What are the good brands in the MTB world?

[chris1911]

I am looking to upgrade some of the components on my bike and am trying to get a feel for what the best brands are.

Specifically, right now i am looking at handlebars. Is Easton good stuff? Is it comparable to Raceface?

How about these? They are pretty light.
[url:1ljunxih]http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB284A06-Easton+Monkey+Lite+Xc+Riser+Bar+Oe.aspx[/url:1ljunxih]

How does it compare to the Raceface carbon models?

[steve32300]

I am looking to upgrade some of the components on my bike and am trying to get a feel for what the best brands are.

shimano and sram would be what your gonna find on more shelves than anything else.What other components are you lookin at upgrading?

Specifically, right now i am looking at handlebars. Is Easton good stuff? Is it comparable to Raceface?

How about these? They are pretty light.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ … ar+Oe.aspx

How does it compare to the Raceface carbon models?

Those bars are reallly good XC bars,they are one of the absolute best bars on the market for XC riding.Are you a XC rider?

[Devin_P]

Truvativ, Easton, Ritchey, Bontrager all make good carbon bars.

[Syd Patricio]

I have to add to what Mongoose said about being almost exactly the same in lay up and such…There is more truth to that than what was said…Not all of the manufactures actually make carbon parts. Rather they contract out to a third party that only make carbon components..So saying that many of the manufactures get there products from the same sourse, just with different graphics and stuff..Perhaps a different top layer to change the look of the bar but not necessarily the performance of it. Same goes with some stems and seat posts as well…Lets face it to a degree that is not a bad thing..You have one or two manufactures that make high quality components and your favorite brand purchasing from them…Thats fine by me…

Now saying all that I can’t tell you who exactlly is doing that but it doesn’t matter really.. Your purchasing for the service quality / after sales support..

[Corey Maddocks ✓ supporter]

I’m a clyde and am afraid of carbon bars and seat posts. I Saw a carbon bar break once with disastrous results to the guy riding. In fact that club no longer allows carbon bars on their group rides.

Anywho…

I have Raceface Evolve XC aluminum bars, stem, seat post and crank assembly and I love all of them.

[Suvacrew]

"maddslacker" wrote

I’m a clyde and am afraid of carbon bars and seat posts. I Saw a carbon bar break once with disastrous results to the guy riding. In fact that club no longer allows carbon bars on their group rides.

It sounds like the club and their riders need some education in the use of a torque wrench. Any and all materials fail when not tightened to spec (usually over tightened), never broken a C frame or component….yet, but faithfully use a Torque wrench to manu spec.

There’s a good chance that the bars got over torqued at the stem and a "crush" occurred. That was the moment of failure….the same can happen with a carbon post. Most bars/stems will be limited to approx 5Nm. The kiss of death for a carbon component..is when you here the creaking and clicking sounds…and people crank it down more….it’s already too tight in many instances. Also after a good wreck..you need to inspect your entire bike…seeking out hairline fractures, bulges and discolorations whether it be carbon or any other material.

Banning carbon components is a "Chicken Little" approach to a the situation that can be well managed. As a former Cat 3 roadie and having carbon frames and components since 1991..I’ve witnessed the failure of every type of material on a bike…when it occurs..9 times out of 10 it’s a result of user error and/or making the bike irresponsibly light at the wrong places.

Carbon Bars/Posts I use w/o hesitation on MTB/TT/Road/Track…FSA,Ritchey WCS, Scott, Easton EC series, Deda, Profile, 3T and Schmolke. I’m a clydes Xterra racer…and don’t own anything other than Carb bars..I’m neither brave nor dumb…but own a torque wrench.

[Corey Maddocks ✓ supporter]

I agree, but I also see their stance as they have a lot of n00bs and amateurs attend their rides. They are an incorporated entity as well and I think they might be worried about implied liability.

But like I said, I run aluminum and am very happy with it, and I have friends who run carbon and are just as happy with theirs.

[Syd Patricio]

I have to agree with Suvacrew. The main reason for failed components is improper torque..When ever wrench my bike or anyone elses for that matter I torque the bolts. Also A crash warrants an inspection of all components. If there is even a shadow of a doubt..Replace. Most manufactures have a crash replacement program so if you toast their products they will sell a replacement at a reduced cost.

Another thing that people have to remember…Everything has a service life, bars, stems, seatposts, frames, wheels… Once parts get used to the end point of its life it will fatigue. Carbon breaks all of a sudden, steel gets weak then cracks, aluminum cracks….

[steve32300]

9 times out of 10 it’s a result of user error

Yes,when I saved up enough money to buy my first BMX bike back in 2nd grade,I bought the race model centurion because when I seen it the look of a race bike is what I thought was what I wanted.Well,I never started racing and just kept hitting the dirt jumps and hitting the dirt jumps till one day I went up this half tube like jump and came down flat with both wheels(cased landing)and snapped the down tube clean off the head tube.It was kinda cool for a little while because it rode like it had a rear shock but more like a pogo stick,hahahaha.Anyway,I felt bad for breaking my own bike so I got a freinds dad that welded to weld it back for me but he wouldnt do the job until I told my parents what had happend.I was like,wtf dude,(not really,but I was thinking it almost out loud)because it was my bike that I worked and paid for myself,my step dad didnt want anything to do with it so I couldnt understand why he wanted me to tell my parents before he welded it back up for me.
Anyway,,,I just thought this was a good example of why you need to "figure out" what kind of components you want to buy before you buy them so you dont get caught up in situations like this where your stuck with what dont work for what you really want to do.

[chris1911]

Thanks for the input guys.

I have a Raceface Deus XC handlebars, stem, and seatpost, WTB Pure V Race saddle, and ODI extreme grips on the way.

I decided not to go with the carbon. I’m not the guy that is worried about every gram of weight that goes on the bike. I am able to handle the bike just fine with aluminum. Maybe that will change down the road when i am more experienced.

[Corey Maddocks ✓ supporter]

Your Deuce XC components are one step up from my Evolve XC group. You should be very happy with them!

[Devin_P]

I’m a clydesdale rider at @ 240 w/o pack and gear. I have Truvative carbon bars and seatpost on my bike and they have been great. I do inspect them and have them checked when i take the bike for service. I also have an all carbon road bike (new Trek Madone) which is outstanding. Doesn’t get the same type of abuse as the MTB but handles my weight and the high speeds well.

[chris1911]

I know that carbon is supposed to be stronger than steel, but when it breaks, it breaks. I cringe at the thought of where my face would be planted if that happened 😢 .

[Suvacrew]

The Carbon vs Aluminum/Alloy debate could roll on for a long time.
Certainly there is the weight and strength aspect. One factor not discussed or acknowledged in this thread is carbon’s ability to dampen the myriad of vibration frequencies coming through our bikes into our bodies..yes even when fully suspended with ample travel.
Mongoose certainly knows better than most of us about the weave lay direction and the layering and how that impacts the strength and vibration absorption.
Do an epic all day ride, a marathon race or a 24 hour event and the difference is between feeling trashed (Carbon) or feeling pummeled on the verge of death (Aluminum). Carbon will temper the fatigue
You’re all doing fine with the Aluminum components off of the top shelf, but as all things go…we always get what we pay for. Cheap or bootlegged/counterfeit Alloy and Carbon components can all send us to the trail head first and the Cranial Facial Specialist.

Summer is almost here..enjoy your rigs and trails, whatever they’re made of.
Kia Kaha (Stay Strong)

[chris1911]

Speaking of carbon bars..
[url:3ni9y382]http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=525835[/url:3ni9y382]

[Corey Maddocks ✓ supporter]

Right or wrong, that’s the kind of story that sticks in my head. Aluminum forever for this clyde.

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