There was an era when bicycle handlebars measured just 600 millimetres and stems were 120 millimetres long. Riders leaned heavily over the top tube instead of sitting relaxed on the bike. Was that desirable? Some nostalgics would probably say yes and reminisce about days gone by.
Nowadays, even petite bikers reach for wide 800-millimetre handlebars when they're blasting around the bike park. Supporters of this development argue that wider handlebars give you more control. However, many overlook the fact that the handlebar width should ideally match the shoulder width.
Interestingly, wider handlebars were already being experimented with in downhill racing in the 90s. Back then, however, riders thought the unusual setup was hardly rideable. The current debate is not about handlebar width or stem length, but about rise - the height of the bar ends. Will this trend continue in the long term or is it just a passing fad?
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What you need to know about Highrise handlebars!
There are four dimensions for handlebars: the Lengththe materialDiameterthe so-called Backsweep (i.e. the rearward bend of the handlebars) and the Rise (the height of the handlebar ends, measured from the centre of the handlebars).
Ideas and explanations
At first, the man with the long, wild mane and the strangely upturned handlebars was ridiculed. But then Dakotah Norton rode to the front in the Downhill World Cup and impressed the scene with his speed frenzy. Everyone was amazed and wanted to know: What makes the American so damn fast? Is it not his excessively high cockpit? Until now, handlebars with a lot of rise meant models with 50 millimetres. Dakotah now rides models with an extreme rise of 75 millimetres. Dakotah is said to have experimented with high cockpits for various reasons.
On the one hand, he wanted to ride a long main frame despite his shorter than average arms. A high-rise handlebar not only increases the front end, but also shortens the reach. In addition, he can ride the fork more smoothly because he can compensate for the hard dive of the fork due to the additional height. He sees disadvantages in flat passages, e.g. during sprints. This is where the high front end is a hindrance. The question remains: To what extent can we hobby bikers benefit from this? Kinematics expert Peter Denk believes that normal bikers could also benefit, especially on steep, technical terrain. However, he is talking about handlebars with a rise of 50 millimetres. Denk still wants to try out more extreme models. His theory for the fashion: Back then, the high handlebars didn't work because of the compact frame geometries. Today, the bikes are long and could therefore be more compatible with extremely high cockpits.
Our practical check
We bolted our extreme handlebars (80 mm rise, 760 mm wide) to the GT Fury downhill bike and rode the jump track and the World Cup track in Leogang. First impression: Strange. The handlebar shortens the geometry and puts the rider in an unfamiliar position at the start. This is particularly noticeable on jumps. All three testers reported: "I end up rear-heavy". In bends and on berms, two of the three testers notice advantages in the form of more comfort. The high front plays its trump card on steps and steep terrain. For example, in the lower section of the World Cup course in Leogang. Here, everyone agreed on the added control. In short: one in three testers wants to continue riding with these extreme handlebars, and not just on the downhiller.
Conclusion of the testers
I ride a Highrise handlebar on my AllMountain and am convinced: 1. the centre of gravity on the bike is more balanced. 2. much less arm pump 3. more riding fun 4. more freedom of movement. However, the front rises much faster on the climbs. - Max Fuchs, BIKE tester
It's like so often: getting used to it. On the first ride, I thought to myself: "What a load of rubbish". After the second descent: "I'm fine" and during the third descent I was increasingly pleased with the advantages, e.g. on steep terrain. Your arms tire much more slowly here. - Dimitri Lehner, BIKE tester
In practice, it takes a while to find a central position on the bike. My conclusion: Great on steep terrain, otherwise superfluous. I like to have a lot of pressure on the front wheel, high-rise handlebars are a hindrance here. Oh yes, I don't like the look. - Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester
High, higher, highrise! The market reacts.
More and more manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon and bringing handlebars with extreme rise onto the market. The British brand Renthal recently introduced new models with a rise of up to 70 millimetres. We know that another well-known component manufacturer will soon be offering high-rise handlebars.
Renthal Higher Rise Fatbar
- High grade 7050 T6 aluminium
- Rise options: 50mm, 60mm, 70mm
- Width: 820mm (markings for shortening up to 720mm)
- Back sweep: 9 degrees
- Weight (manufacturer's specification) 50 mm rise: 345g ; 60 mm rise: 355g ; 70 mm rise: 405g
- Colours: Black, AluGold
- Price: 95 Euro
Deity Highside 760
- Aluminium
- Rise options: 50mm (323g) and 80mm (334g)
- Width: 760 mm
- Backsweep: 9 degrees
- Diameter: 31.8 mm
- Warranty: Lifetime Crash Replacement for first owners
- Colours: black/stealth with graphic options, white, purple, red, green, blue, bronze, orange
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Laurin Lehner
Editor
