Your Handlebar Height Actually Matters!! Here's Why...

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Stock height handlebars VS Bar risers. An age old question in the off-road community. Some riders argue taller handlebars provide more comfort when standing, other riders defend by stating that taller bars actually hinder your ability to achieve proper riding technique.
We went out to the deserts of Utah to compare both stock height handlebars and 1" bar risers. We compared both setups back to back on three different tests over a variety of different terrain.
Not only did we compare lap times and data provided by a LitPro high precision GPS, we also compared our rider feedback and feeling we received when riding both setups.
The most important takeaway and lesson we should all learn from this video is that neither tall bars or low bars are better than the other. They simply have pros and cons and each setup can be more conducive for different types of riding or racing.
The real answer lies not in what your setup consists of but whether your setup actually compliments the type of riding you're doing or not.

[@ridewiththeknights]

Rider heights listed below. Josh - 6' tall, long legs, average torso. Cory is a similar body stature 6' tall.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

To take differences in the time of a section, even with just the fastest time, does not mean the bar height is a big factor. Bent bars did not even slow down Magoo. "Testing things" is pretty impossible for sound conclusions if there are factors no identified or controlled,--like you felt better for a lap, and I bet they were your last laps. You are measuring rider variance, not the effects of bar height. You just don't want to admit that not any of your laps are perfect. nobody does. :)

[@dmcdevitt8]

I'm 6'. After an 80-mile enduro, that little bit of hanging over the bars with my back bent for hours while standing sure does add a whole lot of fatigue and discomfort.

[@urbanhagman2078]

Riders height is determining almost everything. I'm 6'.4'' and been doing some testing back and forth for years on my own. KTMs and Huskies, since 2015 always Fastway pegs 1/2 inch down and back. Love them. Tallest seat. I found 35 mm risers to be too high, went back to 25 mm (1''). The bar position is very critical (really like the standard Husky bar). My recommendation - just keep experimenting. Riding position and comfort is very important. By the way I'm 65.

[@mikethatcher4205]

Thx for the great series of videos.Your presentation is par or better than any PBS or network show. Your verbal delivery is equal or better than veteran narrators. You've got great talent on the bike and behind the camera. Thank you for helping me be a better rider (at 64).

[@jeremywilson7198]

Tell ya what man… I have been riding for 28 years and I always learn something new every video thank you. Your detailed dialogue really helps when trying to understand proper bike set up…just good stuff

[@raymondsiewert2720]

I love this video. Formerly a motocross rider but have been riding more off-road/desert for the last few years. I like standard risers with Honda high bend , in neutral position, Pro Taper evo bars . So they are about 1/4-3/8" higher than a flatter motocross bend. This is the perfect blend of stand up comfort and turning precision and feel.

[@ml5955]

I’m 6’ and have risers, but this is due to lower back pain. I find that taller bars/risers helps the lower back while standing.

[@riodj80]

Unless you have a lower back injury...lower back pain while riding is usually the result of weak core muscles. So strengthening your core would fix that, and allow you to ride without risers-which at your height is probably ideal from a handling/performance perspective-as well as ride in the proper attack position longer...benefits all around for a stronger core.

[@ml5955]

@@riodj80 I appreciate the feedback my friend, and what you say is true, but at my age 50+, with 35+ years of jujitsu / mat work, the lower back appreciates the bar risers despite good core strength for my age 👍.

[@riodj80]

@@ml5955 Fair enough…and good on ya! Do what works! Im not far behind you in age (40+), and strengthening my core fixed my lower back pain while riding…so I’m always eager to pass that along. Have a blast!

[@TheCharillz23]

I agree. Besides. At my age I'm not going to be winning any gncc titles. Love my risers. I do see some cons to them, but the plus is I don't hurt

[@ThePJExperience]

'core strengthning ' is a myth alright , your muscles are already working all day , every day and they are over worked if anything.

[@02Clint]

Thanks Josh, appreciate the work you put into these videos

[@kentpulido8010]

Great video, I also run bar risers with the stock bars. I like the stock bar bend and sweep. I run them in the forward position. I also have a tall seat on my Sherco. I'm 6'2".

[@NirHason]

That was a really good video!! I'm waiting for the bars postion and bend video ;)

[@millerpb]

Great video man! I’m 5’10” and like the stock height, bars in the middle position in the triple clamps(if they have it) and my levers at 31 degrees measured from resting my iPhone on top of the grips and resting on the lever(using the bubble level app).I find I have more balance and feel on acceleration and breaking because it’s easier to stay in the correct balanced position when riding. This is done after finding the right forward or backwards position of the handlebars in the bar clamps. Too far forward and I get arm pump and too far backwards feels cramped. Just takes a quick ride to know if its right. I find that setting it 1 mark up from the middle mark on you bars(more forward) is a good starting point. Everyone will have their own opinion but that has worked for me.

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

At 6'3" I have always run risers, usually the Rox Risers at 2". Always until I started racing that is. The first season of racing I had set my bike up with 1.5" risers and have since dropped back to 1/2" rise over stock. I found the taller risers didn't feel great when trying to ride aggressively, thread between trees, make quick turns or on big hill climbs. The tall risers seemed to compensated for weak muscle groups in some areas and stressed others, like my forearms and hands as being more upright was more like being pulled by the bike vs letting the bike push me in the attack position. Racing has improved the breed as they say and although no one will ever pay me to race I'm learning a lot and becoming a better rider. The race organisers will be happy to have me move out of the peewee class for sure.

[@junkim666]

Such a great explanation, a perfect logic, and a correct recommendation! So right and genuine. Thanks.

[@bitiberg]

Great Video! i also felt big improvement from using back offset footpegs. Ride safe. Greeting from Greece.

[@user-vf3gf4xq3v]

It’s hard to compare with just a few laps. The more you run the course the faster you’ll get, to a point, for obvious reasons. Your build also makes a big difference. I’m 5’8” and like low bars so your recommendation is spot on for me.

[@bheemamahesh]

great explaination, covered minute details. Thank you :)

[@hbwesman486]

Extremely well done guys 👏. Thank you!

[@marlonm.2820]

Brother! Love all the info, thank you for all the data. Crazy what we can do with Technology!

[@richardkey4289]

I added bar risers to my cr250 s stroke, it became a when new bike . I was standing on pegs & slumping my back just ever so slightly to hold the grips, now it's perfect, back is at ease, way different ethos, all this from moving my bars up 2" 2001 cr250, set up for woods riding, 7/8" alum. Moose bars 2" Zeta bar risers . Totally different ride now

[@Dirtbiker359]

I am 6’2 and run 2 inch pivot risers with rc high rise bars it’s huge and feels great I’m not slouched over at all and arms are constantly in the attack position but I also have the risers tilted forward with the bars forward at plus 2 pretty much maxed out

[@nickg2431]

Hi im 6ft 3inches with long arms and legs.Using risers transformed the bikes(husky 450) slow turning ,comfort and technical abilities.I am not a racer.previously felt i was "lurching"over the bike.Also lowered pegs by 2cm ,Now very happy and did same to CRF 300L .Only negative is that it makes the steering slightly easier to throw off line.I may purchase a steering damper.

[@TRGP331]

This is an excellent video! In your experience, how does footpeg position (e.g. Fastway Lowboy) play into the handling conversation?

[@bikersoncall]

In my search for Handlebar Height, I was actually hoping to find what a good bar height (considering std sweep) might be in relation to standing on bike in good attack position showing someone measuring the difference between fixed points, example; Elbow height minus bar height... etc.. Thanks for all your great videos!

[@MPIC]

I think there’s a couple things that I feel were missed in this video: 1. What is the height of the riders? 2. Most taller riders won’t just lift the bars, they will also move the bars forward which will help with keeping the weight on the front wheel. It appears as though you just lifted the bars without moving them forward which would position the bars more in your lap making it harder to achieve attack position and weight forward. That said, great video, I really enjoy your content!

[@cooptroop5]

Exactly right, you must go forward and up.

[@ridewiththeknights]

Great observations Max, Rider heights listed below. Josh - 6' tall, long legs, average torso. Cory is a similar body stature 6' tall. 2. I agree that there are many other variables to consider when setting up handlebars. Bar sweep, bar rise, clamp height, clamp forward backward position, rolling bars forward versus backward, etc. We'll have to do some more testing in the future, however for simplicity, we only changed one variable during this test. What video would you like to see next?

[@MPIC]

@@ridewiththeknights personally I would love to see hill climbing techniques. Especially for hills that you can’t carry momentum into. Proper body position, throttle and clutch techniques, gear selection, etc. I know there is an endless amount of variables that you encounter with each hill but I’m sure there are some basic principles and techniques to apply and you have the best content I’ve seen online for presenting these things in a clear and concise manner. Thanks for all the work you put into this!

[@MPIC]

@JDNelson I was referring to moving them forward on the triple clamps, not rolling the bars forward.

[@JohnHowerton137]

I ditched all the riser stuff a few years ago when I got back into riding. Stock KTM low stuff rolled back few mm from fork parallel. Tall stuff was making me lazy and keeping me from the attack position. High speed handling suffers as a result. As little as I ride, I need all the stability I can get 🤣 If I ride a bike with taller clamps I roll the bars a little more. Tall stuff just saves your back if you’re out tooling around looking at birds. If I had a tig welder I would test some footpeg positions. I have some theories on that. Quality video 👍

[@JoshStreetDesign]

Totally agree. I'm 6' 1" and I love my bars low. The bikes handle more like mountain bikes and just feel more controllable and stable.

[@mitchelljordan447]

I love this. Been telling all my buddies for years now. I’m 6’3 and have tried all sorts of things to find more comfort and have come to find that I strongly dislike taller bar setups. Tall bars or risers negatively affects the handling of the bike but much more importantly my endurance while riding due to improper attack position and inefficient technique.

[@seanwahl1000]

Everyone talks about height, but I think more importantly is height and how long your arms are. If you're tall with long arms you don't need them. If you're tall with shorter arms it can really help out.

[@SteveKiziak]

Really cool video! Where is it shot? I'd kill for that terrain!!

[@baikal4784]

Im 6'3 tall and have both 2 inch Rox risers and Renthal RC high bars on my 97 KDX200 with a high seat..... Best mod you can do for comfort and speed.

[@SamBHP]

very well explained :)

[@basedlord88]

Bars are really important in general, I like wider bars, keeps my elbows in better positioning, never realized how big of a deal it was until I put some 800mms on my mountain bike and felt like it was a new bike entirely and my positioning was significantly easier to keep attack position

[@cooptroop5]

Good video, remember the risers shouldn’t only raise up and back, if you raise the bars, you would benefit greatly by going up and not back, this is achieved by off set bar clamps or risers. Then you will see the cornering and attack position drastically improve, and you can ride much more comfortably. Just my opinion, I’m 6ft, and will never ride with the stock height bars, but I am only a trail rider ….now.

[@mrspankaable]

Love the vids lads, I am 6'8" and I attach a YZ250 (2 stroke) beneath me when I ride, best investment was Fastway Evolution footpegs (if you dont have em get em) , I use bar risers, 3 months of trying to get and adjustable set ordered from bike shops in NZ proved to hard (yeah I should order some on the interweb) and Pastrana bars..... love to hear the comments roll in on this set up. Be keen to hear something new as I get plenty of advice when Im at rides.. p.s I race GNCC in NZ with that setup

[@craigdavies8099]

I too run fastway pegs in the low boy position, I have just installed Fasst flex bars in a 10 degree enduro bend. I prefer Rox risers instead of the straight risers in this video, that way you can roll the bars forward giving more room. The straight risers bring the bars too far back cramping the cockpit. The cheap Ebay chinese knock offs of the Rox Risers are just as good, I have both. I don't race anymore but trail ride a trick CR500.

[@peterwhyte1385]

Move your pegs back 50 mil make a plate to adapt them to the original mounts this will compensate for your long arms

[@mrspankaable]

@@craigdavies8099 Thanks mate appreciate the advise

[@mrspankaable]

@@peterwhyte1385 cheers I will see what that looks (pic of me in attack position) & feels like

[@sherco300se]

Awesome vids guys. What bars do you boys currently run and do you change them based on the type of riding you do? I am 6 foot with a ‘22 Sherco stock bars but feel uncomfortable standing up for a long time so interested in your feedback.

[@xxshiftlockxx]

One aspect that wasn't addressed, though pretty obvious is when using a steering stabilizer. For instance with the Scotts stabilizer, the under the bar mount requires you to use a riser. Additionally it forces you to use bar position 3 or 4, completely eliminating 1, and 2 all together. So for someone like myself who is 5'8, I have no choice other than using 1" risers with my bars in position 3 the closest...

[@gunnerdearborn9471]

Excellent video I love your use of graphics and your scientific method of testing and comparison. I would love to have access to all your training but sadly it’s just too costly for me.

[@ridewiththeknights]

Thanks Gunner, glad you enjoyed the video. Send us your email. Message us on Instagram.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Scientific method? I would love to see one of these YT riders do an algebra problem. haha They are just guessing. Your entire generation to pro---are riding with the bars set up for freestyle, and not even JMB or Rick Johnson can explain why in reality. I see the amateur Go-Pro vids with a track full of kids who can't turn their bike with out a berm. Now we had a kid or two who was super slow in the corners in the Am classes, but never the entire class. A real scientist,---looks at the results. You feel sick in a corner with out a berm and don't even know it. That is your "new normal":

[@jeffaragon8457]

Thank you... I❤

[@DmitriyAdv]

Great video! It's amazing how much difference a small handlebar adjustment makes. I think everyone should play around with the stock setup before they go and spend money on anything, it can make a huge difference. I'm 5'11" and while I've ran risers before personally, and always find that I prefer the more "connected" and "direct" feel of the stock bar setup. Especially when it comes to tighter single track, I find that it's way easier to confidently control the front end on a stock bar. I personally haven't noticed a significant decrease in comfort/fatigue... I get more tired crashing due to the riser-induced front end vagueness than riding with a lower bad :D

[@luckyseven6402]

I'm 6'2 and will not use risers or high bend bars for mx. Trails are different but I like to keep my weight forward when riding mx

[@COWASOGGY]

My stock '24 kx 112 is low enough already and with the low bars, i feel super uncomfortable with jumps. Risers on the way 🤘

[@marcgraham6438]

What if you put on taller bars and lower the triple clamp shock position🤔

[@fivepointoh90]

What GPS tracker and app are you using in this video? I'd like to do that on my single track rides

[@ChrisShaferKTM]

this is an interesing line of thought, but you need to do more laps, avg times, best times, and switch back and forth multiple times to control more of the variables.

[@peterwhyte1385]

I’m 6”4 and I run foot pegs that are low and back about 50 mil and small bar rise so I can stand all day now it’s not just the height it the room you have between the bars and pegs if it’s too short you’ll suffer if your tall most of the guys on these tests aren’t tall so they don’t know what their talking about if you just do the foot peg mod you will be amazed all new bikes are built for small guys

[@benjaminbuehrle5328]

How about a test with lower pegs?

[@andy3d1]

where is that? looks like great riding location.

[@PA-Tammy]

How tall you are will play a bigger role in this. And how long your arms and legs are. My legs are 38in and I'm only 6'3 finger tip to finger tip is 6'5 I could add 2in to the bars and would be a happy girl..

[@RearWD1]

Nobody talks about moving bars forward instead of rising. Or do both

[@browie316]

Can you drop the music...annoying trying to hear the two stroke goodness.

[@dustinferg923]

Did you notice any difference with arm pump?

[@desertknights44v]

What is the name of the gps that was used in the video. Very cool video btw

[@ridewiththeknights]

LITPro GPS devices

[@angusmethane3802]

I prefer normal bars rolled forward some. I ride a tight Yamaha tho

[@bigram7235]

So, a Half inch bar riser should be ideal in most conditions!!

[@chadparker9823]

What are the rider torso length and rider overall height? What setup are the riders familiar with?

[@ridewiththeknights]

Josh - 6’ Tall, long legs average torso. Cory - 6’ tall Both riders typically run handlebars near the stock position.

[@vmcmark7578]

This ""TEST"" just by itself without any ""REASON"" to raise the bars & without doing anything else to the ""COCKPIT"" was worthless, like ""JUST"" putting on a pipe & not doing any other ""HOP-UP"" things to the bike & the only thing that happens then (in MOST cases) is the ""POWER"" gets moved around to a different place in the rev range, just as the higher bars placed the riders point of connection to the bike in a different place. In either situation, there is a boatload of other things that NEED/MUST be altered, changed or adjusted differently to gain any true long term benefits. Party on, Garth!!!

[@Toad_Moto]

I'm 6'5". I'll keep my 1.5" risers.

[@infidelmat]

Everyone seems to forget that taller riders also have longer arms which can offset the need for higher bars. Too many tall riders throw on risers by default because they think it's needed, when really they could be relatively neutral vs a shorter rider with short arms. I feel a more interesting test would have included steep climbs and more hard enduro type terrain. Chris Birch is using very low bars (Astra, lower than stock). Timing using single-track seems like a pretty useless metric since lap times can vary so much. What you didn't include was the standard deviation between the various tests/setups, making a single best time comparison pretty useless.

[@michaelebbage9166]

Yeah, your arms are generally longer if taller, but each arm is (very roughly) half your height. So for every inch or so taller, your arms are maybe 1/2" longer but your hands are an extra 1/2" off the ground (approximately). So, from 5'9" to 6'3", that's maybe 3" of extra reach required (though with knee and back angles, there's other geometry at play).

[@PunchingCacti]

Going downhilll you want taller bars but when climbing you want them low. So in reality you just want them somewhere in between Also I think you would have had better results if you used a set of flat bars and then used the tallest bars you could find with risers. By testing the two extremes you would instantly learn the difference between the two and what factors they affect when riding.

[@andrewmasaberg1116]

I put them on my 94 yz 250 im 5'11 im hoping it will help handling in corners also there moved forward in alighnment with my forks

[@EarthSurferUSA]

"moved forward in alignment with my forks" That started with freestyle. 2019 YZ250 at 5'9", and I rotated mine back to the rational 80's, and enjoy much more co0rner control and much easier to keep my elbows above the bars. The grip ends are actually suppose to be pointing down. I tried it for 2 seasons with the pro tapers "0" in the middle of the clamp, (under the pad), and I rotated them down to the #2 in the middle of the clamp and adjusted my levers accordingly. Now,--I can feel that flat corner. I notice pros falling on flat corners today. I laugh and laugh and laugh. But if you want to use the freestyle set up because all the kids do it today, it's your crash, not mine.

[@jridenour31]

I'm 6'1" and will never run risers or tall bars again. Sure, it's more comfortable to putt around but that's the only positive. They ruin body position.

[@No--name--0]

What app is used for timing and used in the video presentation?

[@ridewiththeknights]

LitProMX

[@SreidMX]

I’m 6’4 and I use lowered pegs on my TM, and they are significantly lower and further back than stock or even fastway adjustable pegs. Something I don’t know is covered on this video is that the rake of the front end translates into the bar position, so adding risers moves you back in your seating position, that puts the bars closer to you as well, I think the problem for us tall guys is that we have long arms and long legs. What probably needs to happen is the pegs need to be moved back and down and the bars forward and maybe up. On my bike the bars are a really low bend with minimal sweep. I can grip the bike with my knees, never was I able to do that with a tall seat or any aftermarket parts. I guess I got lucky that TM makes these peg mounts.

[@JW-jh7zv]

I use lowered pegs, and the forward mounting holes on my YZ. It helps a lot to be able to stretch out more with your hands and feet. I'm more stable in the attack position, and riding feels better.

[@simoncleland704]

Do you order them from a TM dealer? I’ve never heard of them and would like some for my TM

[@SreidMX]

@@simoncleland704 yea TM racing usa is the dealer near me and they have them. They are pegs for the 85 I believe. Just ask Dave for the lowering pegs and he should know what you mean.

[@powchainsamaniego6744]

Not really matters if you feel comfortable with own high with handle bars it's not do with speed

[@craigsteinman9807]

I am 5'5 and have a hard time keeping my elbows up with stock height..how do u get lower than stock? What can I do

[@ridewiththeknights]

You can install either lower Bar Clamps or you can install a different handlebar that has a lower "Rise". All handlebars rise somewhat from the center however depending on which handlebar you purchase you can get a very flat, low handlebar. I would recommend starting with a low handlebar bend first to see if that solves the problem. If not then you can look into getting shorter bar clamps.

[@craigsteinman9807]

@@ridewiththeknights thankx. Have looked for lower clamps but have not found any..do u know of any brand that may have some for a yz250 smoker...

[@jeffmacdonald9386]

@@craigsteinman9807 check out Astra handlebars. They make lower profiles than stock with all sorts of different bends

[@craigsteinman9807]

@@jeffmacdonald9386 thank you very much

[@mxriderdakar]

Personally i went with a lower pro taper bar on my Yz450f 2020 and i turn much better on mx track. i am 5.7

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Now, rotate your bars back until the grip ends are pointing down about 5 or so degrees, and reset your levers. Rid that a few times, see if your corner confidence gets better, (especially with out a berm). Look at the pro set up before freestyle got big, (from the 80's to the mid 90's), not after.

[@OldManEnduro]

What about technical, hard enduro riding?

[@ridewiththeknights]

Sounds like we’re going to have to do another test. Mountain edition

[@OldManEnduro]

@@ridewiththeknights plenty of hard enduro in the desert! 😎

[@dirttdude]

sorry bro, i don't think you actually get it... the ride comparison and handling characteristic changes you experienced are individual for every rider. torso length and arm length are the factors that you want to consider when determining fitment. Bar height is only one factor, bar sweep is another... another factor that you didn't consider is peg height, peg height is critical because seat height is not adjustable..... riding disciplines are the reason for fitment because super cross is a completely different world from trail blasting, setups are completely different.

[@nuthintoprove]

The only way to get scientific with something like this is to get copious amounts of data. Feel doesn't equal Real. Set it up how you like it and it's safe. Simple as that. My sister is shorter by 5" and in her car she has the seat farther back then I prefer. I like my elbows bent more than most. I don't want someone telling me how I like a massage or how much salt I like on my food either.

[@ramcharger9146]

Okay but if you're 6,4 definitely better all the way around with the bars raised

[@motominded5275]

disagree, I'm 6-4 and use bars 1" lower than stock, no risers, feels excellent when riding hard

[@littlehadsell]

Am I missing something completely here or did it just take more than 13 minutes of a 16 minute video to mention rider height? My understanding is that bar risers are meant to fit the bike to the rider?

[@andrewsoldan6050]

Pro riders don't recommend bars risers, good enough for me.

[@marcgraham6438]

The fact that you were not riding bikes that you were familiar with sure doesn’t help the test results…… just sayin

[@throttlebuff]

Music video instead of details. My time is valuable