Race Face Era 55 Carbon review: This 230-gramm handlebar improves your riding position

Conclusion by Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor

Greater height, less weight and a more balanced riding position: The Race Face Era 55 Carbon addresses a problem that many modern mountain bikes create for themselves. Frame geometries have been getting longer for years, particularly in terms of reach. When it came to stack, however, many manufacturers held back. The result: the riding position becomes too front-heavy, the pressure on the hands increases, and the central, upright position on the bike is lost. It is only with the latest new models, such as the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO equip their bikes with plenty of stack and high handlebars as standard to compensate for the long main frame.

Riders who use a bike with a long reach and low stack therefore often resort to unsightly spacer set-ups or handlebars with more rise. However, many high-rise handlebar models are quite heavy – and, of all places, right at the top of the bike, where ambitious riders would actually prefer to save every gramme to optimise the centre of gravity.

This is where the Era 55 comes in. Its 55-millimetre rise adds significantly more height to the cockpit, whilst its weight remains surprisingly low at 230 grams. Race Face also combines comfortable compliance with precise steering response.

If you want to raise the front end of your bike and improve your riding position without adding extra weight to the cockpit, the Era 55 offers a compelling solution. This carbon handlebar is particularly well-suited to taller riders and modern bikes with a low stack height.

Key facts about the Race Face Era 55 Carbon

• 55 mm rise
• 230 g weight
• 780 or 800 mm wide
• on 760 mm can be shortened
• 5° up-sweep
• 8° back sweep
• 35 mm clamping mechanism
• Carbon construction
• lifetime guarantee
• Price: 170 euros >> available here

55-millimetre rise to counter cockpits that are too low

With the Era 55, Race Face is addressing a problem we’ve seen on many modern bikes with long, flat geometries: the frame fits, but the cockpit is too low.

The previous Era generation was available with a rise of up to 40 millimetres. For the next stage in its evolution, the developers have added a further fifteen millimetres, bringing the total to 55 millimetres. On paper, that sounds like a small step, but it noticeably changes your position on the bike.

The higher front end positions the rider more centrally and in a more upright position on the bike. This more upright position takes the strain off the hands, allows greater freedom of movement and provides additional control, particularly on steep sections. Anyone who has previously had to use a stack of spacers or a tall stem to compensate for a stack height that is too low can raise the front end with the Era 55 and fine-tune the effective reach via the handlebar angle.

In the test: tall, light and comfortable

The Era 55 offers 230 grams on the scales. This makes it one of the lightest models in this Rise category.

Of course, when it comes to high-rise handlebars, hardly anyone makes a decision based on 20 grams. Anyone looking for an extra 55 millimetres of height is primarily after a better riding position. Nevertheless, the low weight is impressive. Race Face’s lifetime guarantee also demonstrates the company’s complete confidence in the high-performance carbon construction.

More importantly, the Era 55 is a pleasure to ride. Over several months, it clocked up a huge number of metres of descent, and the handlebars particularly impressed with a noticeable boost in comfort.

Goldilocks Tune: soft, but not mushy

Race Face describes the handling characteristics Goldilocks Tune. The idea behind this is to combine two characteristics that are, in fact, contradictory: vertical compliance and lateral stiffness.

The handlebars are therefore designed to filter out some of the shocks and vibrations in the vertical direction, whilst remaining precise when steering.

The design works exceptionally well when riding. The Era 55 doesn’t feel like a stiff carbon stick that transmits every root directly to your hands. At the same time, there’s no spongy feel in fast corners or when pulling hard on the handlebars.

Don’t be too quick to reach for the saw

One important point deserves special attention: Race Face recommends the Era 55 not less than 760 millimetres to cut back on.

This has nothing to do with any arbitrary minimum width. The ‘Goldilocks’ set-up changes as soon as the rider shortens the handlebars. With a narrower width, the leverage at the ends of the handlebars decreases. This also alters their flex behaviour.

Anyone wishing to ride with narrower handlebars should therefore choose the right starting width when making their purchase. The 780-millimetre version is suitable for riders who intend to go down to around 760 millimetres anyway. Those who need a wider starting point should opt for the 800-millimetre version.

Just buy an 800-millimetre one and then happily saw it off later? That’s exactly what Race Face advises against.

Editorial commentary

The Race Face Era 55 Carbon is part of a new generation of high-rise handlebars that address a structural issue with modern mountain bikes: insufficient stack height in long, flat geometries.

With a 55-millimetre rise, it offers plenty of height, remains nice and light at 230 grams, and adds a pleasant touch of comfort to the cockpit. The tuning feels particularly well-suited to trail riding. The handlebars absorb bumps without feeling mushy.

As such, the Era 55 is aimed less at those obsessed with every gram and more at riders who are looking for a higher front end, greater comfort and control, but don’t want to compromise the bike’s weight balance.

Advantages

• 55 mm rise create a lot of height
• with 230 g exceptionally light
• pleasant compliance on rough trails
• yet precise steering feel
• Goldilocks Tune combines comfort and stiffness
• lifetime guarantee
• a competitive price for a carbon handlebar

Disadvantages

• only 35 mm clamping mechanism
• maximum 800 mm wide
• not under 760 mm can be shortened