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How to Measure Handlebar Width? Straight across, or include the bend in the bar?

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How to Measure Handlebar Width? Straight across, or include the bend in the bar?

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flag am-i-back
Posted: Dec 31, 2019 at 13:04 Quote
I have a Specialized Aluminum DH bar that is stock 780mm wide. A friend gave them to me and they appear to have been trimmed at one point. What is the correct way to measure their current width? I am just curious more than anything as to their width.

Do I measure from end of grip on one side to end of grip on the other in a straight line, or do I measure from center of stem out to one end of grip and double it (thus taking the bend of the bar into consideration)?
flag chrismtb22
FL
Posted: Dec 31, 2019 at 13:39 Quote
Straight across from grip end to grip end, do not consider the bend.
flag am-i-back
Posted: Dec 31, 2019 at 14:42 Quote
dhrideruk wrote:
Straight across from grip end to grip end, do not consider the bend.

Awesome, thanks!

So with the grips covering the end of the bars (DMR Brendog grip that only has one lock ring on inside of grip but not outside, instead having a wedge that prevents spin). This results in the grip sticking out a big from where the bar ends.

Original bar width 780mm, cut to ? width, added grips to make 795mm from grip end to grip end straight across. I marked where my hands sit on the grips and from end of hand area to hand area it's 745mm.

I ride in tight trees in New England, so I am thinking of trimming just a bit more of the bar to get rid of the excess bar space I don't use from my used grip area where my hands go. I can keep my current width but remove the excess to make it easier to bike fast through tight trees.
flag chrismtb22
FL
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 2:17 Quote
Actual bar width is end of bar to end of bar (no grips fitted)

It sounds like your grips aren’t fitted properly tho, those DMR grips need hit with a hammer to get them on the bar properly as they taper inside for a tight fit.
flag R-M-R
Posted: Jan 1, 2020 at 6:20 Quote
am-i-back wrote:
I marked where my hands sit on the grips and from end of hand area to hand area it's 745mm.

I ride in tight trees in New England, so I am thinking of trimming just a bit more of the bar to get rid of the excess bar space I don't use from my used grip area where my hands go. I can keep my current width but remove the excess to make it easier to bike fast through tight trees.

745 mm is pretty narrow. Most people like the feel of wider bars, so maybe experiment with a wider hand position before you cut the bar.

If you still prefer the narrow width, your reasoning is sensible.
flag am-i-back
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 13:09 Quote
dhrideruk wrote:
Actual bar width is end of bar to end of bar (no grips fitted)

It sounds like your grips aren’t fitted properly tho, those DMR grips need hit with a hammer to get them on the bar properly as they taper inside for a tight fit.

I hammered them in TIGHT, but what I am saying is that there is some grip still that sticks out from the end of the bar. The grip end encapsulates the bar end, unlike some lock on grips where you need to use a plug on the end of your grip.
flag am-i-back
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 13:10 Quote
am-i-back wrote:
dhrideruk wrote:
Actual bar width is end of bar to end of bar (no grips fitted)

It sounds like your grips aren’t fitted properly tho, those DMR grips need hit with a hammer to get them on the bar properly as they taper inside for a tight fit.

I hammered them in TIGHT, but what I am saying is that there is some grip still that sticks out from the end of the bar. The grip end encapsulates the bar end, unlike some lock on grips where you need to use a plug on the end of your grip.

I wonder how many people who have bar measure widths of 760-800 actually hold their grips more inward... If you are to measure where your hands sit on your wider bars, are your hands measuring 760+ apart?
flag jamesashton
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 at 13:11 Quote
dhrideruk wrote:
Actual bar width is end of bar to end of bar (no grips fitted)

It sounds like your grips aren’t fitted properly tho, those DMR grips need hit with a hammer to get them on the bar properly as they taper inside for a tight fit.


yeah, I had the same issue, just mashed on them with my hand though.. did you guys notice that they are shorter than normal grips?
flag chrismtb22
FL
Posted: Jan 3, 2020 at 1:28 Quote
From memory, a the rubber part of a death grip is the same length as a standard grip. The thing that makes it shorter is the outer clamp being removed (around 12mm saved)
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