35mm or 31.8mm

[Bigred123]

Looking at replacing my bars with carbon bars but not sure to go 35mm or 31.8 with it being Emtb should it make any difference, looking at hope bars or the Raceface next R, I weight 93 kg ready to ride, just thinking being on the beafier side would there be to much flex in 31.8

 

[VWsurfbum]

I found 35mm bars to be stiffer but buy the right bars and they build in compliance.

 

[Paulquattro]

Hi
Its personal preference really
Obviously a thinner bar will flex more generally but if your going carbon the lay of the carbon will be of more importance
Personally i like the feel of alloy bars better i find carbon bars to harsh .

 

[zorro77]

Hi, I'm asking myself the same questions, I have a very nice oneup 35 carbon but it's not really soft, maybe I would find benefit with an aluminum 35? or should I try a 31.8? weight 90 kg

 

[steve_sordy]

I'm sure that I read on one of the reviews of the kind "ten worst upgrades......" that upping the diameter of the centre of the bar was one of them. Sorry I can't recall where I saw it but I'm sure that a determined search would find it.

 

[irie]

After trying a few bars we have PNW carbon The Loam 31.8 bars, they're compliant enough to dampen some of the worst small bumps but stiff enough not to be noodles. 31.8 is nice too because there’s a huge choice of stems. Reasonable price. 80 kg (ish) ready to ride, Trek Rails alloy 2022.

 

[zorro77]

After trying a few bars we have PNW carbon The Loam 31.8 bars, they're compliant enough to dampen some of the worst small bumps but stiff enough not to be noodles. 31.8 is nice too because there’s a huge choice of stems. Reasonable price. 80 kg (ish) ready to ride, Trek Rails alloy 2022.

I was just looking at the PNW but I thought I'd try an aluminum hopefully more flexible and less rigid, am I wrong? I don't care about weight

 

[irie]

I was just looking at the PNW but I thought I'd try an aluminum hopefully more flexible and less rigid, am I wrong? I don't care about weight

"More flexible and less rigid" than what?

 

[zorro77]

"More flexible and less rigid" than what?

of ONEUP carbon 35

 

[irie]

of ONEUP carbon 35

Haven't tried one, only interested in 31.8 (also see what @steve_sordy said above). As far as I can see 35mm bars are a solution looking for problem.

 

[Bigred123]

Do like the look of the hope carbon bars with the weave showing, so I think it’ll be these to try in the 31.8’s. Finger crossed l like them as want the stem as well

 

[Mikerb]

The only potential difference between carbon and ally bars is that carbon can be lighter...albeit minimal.......and allow more flex. So much depends on the actual layup of carbon bars to determine performance in use but be aware that invariably if a lay up is used that allows more flex it is likely as well to deliver much faster reflex. That can translate into something not desireable on trails with repetitive small hits. Personally I never found an issue with ally bars from Raceface or Deity.
With regards to bar diameter we are only talking a bout the centre of the bar held within the stem. The bigger interface between stem and bar with a 35mm obviously increases strength.
So for my money 35mm, ally, good brand rather than no name stock bars on many bikes when sold.

 

[irie]

The only potential difference between carbon and ally bars is that carbon can be lighter...albeit minimal.......and allow more flex.

Disagree.

Carbon layup means that directional flex characteristics can be controlled as required. For alloy bars that would mean having in places thinner bar walls thus compromising strength.

 

[Gavalar]

Looking at replacing my bars with carbon bars but not sure to go 35mm or 31.8 with it being Emtb should it make any difference, looking at hope bars or the Raceface next R, I weight 93 kg ready to ride, just thinking being on the beafier side would there be to much flex in 31.8

I run 35mm, the RaceFace ERA's 40mm rise with 780mm width, very comfortable, no ha d or wrist pain, I also run 35mm PNW Loam Bar with a 38mm rise and 800mm width, they have similar qualities to the ERA'S and would highly recommend either option paired with a Diety Copperhead 50mm stem.

 

[Stormy 107]

I ride Renthal fat bar light alloy bar with controltech bar extender's to make them 800 wide. Ebike has 35 and hbike has 31.8 and I can't tell the difference.

 

[John_likes_bikes]

35mm was introduced to make bars stiffer and sell more product, then people found out they lacked compliance so there was a move to make 35 feel like 31.8 on alloy bars. When carbon became more popular 35mm was an advantages for different layups ands allows bars like OneUp to flex only in specific directions. Long way of saying 31.8 vs 35 doesn't matter, your preferred compliance does. Lots of "test" on blogs out there to read through.

My experience because you specifically mentioned Raceface Next R's, they're generally thought of as stiff. I tried them for a few months and had hand/wrist pain I'm never felt. Switched to OneUp and really liked them. Carbon is more sensitive to damage and torques, it wasn't worth the trouble when Renthal Fat bar 35s were just as compliant.

 

[E-MAD MALC]

After trying a few bars we have PNW carbon The Loam 31.8 bars, they're compliant enough to dampen some of the worst small bumps but stiff enough not to be noodles. 31.8 is nice too because there’s a huge choice of stems. Reasonable price. 80 kg (ish) ready to ride, Trek Rails alloy 2022.

I also went for the 31.8 for the same reason
They've managed to get the same compliance out of the bar in reading
As you say at the moment stem choice seems to be greater

 

[Bigred123]

I did end up going for hope but 35mm as the stem was nearest to 30mm length I could find