aluminum handlebars. The price difference for road is much higher than for mtb.
On the mtb, my choice of carbon has a lot more to do with comfort than weight.
Component manufacturers need to develop some measurement standards beyond price and weight. Radial and longitudinal stiffness could easily be measured in kg/mm a set distance from bar centre (say 15 cm). Similarly, an ultimate strength could be measured too. Heck, it wouldnât be hard to even measure damping and harmonic frequency.
Alas, none of this happens because itâs easier to sell things based on a bunch of empty superlatives.
So, for the moment, Iâll stick with inexpensive aluminum until a manufacturer can objectively *show me* what Iâm actually getting performance wise, Not weight wise⊠which I can already determine more or less based on the price tag.
this could be a good idea! Particularly with many road surfaces becoming worse and worse. Bontrager have a product called IsoZone that is said to help with vibrations. And years ago they had a product called BzzzKill which were handlebar end plugs that claimed too dampen certain frequency vibrations!
is that bianchi fork and wheel break, no only handlebar. that test need to add clamp force at the hood position.
is it possible to get aero optimized aluminum handlebars?
Yes.
Better to accept that you don't need them.
@@peterwillson1355 Flat tops are great for hours in puppy paws which is why I prefer them.
it sure is!
I do not constantly ride at 30-40kph, except for downhills, I do not race, my back is not flexible enough to have my handlebars two foot below my seat, aero is wasted on me, I enjoy my riding and prefer a comfy round bar. Aluminium for me all day.
I tried a non-aero, round carbon handlebar from Aliexpress to see if there is any difference in comfort. I can feel none. But the bike got about 200 g lighter.
I have some old aluminium bars, that literally won't die.
Some kind of Alu/immortal alloy.
I noticed my 32c tires is good choice for comfort.. but my roadbike can't fitted.
Buying carbon handlebar is increase comfort my roadbike ??? For real guys.. help me.
Changing carbon handlebar feeling so different like carbon seatpost vs aluminum? I realized carbon seatpost very different and worth to upgrade.
Did carbon handlebar worth for real ?
Everyone wants carbon everything, if their dentist offered them carbon teeth they'd say "GIMMEE"
Teeth are pretty heavy.
Stiff and stepng carbon like Metron 5D barstem for the win. If not barstem combo but separate, doesnât matter much.
Fortunately, the rim-brake snatchers didn't take away all the aluminum bars, too. đ
Thanks Alex , and Isaac?...what , no "Bingo"? I am OAF and on a fixie , yeah , income ! I ride for fun , race myself , and do my best to enjoy every day ! Most of these carbon things are beyond my reach , and really not practical . Pretty cool , though, be well , eh ?