NEW Kabuki Kadillac Bar by Rogue Fitness

[@NoFate247]

These bars are really things of beauty...so many uploads in a week. We are getting spoiled

[@BasementBrandon]

Need to get rid of my backlog so I can move some of this excess equipment 😂

[@bmstylee]

Elite FTS American Cambered Bar for the win.

[@williamb4389]

And it’s less than half the price of the Kadillac bar right now.

[@drinkinouttacups2665]

Based

[@BasementBrandon]

A classic

[@jamestonbellajo]

I’m glad you did this comparison. I used to use the Rogue TB-2 very regularly and I own both a Rogue MG-1 and Kabuki Kadillac (made by Kabuki). I feel the exact same way about Rogue’s specialty bar knurling. It’s fine but nothing to write home about and the powder coat while nice feels “cheaper” than the Kadillac’s in comparison. I love the powder coat on it and it grips incredibly well like you said. I also agree that it grips better in hand than Rogue’s specialty bar knurling and it feels a lot better to me honestly. I also didn’t have to deal with lead time getting it back in December. Took about 4 days after ordering to get to me in California. I also have the V2 Kadillac Bar so its bolts are similar to Rogue’s single bolts and the X is lined up with the bottom of the frame instead of being centered like V1. It also has the beveled edges and corners like Rogue’s. So Rogue’s design is pretty much the same as Kabuki’s V2, both improvements over V1. I tried to tell people not to get too hyped for Rogue’s knurling especially those who wanted to sell their current Kadillac Bars to get the Rogue one.

[@BasementBrandon]

appreciate the firsthand feedback!

[@flexmarksthespot]

I was someone who upgraded to Rogue from the same Kadi you had and I thought it was worth buying again. The powder coat on my handles wore down to where the knurled version feels way grippier. I also liked how the X in the middle of the bar is lowered and is way more comfortable on your chest. But yeah functionally, not really different.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on!

[@babygiantbarbell1014]

For us exclusively paused benchers, that change to the center x would make a huge difference. But getting rid of the Kabuki endcap is tragic. Very interesting comparison Brandon!

[@BasementBrandon]

You know it's interesting, I try to pause most of my reps to some degree but with these camber bars and long arms I find touching a bit more difficult.

[@espcustom]

Fantastic comparison buddy...i was fearing watching your review as buying the kabuki one not even a few months prior to when Rogue announced their partnership bummed me out....I thought that it would give me a huge craving to ditch it but it still makes me like mine for the grip factor..the kabuki powdercoat is really nice and the knurling was my only concern...thanks !!

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad to ease that concern!

[@Bottom3Percenter]

I have the early V1 Kadillac bar and wondered if the Rogue produced version was that much better. I think Rogue missed a few opportunities to really set it improve it. • 1 Better Knurling on par with the standard Ohio Bar • 2 Center attachment point for use with cable systems • 3 Improving the sleeves to standard rotating sleeves like the MG-4 Thank you for the compassion Brandon

[@BasementBrandon]

No problem, thanks for taking a look!

[@JustinRudd42]

Funny. I bought my Kadillac from Kabuki a couple of years ago. It looks like the Rogue version (welds, middle X, bolts for the sleeves) minus the knurled handles. So depending on which Kadillac you got from Kabuki, the changes when Rogue took over even more minor.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on, I do believe there was one newer version than the one I own, so good to know.

[@Tlevy2]

Great review. I’ve used both and actually do prefer the rogue one. Maybe I’m biased because I know its the “newer” version. But specifically I do like the knurled handles vs the powder coat. The power coat for me didn’t perform as well with sweaty hands and it was a little more messy and would rub off. I also have the tb-1 trap bar so I like the consistency with handles since the knurling is similar. Finally I do use full range and love the flat bottom vs having a sharp edge on my chest.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on! Guess my long arms don't help here lol.

[@adammacdonnell9655]

Brandon following in Efrens footsteps and leaving the tag on the bar🤣🤣

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol I'm lazy.

[@Timm129]

Elite fts American camber bar here. I'm very happy with it..

[@bmstylee]

Definitely hits the price/quality ratio.

[@Timm129]

@@bmstylee currently on sale for 236$ it's a bargain

[@BasementBrandon]

Hard to beat a classic

[@pharaun1013]

I have the old Kabuki version but really like the black sleeve Rogue version

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah I forgot to mention those here. Look cool but more aesthetics.

[@LukesGarageGym]

That textured powder coat really does make a heck of a difference! Got a bar recently with it and it makes it next level. But seriously though, these bars are just freakin pretty!!

[@BasementBrandon]

More toys for the boys

[@LukesGarageGym]

@@BasementBrandon haha HECK YEAH!

[@srhyse]

Love my original Kadillac and use it daily with people but it still feels like a 1.0 bar all around compared to how the Transformer bar evolved. I’d love a shorter sleeved version that’s not at all sharp and maybe has an extra set of handles instead of an X in the middle. Nice knurling would be nice but I don’t much care since the grippy texture actually works decently and I mostly use it for pressing. Better balance would also be appreciated. More space to rack it as well, which is another reason the sleeves would be shorter. It’d have to weigh more than 45lbs to achieve that but I think that’s fine. 55-65lbs is fine. Makes the math harder but you get over it.

[@BasementBrandon]

Some good points!

[@TheShamanofStrength]

This is EXACTLY the review I was looking for!! First vid I clicked on was horrible!! Thank you for actually explaining the difference between the two bars!!

[@BasementBrandon]

Glad I could help!

[@joecowan3719]

Thanks for going over the differences with these two versions, wish the handles were OPB knurling with 33mm and not powdercoated. I love my OG Kaddy, but I thought from Bill's early posts that is how they were upgrading it...oh well, Rogue does like to V2 their releases.

[@BasementBrandon]

I guess that's a compelling argument for the MG-4cn

[@kozmo7]

awesome thanks man, always love what you do

[@BasementBrandon]

Appreciate the kind words

[@jaybrodi9029]

I wish Rogue would take over the Marrs bar

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't see that happening unfortunately.

[@thomasbrown7328]

Sad that rogue didn’t add a hoop on the top side of the X in the middle of the bar to attach the bar to a lat pull down. So why do you thing Kabuki let Rogue take over one of their main pieces? Did Rogue cut them a big check?

[@BasementBrandon]

TBH this thing as a pull down attachment would be more of a pain in the ass. Even the bells of steel one that's lighter and has a smaller footprint sucks to use.

[@GlucksGym]

Ohhh cambered bars, I'm in.

[@BasementBrandon]

Used to things being bent in your life eh?? :)

[@monkeyspacepilot007]

When I saw the kadillac bar for sale on rogue Europe I was hoping that the other kabuki specialist bars would also be available soon. Now I know that rogue is just producing the kadillac I guess that won't be the case.

[@BasementBrandon]

They teased a pic on IG that they seem to be working on the Transformer bar.

[@TheCarterHomeGym]

Textured powder coat does make a difference. I like it on my Elitefts American Cambered Bar. Have you used it before? Curious how it compares to the Kabuki 🤔

[@bmstylee]

I like mine. Makes a good simulator for pressing a log overhead.

[@BasementBrandon]

Only randomly in public gyms 😢

[@vu5459]

I own the Kabuki: Kadillac Bar v1, Trap Bar HD with ALL 1.5" Handles and the Transformer Bar v2 (the same one you have that you made in your videos). For the Current Kadillac Bar v1, I found that this bar slips and it's very hard to grip in that the 32mm handles WITHOUT knurling doesn't really give you a confident feeling of when you're holding the bar that you're in full control. On top of that, without the the knurling it makes you feel like the bar will slip out of your hands. Even at 34mm knurled, I would find it too small for my hands to make me feel like there's good enough contact with my hands. I'll wait till Kabuki moves the handles to 38mm also before I would upgrade. In Addition, the ANGLES of the current existing Kabuki Bar handles could be more inward than it currently is. With respect to how I came about my preferred HANDLE SIZE: After using the 29mm and 1.5" or 38.1mm knurled Kabuki Trap Bar HD, I would PREFER the 38mm or larger for ALL GRIPS with extreme knurling as I feel more confident with bigger handles and knurling that sort of sticks to the skin of my hands. I will probably end up buying 2" Handles for my Trap Bar HD from Kabuki Soon as I don't even feel like the 38.1mm provides enough stick to the skin of my hands.

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah I hear you, those girthy handles do feel nice in the hands.

[@Lieudahcris]

Thanks for this! Was considering upgrading to the Rogue version mainly for the knurled handles but not anymore, hoped that they would be like Efren's...

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah def more of a check the box thing to me.

[@markhalstead2386]

My Kadillac Bar was shipped from Kabuki last December 2 days after I ordered it. Not the case with the Transformer bar.

[@BasementBrandon]

Haha yeah they’ve been hitting delays on everything it seems.

[@TrainerBigMike]

I always thought I’d have a Kadillac bar by now but phew the price is just 😅 if I don’t use my basic MultiGrip bar, like at all, do you think upgrading is a good idea?

[@BasementBrandon]

Nope!

[@deke61sg]

Another great review by BB. Thanks.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks again!

[@jamesshaffer4547]

Nice review , as always , Brandon. Are you going to do a review and/or a comparison video between the Kadillac and Rogue MG-4cn ? I actually was able to swap out the regular MG-4c because of thread issue for the Kaddillac when Rogue started selling it and I'm wondering if it was a good decision or should I have just swapped for the MG-4cn. Ah , all these gear desires, they just won't leave me alone .lol . I know they're both great bars ,I just always like to hear your thoughts on things . And remember ; STAY BIG ! ! !

[@BasementBrandon]

Yes will talk about in a video I'm sure!

[@carps_gym]

Yep sold the old one to get the new Knurled handles.

[@BasementBrandon]

Baller status

[@bro_nah___1]

Hope you make review on that rogue camber bar with the short sleeves

[@BasementBrandon]

I'll def talk about it!

[@MacStrengthCo]

Rogue making some improvements which is awesome. Great review bud

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks my dude!

[@sandersaarend]

"Rogue shipping is pretty much $20 - $30 cheaper" It's a very different story for Europeans - Kabuki shipping + import tax for this bar to my house is $818, that's WITHOUT the cost of the bar itself (yes, you read that correctly). Meanwhile from Rogue Europe, shipping is 66€.

[@BasementBrandon]

Gotcha!

[@JonathanTReviews]

Nice walk through. Thanks for putting this together. Would love your thoughts on the Kadillac vs the Rep Cambered Swiss, if you could only pick one for bench. Cheers

[@BasementBrandon]

Don’t make me have to get more bars! 😅

[@JonathanTReviews]

@@BasementBrandon Haha! I will do no such thing 😉 You're welcome 😁

[@christianramirez8831]

I have both. Gotta say I prefer the rep bar, without even taking into account the price difference. The kadi just barely fits in my rep rack. This won’t be an issue if you have a rogue rack. I prefer the handle positions on the rep bar. The outside positions on the Kadi are too wide, so I’m only able to use 2 of its grips. Also the handles on the rep bar are thicker and not as long. This makes the bar more stable. Rep is better for OHP due to the round tubing and more narrow frame. Finally the sleeves are higher quality on the rep bar. Kabuki zinc ends up looking pretty bad after a few months. My transformer bar and shoulderrok also lost their shine and look very dull

[@JonathanTReviews]

@@christianramirez8831 Thanks for sharing your feedback! Cheers

[@ISWIMWITHFISH]

First!! Had to do a double take that you uploaded again! Man I’m just not sure about the X in the middle. Does it seem to far spread out?? Excited to get it!!

[@BasementBrandon]

Def a bit extra lol

[@emmanuelcastro5677]

Is the bar worth it? Can you do the same exercises with a regular barbell and/or dumbbell? What are the advantage of owning such bar?

[@BasementBrandon]

A camber multi grip bar like this let’s you use a neutral grip (more comfortable for some) and allows a greater ROM

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

Hmm… better balance is so important. Annnndddd… Knurled handles is so desirable hahah.

[@BasementBrandon]

These still have their own balance issues IMO

[@patrickmurphy8008]

Brandon I'd love for you to check out the Rep Ares or Athena and give us your thoughts in using it Your rack is a Rep one right? Would fit right in besides making you have to find new plate storage solutions

[@MrPanthers23]

I second this notion. I'd prefer an athena review.

[@bmstylee]

It would be interesting. But it's Rep so 90% of the parts will be permanently out of stock.

[@BasementBrandon]

I no longer have a rep rack so not likely something I’d hold my breath for!

[@MrPanthers23]

@@BasementBrandon booo!! Do u wish you had a rep rack just for the ares or athena?

[@BasementBrandon]

@@MrPanthers23 Yes and no. I don't miss the redundancy of having two 6 post racks and my Prime Single Stack gives me a lot of the cable functionality. I prob wouldn't use the functional trainer aspect of it too often but I'm sure my wife would.

[@BrimhallBarbellClub]

Great info here!

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for watching!

[@LosFerrer]

I see a Vendetta jammer arm accessory there… :)

[@BasementBrandon]

Almost finalized for monster racks!

[@LosFerrer]

@@BasementBrandon i am waiting for those :) but problem of living in Europe is that most of the time they do not send here… 🤞🏼

[@SaulFemm]

I wonder what this means for Kabuki. The Duffalo and now the Kadillac? Hope everything is good over at Kabuki, I want them to stick around.

[@BasementBrandon]

To my knowledge they're still producing the duffalo internally. But they have had a lot of supply chain issues since they outsource some of the work.

[@ironcathedral4723]

what are your thoughts about rogue acquiring ghost strong when and if they are going to begin selling their equipment or are they discontinuing it all? I seen the statement about them acquiring that but that is all do you have any inside information🤘🏼

[@BasementBrandon]

So they already make/sell the roller j cups and combo racks. I don’t think they’ll make much if anything else!

[@hullihenfamily829]

more importantly, what is the mount holding the Iever arms on the rack? i love my kubbuci kaddilac bar and like the features better on the old one, particularly the smaller diameter handles. 34mm is just two big.

[@BasementBrandon]

It's from Vendetta Strength

[@hullihenfamily829]

@@BasementBrandon thanks, i look them up and not compatible with the rogue 2.0 version yet. that sucks. thats on my must buy list when that comes out. I use the lock key to lock them up high to ge them out of the way but this would be so much better.

[@hennos5966]

Did you buy the new version from kabuki or Rogue?

[@BasementBrandon]

Kabuki sent it to me but it comes from rogue.

[@airgordo4]

Did you move the rack? 🤔

[@BasementBrandon]

Maybe like 8 months ago?

[@doyourbest999]

Commenting for the algorithm. Stay big. Eat quest bars.

[@muffemod]

B I G B O I S

[@BasementBrandon]

Haha appreciated.

[@johnnygunzfilmbuff7821]

Which one do you recommend?

[@BasementBrandon]

Between these two? Whichever is cheaper.

[@johnnygunzfilmbuff7821]

@@BasementBrandon k fair enough.

[@twanrui3222]

Get the Rogue Transformer Bar when it's released on 4/15 and review it. Thanks

[@BasementBrandon]

Prob will be skipping. I don't use my transformer anymore and went back to an SSB

[@twanrui3222]

@@BasementBrandon You cant skip. It's your youtube job to get it and compare the new bar to the old bar. The fitness gods require you to review the new bar. Use it for lunges and bulgarian split squats. Thanks!

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

No end cap, no buy!

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol, seems like such a minor thing to not carry over!

[@MeharBhogal]

weird. wonder why they took it over

[@BasementBrandon]

Kabuki has a lot of supply chain issues since not a lot is done in house.

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

Probanaly has something to do with waiting 4 plus months to get a bar like I did for the transformer and kadillac

[@repentandfollowjesuschrist6170]

Ehh, my nuobell dumb bells will do just fine

[@BasementBrandon]

Apples and oranges