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Submitted by
sjpendleton
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything with lots of climbing | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Stiff, Amazingly Light | | Weaknesses: | Not compatible with bar ends, narrow | | Similar Products Used: | Various thin Al flat bars, currently run Easton risers | | Bottom Line: | This bar is lighter than you will believe and stronger than you will believe. I used a 150g Ritchey flat bar before I tried this, and I was amazed at how much stiffer and more secure this bar felt while weighing less.
BUT...it is fairly narrow, and the carbon is not compatible with bar ends. Easton says that for a reason; I put bar ends on it and on the first ride out with them, they shredded the end of the bar when I put heavy force on them (the fiber layout just plain isn't designed for torsional force). If the bar were not so narrow this wouldn't be an issue for me, but for such a narrow bar I definitely need bar ends to climb well.
Oh, I should mention that even though I abused the bar by doing something Easton explicitly said not to do, they still replaced the bar under warranty with no questions asked. Easton has really, really good customer service, so even if this isn't the bar for you, I still recommend them.
3 flaming chili's because although it's light and stiff, it accomplishes this partly be being short and the incompatibility with bar ends is just unacceptable (who runs a flat bar without bar ends these days anyway?). Also a 3 for value, because it's quite pricey for a MTB handlebar. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scott bierbaum
a Cross Country Rider
from plymouth
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | elem creek park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | eriks bike shop | | Strengths: | strong | | Weaknesses: | 0 | | Similar Products Used: | trek race | | Bike Setup: | trek flat road bike | | Bottom Line: | o | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Alamos, NM
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Reverse Traverse | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Came with forks from friend | | Strengths: | Ridiculously light, incredibly strong | | Weaknesses: | Expensive; I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself, may be too narrow for broad-shouldered riders | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey Superlite, other light Al bars | | Bike Setup: | '96 Rockhopper frame with everything else much newer | | Bottom Line: | These bars are amazing. They're much stronger and sturdier than ultra-thin Al bars that weigh twice as much. I still can't get over how much they weigh.
They are somewhat narrow so I could see that being a problem, but I've got super-skinny shoulders so that's no problem for me. It's not as wide as a DH/FR riser bar, but it's not supposed to be; it's a flat bar. I believe Easton makes risers out of this same material, so I would go for that if you prefer risers.
It is expensive, but if you can get a deal on it (or price is not an issue), definitely go for it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Willem Boom
a Cross Country Rider
from Bend, Oregon USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Storm King | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | WebCyclery | | Strengths: | Solid! Light!! It is an Easton. Great product. | | Weaknesses: | Not wide enough for my tastes. It does not lend itself to enough control. | | Similar Products Used: | Sette Carbon, Ritchey, Yeti ARC Carbon | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Pantera 17 inch frame, Fox Float 130 RLC Fork, RP23 Rear shock, Thomson Post and Stem, Chris King Headset, Panaracer Tires, ALL 2007 XT Drivetrain and brakes | | Bottom Line: | Depending on your riding style, a great product. Just too narrow for me. They need to make one at 600mm.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim Turner
a Racer
from McKinney, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Snow, Moab, Vail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | RBM | | Strengths: | Rock solid. No cracks or breaks after some extreme wrecks and lots of preassure. | | Weaknesses: | are there any? | | Similar Products Used: | Thompson, bontragger (sp) | | Bike Setup: | Klein Adroit Pro - 20.5 lbs | | Bottom Line: | I put about 5k mi per yr on some hard trails. I hammered this bar for the last 4 yrs expecting to replace it after the first season from some of the first reviews below. I wipped out many time, broken thumbs and had some bad endos that I thought would crack the frame, bar and shifters. This things has stood up very well. I have my shifters pretty tight since I don't like them to move when I ride and had them hammered into new and unusual positions after hairy wrecks and still no cracks or breaks. Buy this bar if you have the money. Buy this bar if you are worried about weight. Buy this bar if you want to stick with a great product for yrs and not worry about it failing. Do not buy this if weight is no worry, you spend little time on your bike or don't want to fork out $100 for a bar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Roads + Off Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Nice graphics
Super Light
Quite Cheap
Strong
Absorbs vibration
Just the right size
Looks Cool
Lifetime warranty.... =) | | Weaknesses: | Outer graphics get scratched real easily
| | Similar Products Used: | Kalloy aluminiums.. | | Bike Setup: | Progear 2005(7005 aluminium, full suspension), Shimano Component System(Alivio, Deore, crank, etc), DNM Fireball rear shock, RST T-4 Fork(76 mm travel) , Progear saddle(Velo), Easton EC70 XC Composite bar, Kevlar handgrips(Setlaz), Disc brakes (Promax 3.0)
Lizard Skins chainstay, grunge guard for both derailleurs, headset seal, brake levers. Maxxis larsen TT wheels with HIC double rims. Topeak carbon fenders (rear and front).
Dual front headlights(Powerbeam) and single tail-light(smart). Wellgo LU950 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Wow..what can i say? This is just the best thing that i have ever bought...! Carbon may seem weak.. but not Easton's! Theirs are even stronger than some aluminium bars.. After taking off my SUPER HEAVY kalloy handlebar and switched to this... whenever i go over a small bump, my whole front wheel practically lifts off the ground due to the light weight.. This has NEVER happened before on any of my aluminium bars.. Also, the lifetime warranty has given me alot of confidence in this company.. Be sure that i'll buy a stem and seatpost from Easton really soon.. ! Way to go Easton...! Weeeee-haa! =D | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Rockford, Il.
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$74.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Weight, strenght, cheap for carbon | | Weaknesses: | I crashed on pavement once, and landed straight on the end of this bar. Now I noticed the end of the bar looks like its layers are peeling. | | Similar Products Used: | Aluminum only | | Bike Setup: | doesnt matter | | Bottom Line: | I have pulled HARD on this bar climbing in races, and have yet to see any flex. Going downhill I fel as safe as any Aluminum bar Ive had. And Going through singletrack has actually made me a bit faster due to the 22", compered to the 24" other bars have. This is the perfect race bar, and at only 99 grams. I would buy another in a heardbeat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from st louis mo
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | chubb | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Swap Meet | | Strengths: | Crazy Light
Looks good
strong
Absorbs vibration
Everything | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: | Firtst carbon bar
various aluminum bars | | Bike Setup: | Santa cruz blur truvativ sram mavic and EASTON
| | Bottom Line: | I love these bars so far. plus being never used for 25 dollars thats a steal i couldnt go wrong! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derrick
a
from Oceanside CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Spider loop | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$98.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Vary light, absorbs some vibration | | Weaknesses: |
Narrow compared to other XC bars, finish scratches easy from component installation but who cares you can’t see it
| | Similar Products Used: | Race face air alloy, Easton EA 50 | | Bike Setup: | using this with EA 70 stem SRAM X.0 shifters, Avid SL levers, and ODI ruffen lock on grips | | Bottom Line: | At first I was scared to put to much on them because of there light weight, but now go down trails with big rocks and roots at 25+ mph | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
aus10
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Strengths: | Lightweight, perfect width for me | | Weaknesses: | surface can scratch easily | | Bottom Line: | This bar has worked flawlessly for me since the day I bought it. I think Im about to replace it, with another one. I have heard that using carbon bars for a long period of time isn't very safe. I have gotten a good amount of miles on it, and will definitely be buying another one in a months time | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sam gaver
a Cross Country Rider
from boonsboro, md
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | 99g. light, narrow, shock absorbing yet strong | | Weaknesses: | cheezy graphics | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey wcs, | | Bike Setup: | c-dale ravin with lots of carbon/ xtr | | Bottom Line: | im reading lots of complaints about being too narrow, if your a serious xc racer, narrower is better. most of my other bars i end up cutting 2-4 inches off anyway, if its too narrow, easton makes other wider bars so quit your whining and buy the right bar for you. also carbon has seven times the strength than aluminum and can handle much higher flex count before it even starts fatiguing.
i run grip shift and it has more than enough room. i still love my wcs bar (115 grams 21" wide and aluminum), but its been a year of abuse and aluminum cracks before it bends. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Atl
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Little too much flex for me. | | Similar Products Used: | Stock 6061 bars | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy HT w/ SID | | Bottom Line: | It's a good bar if you want to shed some weight. Don't be sketched out about the Carbon Crybabies saying that it will snap. I was very paranoid my first few rides after installing it, but now it's fine. I'm even getting used to the "dampening" flex a bit and am condisering a matching Carbon Seat Post... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Light, looks | | Weaknesses: | A little bit short, but getting used to it | | Similar Products Used: | Stock icon hanlebars | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Trek 7000 zx, xt M750 shifter/brake levers, race face turbine lp cranks, race face SRX BB, race face good n' evil grips, thomson seatpost, ritchey WCS stem | | Bottom Line: | These handlebars are super light and comfortable. People complain that they are too short, but the width is just a little wider than my old handlebars with bar ends on. So without the bar ends, pretty much the same. They do leave a white mark if you scratch them though. Just be careful instaling them and they look and feel great. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric H.
a Racer
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Yankee Springs | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheels In Motion-LBS | | Strengths: | Light, stiff, vibration damping | | Weaknesses: | A little short, but knew that beforehand, finish marrs somewhat easily. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized S-Worls, Ritchey, Bontrager | | Bike Setup: | '02 Specialized FSR XC Pro: SID, Thompson Elite post, Chris King Headset, XT/XTR, Mavic 517's, Conti Explorer Pro treads | | Bottom Line: | This bar is well worth the price! Got a sweet deal from my sponsor shop.
While it's ever so slightly on the short side, the stiffness more than makes up for this, which translates into ZERO flex on climbs, giving you a more controlled and more powerful feel.
Off the bike, this bar feels like it's made of paper maiche`, but don't let this fool you. This bar is strong and reliable. I have thoroughly abused ths bar in about 2 dozen races (and a couple of nice crashes), and it has held up beautifully. Don't fear over-tightening; just be sure to tighten it to the torque specs for your stem, and you will be fine (otherwise, it WILL come loose).
What are you waiting for? Go get one!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gabe camut
a Cross Country Rider
from johnstown
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | my home made single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | coloradocyclist.com | | Strengths: | i love the lightness this bar adds to my bike along with lookin sweet it will enhance my geometry for racin that my riser bar didn't | | Weaknesses: | i don't know we'll find out won't we, i'm scared its gunna be not as strong as any other bar | | Similar Products Used: | ??
| | Bike Setup: | trek y-1 ,cane creek AD-5 rear shock , easton ea-70 stem, easton ec-90 bar , irc mythos tires | | Bottom Line: | bottom line this bar wasn't made for hucking so don't try it but if you need the lightest mtb flat bar made the ec-90 is right for u and will serve you well | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felix
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$64.00 | | Purchased At: | Singapore LBS | | Strengths: | VERY light, takes up all the road virbation. No more acheing wrist. | | Weaknesses: | have to check for scratchs and cracks after every right. Fear that it may give way. Surface very smooth, brake and shifter will rotate, dare not fasten too tight for fear will crack bar. Just tight is ok but will move with effort. | | Similar Products Used: | No brand made in China Ti bars, TTT Zepp XL, Coda, Deda Elementi, EA50 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F1000SL, FSA carbon team issue crankset, XO rear D and shifters, XTR FD, Mavic X max SL, Magura Matra etc etc | | Bottom Line: | Consider a cheap upgrade for a very nice looking bar that functions well for my needs (80% road, 20% XC). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich e
a Racer
from wisconsin
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | john mur | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Uber light! quite stiff, very shock asorbing, lighter, stiffer, and more comfy then TI | | Weaknesses: | not cheap, only 3' bend | | Bike Setup: | trek 9.8 03 xtr group, fox f80 | | Bottom Line: | Best Bar i've ever used,its very stiff and responsive and it absorbs shock very well! So far (9mo) very durable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
anthony
a Cross Country Rider
from brooklyn,new york, usa
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere there's dirt.... | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay auction | | Strengths: | really f*n light..... | | Weaknesses: | ...maybe too light for any kind of rough riding...TOO EXPENSIVE!! | | Similar Products Used: | easton ct2,ec70,titec ti | | Bike Setup: | canny hardtail w/ lefty...xtr...crossmax... | | Bottom Line: | ****OBEY THE SETUP WARNINGS ON THE WARRANTY!!!****
...A GREAT BAR....I TORQUE THE LEVERS ON TOO TIGHT....OVER TIME THIS ADDS STRESS TO THE ENDS OF THE BAR....WHILE DOING A ROUTINE HOP, THE COMPLETE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HANDLEBAR GRIP JUST RIPPED OFF LIKE PAPER!
EASTON CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR YOU BUT OFFER YOU A REPLACEMENT AT WHOLESALE....
...DUDE, THIS BAR IS FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T DO ANYTHING STRESSFUL ON THEIR BIKE...AND THAT'S NO FUN...I HAVE THE EC70....AN THAT ONE HAS TAKEN A BEATING!... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Biz
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Lightweight, exotic, great looking | | Weaknesses: | Price, ability to use any type of bar ends | | Similar Products Used: | aluminum flat bars | | Bike Setup: | 96 Kona Kula Hardtail with XTR group | | Bottom Line: | Exotic, ultralightweight--good for the weight weenies out there. So far, this bar has seen fairly heavy XC use, with rapid descents down rocky/rutted bumpy trails at ~15+mph, and bumpy fire roads. No hitch, no perceived flex, no problems so far. I cannot comment on supposed vibration dampening properties, as my front fork seems good at soaking that up. Only downsides include incompatibility of some bar ends, price, and potential for catastrophic failure (I suppose only if the carbon fiber is damaged or nicked). Otherwise, this bar rocks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott McKenzie
a Cross Country Rider
from Grants Pass, OR Uited states
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Idestructable For lightweight riders. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Truvativ flats | | Bike Setup: | Custom frame, Thomson Stem/Seatpost, Fox Forx Foat RLT | | Bottom Line: | Best Bar Availible!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Lenexa, KS
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Any singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Lightweight, dampens the ride a bit, and the carbon fiber weave looks sweet! | | Weaknesses: | None. Except for idiots who do not know how to use a XC race product correctly. | | Similar Products Used: | Maxim Carbon Fiber Bar | | Bike Setup: | GF Sugar with some nice stuff. | | Bottom Line: | This bar rocks! It is very lightweight and is intended for serious XC racers. I don't think that a 560mm (22 inches) bar was truly designed for bar ends. Easton's website doesn't come right out and say that bar ends are acceptable on this bar. It is designed for high impact resistance, but within reason. That doesn't mean that it will withstand freeriding or downhill rides. It was designed for those XC racers that ride on fast singletrack courses. It is lightweight for that reason only! If it is used in very technical situations, then you are opening yourself to some problems. If the bar is scratched or dented by bar ends, components, or the stem, then your bar will most likely fail from a high impact crash of some sort. Follow the torque specs for the bar and you will not have any problems. This bar has performed great for me as I ride it very hard and fast on XC singetrack courses. If that isn't what you intend this bar to be used for then, buy another stronger Easton product or something else that was designed for your style of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | light weight | | Weaknesses: | seems to be fragile | | Similar Products Used: | various aluminum bars | | Bottom Line: | My EC90 lasted about 12 rides before I took a minor spill and the impact to my barends broke the bar. Easton insists that barends can be safely used with thier carbon bars, and I foolishly believed them. I'm sure the EC90 would be a great bar for those riders who do not use barends, but I feel naked without them. I must use barends, and MY review is from MY perspective. Sorry I wasted $100 on a manufacturers guarantee. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Misha
a Cross Country Rider
from malaysia
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Lightweight, looks cool. | | Weaknesses: | too short cannot fit bar end, 3 degree bent kinda hard on the wrist, composite material scratch easily. | | Similar Products Used: | |
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