What are the best handlebars for you mountain bike? Carbon or Aluminum

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

I'll take carbon bars, and carbon wheels over a carbon frame any day of the week. That being said carbon anything is icing. Completely unnecessary to have fun.

[@JaredHoff]

For sure! I’ll be testing out carbon wheels next.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

I had fun on my son 24" at the pump track. Probably the heaviest bike I've ridden but it was surprisingly capable, not even 400$ new and it still rips 😊

[@chucknoob7041]

@@LaurentiusTriarius Lol, I traded bikes with my Nieghbor my full sus, carbon wheels carbon bars for his wife’s small 90s MTB. I was terrified and giddy at the same time. Pretty damn fun.

[@MrChadLedford]

Well said.

[@btjones65]

I bought the Trail 1 carbons just because O thought they looked cool. I was really surprised at how well they felt. (I ride a hardtail) definitely a good upgrade.

[@JaredHoff]

Right! I didn’t think they would make much of a difference, but I’m loving the carbon Crockett bars 👍

[@btjones65]

Dude…NICE discount!

[@erickauffmann_official]

Thanks for this video!

[@JaredHoff]

@@erickauffmann_official thanks for taking time to leave a comment 👍

[@sasquatchmtb]

I definitely do think there is some confirmation bias that happens with things like this and it's so hard to assess how different things feel anyways. There definitely is some benefit to the dampening from carbon bars though so I do agree it is a great option for someone needing to ease their hands/arms/wrists a bit. Good video Jared! Cheers!

[@JaredHoff]

Thank you 👍 Cheers!

[@HUKIT.]

Connor at Bikers Edge did a blind test between carbon/alloy which I believe is a much better evaluation that this.

[@175thStreet]

Such a a good video. Thanks Hoff. And I have Trail One grips and love them. Now I'm eyeing some of those carbon bars 😀

[@JaredHoff]

Thank you for the comment! The carbon bars are a game changer. I didn’t think I’d notice much of a difference.

[@XCRiders]

That’s for the video 👍🏼Can’t stand the logo overkill on them but to each their own

[@JaredHoff]

You can get black stickers for them. I’ll make a video showing that install. I totally get what you’re saying though 👍

[@Ian-qf5ny]

I agree completely a good carbon bar can really take the edge off chatter bumps

[@JaredHoff]

100% it’s hard to tell how much it changes the ride until you test both bars back-to-back

[@MTBBoomer]

I’m new to the sport, 4+ months, riding a Trek Marlin7. I consider myself an intermediate rider. They’re a lot of upgrades out there . I’m not certain there’s enough bang for my buck to switch. I did switch from the standard pedals to Chester Race Pace pedals $40 - combined with a pair of 5/10 shoes - mega difference in connecting to the bike and confidence level. I think if I was an advanced or expert rider - then upgrade the bar, but not at my level. Appreciate your review though 👍

[@JaredHoff]

@@MTBBoomer totally agree with you. I ride alloy bars on most bikes, but love the way carbon feels.

[@ianmangham4570]

I love my Answer Pro Taper all mountain T6 🤘🤠

[@JaredHoff]

Awesome 🤙

[@Dan_Soundgar]

On the carbon bars how important is assembly gel, is there a substitute? I seen you don't use the stuff, I mean I'm not pulling wheelies by the bars etc.

[@JaredHoff]

Definitely get the carbon fiber paste for all the levers, grips, and stem.

[@Dan_Soundgar]

Just added finish line fiber paste, to the list

[@petererbse6253]

It definitely depends on how the handlebar is made and if the geometry fits your hands. I bought a carbon cannondale handlebar at my bike shop and it was so stiff I couldn't ride more than 2 hours. I changed the height, roll and width and it made no difference. I swapped it out for an aluminum bar and since then my hands are fine. So my advice would be to see if the manufacturer claims it as tough or compliant😅

[@JaredHoff]

I had the same experience with Renthal carbon bars being too stiff 👍

[@MarioV73]

@@JaredHoff I agree with both of you... I have the SantaCruz-made carbon bars that came with my Santa Cruz Hightower LT X01 bike, and I'm switching to alloy, like my other bikes. Riding downhill at high speeds for 20 minutes with this carbon bar just hammers my hands as the stiffness of the bars transfers every little bump right into my hands. I can't even ride this bike downhill, as it is sooo uncomfortable. I thought it was my fork's suspension, but no, it was the bar.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

My older Cannondale "xc ripper" scalpel hardtail is pretty carbony from factory I get the logic, sometimes I see alloy trailbikes with an assortment of carbon part with let's say a suntour fork, I'm like "boy you ain't got your priorities in the right order" 😮

[@JaredHoff]

Definitely 👍 Suspension is a priority over carbon parts.

[@chrisandrews5881]

I refuse to ride carbon anything, stuck in my ways. Do they do a steel version?

[@JaredHoff]

No steel, but the alloy is a good option 👍

[@paganSK]

yeah , currently i bought new XC bike all alluminium {13 kg}. I added carbon handles to my wishlist RaceFace Next SL 35 {160grams @ price 148euro} , yeah EXPENSIVE but u can feel the difference + total weigh difference on bike.

[@JaredHoff]

Definitely 👍

[@MrDamburger]

Though bars do make a bit of a difference, mainly in the rise, there is a beauty that people forget about, and that's just enjoying your bike and thrashing it and getting used to it and enjoying the outdoors, i think most people focus on the brands and what they have, and their type of gear its a bit funny at times the mtb scene

[@JaredHoff]

Definitely 👍 Go ride your bike and enjoy the adventure

[@trailpimp6369]

Those bars are sick

[@JaredHoff]

Most definitely 👍

[@Emtbtoday]

Oh yeah definitely a placebo effect when comes to carbon bar's! My new mtb came with a set I've not even had it out yet and I'm ordering alloy bar's just now! Just looking for one I an thinking Renthal black alloy or the stiff tag t1 or Burgtec high rise 38s carbon bars for me is a no thank you kinda thing they came with the bike so not fussed about them going always have them if really want them but having a carbon bar fail on me before riding on hardly anything they gave way at the up sweep bend just to much pressure being put down on them I think? They were 25mm rise nothing really for leverage on the stress point it shouldn't have happened! My trust in carbon bars is just gone at the moment things could have been bad if made it to the top of the trail and was coming down but luckily was on way up out car park it happened over a small amount of chunk! It is what it is love hate thing going on there but one thing I can say is they still cause fatigue, wrist pain etc! I have worked with old skool carbon before so have some idea of what's happening here the fibres in the middle are not bonded there dry for weight saving only inner and outter are resin bonded why you see dry fibers in snapped bar's today for the gone mad weight saving thing! 20 plus year old carbon bars today are still on the go and always will be because each layer is bonded and there still lighter than alloy!

[@JaredHoff]

I hear ya! I still like my alloy bars. Especially for the price. To be 100% honest, I get discounts from n the carbon bars so it makes more sense to ride them when you’re not paying full price for them.

[@mtbfever8578]

I had raceface affect aluminium bars . I've ridden max 3 times on them and then I bought E * thirteen Race carbon 35 mm rise bar.There s a huge difference in riding . Less vibration and weird noise also hands get less tired. So if somebody gets a new bike with alu bars , they should defo start upgrading from carbon handle bars. Just make sure you get a proper stem with it not a cheap one just cos it looks good 😝

[@JaredHoff]

Most definitely! I like the Trail One Rockville stem 👍

[@ewanduplessis9682]

How much of a difference is there in vibration and arm pump?

[@Lee-ic2yn]

I saw a video of carbon bars snapping on a pretty big jump Been scared ever since 😂

[@JaredHoff]

I hear ya! A lot of the times that’s due to people not using the proper torque when they install.

[@bikernaut1]

I believe carbon bar is worth the upgrade. There are just some things that are better from carbon

[@JaredHoff]

Definitely 👍

[@charlesholland6851]

I wish they didn’t have that giant logo on them

[@JaredHoff]

They make a black sticker that goes over that if you want to go stealth. I think I’ll make a video on that.

[@bicyclelife7088]

I have Renthal 35mm Fatbar Carbon and they beat you up. They are too stiff.

[@JaredHoff]

Trail One carbon bars have a great balance between stiffness and compliance 👍

[@darrinkulyk9560]

I Love My CF Bars FactoryPro 20mm Rise 😎 would never buy alloy .

[@JaredHoff]

I’ve usually just stuck with the OEM alloy bars that come on my bike, but test like this make me realize what a difference Getting the right components makes.

[@darrinkulyk9560]

@@JaredHoff I Like The CF Vibe 😎 Super Light Too

[@Cicadawee]

Alloy all the way. You forgot to adjust the micro bump adjustment on your shock.😁💡 Different handle bar=Different shock setting.

[@JaredHoff]

I hear ya 👍

[@Cicadawee]

Try it. You’ll be surprise. You earned my subscribe👌🍎Good job on review.

[@virkelie2]

Find it hard to accept the conclusions made in this video. Tester should have been blinded to the bars he was riding, and then made his evaluation.

[@JaredHoff]

Like the BE bikes video 👍 the blind test is definitely a good way to go. Maybe I’ll do that in the future.