Review: 3 Unique Carbon Handlebars Built for Comfort from We Are One, OneUp, & Title
In this test are just three of the many unique handlebars on the market, but each one has its own spin on the tuned carbon layers; We Are One Composites’ Da Package bar and stem combo, the Title Form 35 Carbon, and OneUp Components’ aptly named Carbon Bar.
There’s more to be gained from riding carbon bars than just saving a few grams and flashing up your bike. Although not all carbon bars are made equally, they can be engineered in such ways to allow for a lot or little flex.
Vibration absorption too is a huge selling point. Compared to alloy bars, which tend to all feel similar, carbon tends to damp the feedback much differently than the ring of aluminum. That’s not true for every carbon bar out there though. It shouldn’t be confused with flex either. Alloy bars can flex plenty yet still without taking the sting out of your hands.
Each bar was used on the same bike, with the same wheels at one point or another, and was cut to a 765 or 770mm width.
We Are One Composites Da Bar (and Da Package)
Aside from the influx of one-piece carbon bar and stem combinations, there aren’t too many proprietary handlebars out there these days. Da Bar from We Are One Composites’ is one of the few that puts an interesting spin on a 35mm diameter clamping surface.
Together, their carbon bar and 7075 alloy stem make up Da Package. Da Stem can be used with any standard 35mm handlebar (provided it can slip through the two-bolt design) because Da Bar is actually 33mm in diameter. In order to fill the gap, an aluminum sleeve wraps around the carbon bar to alleviate clamping forces. Due to the concept of the aluminum sleeve, Da Stem is the only compatible mate for this handlebar.
Together, their carbon bar and 7075 alloy stem make up Da Package. Da Stem can be used with any standard 35mm handlebar (provided it can slip through the two-bolt design) because Da Bar is actually 33mm in diameter. In order to fill the gap, an aluminum sleeve wraps around the carbon bar to alleviate clamping forces. Due to the concept of the aluminum sleeve, Da Stem is the only compatible mate for this handlebar.
• Made in Canada
• 35mm clamp diameter* (w/ proprietary sleeve)
• 20, 27.5, 35mm rise x 800mm width
• 8° backsweep 5° upsweep
• Weight: 252g (35mm at 770mm)
• Colors: raw finish
• MSRP: $260 USD / $325 CAD
• weareonecomposites.com
 | We have a unique layup process that gives us two clear advantages. Firstly, we are able to precisely place each and every layer of carbon on the bar without any chance of wrinkles or fiber drift when transferring to or within the mold during cure. We are also able to create a laminate in which the left and right sides are perfectly symmetrical to each other. This may sound like a no-brainer but is difficult to achieve using typical layup methods found in the industry. We have tested our handlebars to within 2% left/right stiffness variation, while some competitors are at over 12%. |
This bar flies under the radar with zero logos, paint, or etchings. What makes Da Bar stand out further is the raw carbon finish. Like their carbon rims, the finished product comes straight out of the oven without any filler to hide blemishes.
Hand-laid and tested in their Kamloops factory, Da Bar exceeded their in-house EFBE testing by 25% over the required forces for gravity riding. Although there’s no direct mount stem option, that makes it "downhill rated". As with all We Are One Composites products, Da Bar is covered by a lifetime warranty for the original owner.
Specifications
Da Package isn’t short on setup options, though. Da Bars come in 20, 27.5, or 35m rises, are 800mm wide and can be cut down to 740mm. There is either a 35 or 45mm stem length choice, however a matte black anodized finish to match the stealth bar is the sole option.
When looking down at the bends in the Da Bar, they appear to be slightly abnormal but are given a common 5° up and 8° back-sweep. There are no gradients marked on the stem or bar, so a tick from a felt marker is a subtle way to keep track of your preferred rotation.
As for the torque specs, the stem to bar should be tightened to 4.5 and 6.5Nm at the steer tube via the titanium torx bolts. Handlebar control clamps are advised to be torqued to the manufacturer's specifications.
Price and Weight
As far as pricing goes, We Are One only sells Da Package as a combo which costs $260 USD / $325 CAD.
The bar we tested was cut to 770mm and weighed 252g while the 35mm-length stem was 80g, making it slightly heavier than the claimed 332g number of the uncut combo.
Ride Impressions
While some riding peers claim that they can’t feel a difference between handlebars, I have no doubt that even an intermediate rider could distinguish Da Bar from an ultra-stiff handlebar in a back-to-back test. Da Bar is one of the softest handlebars I’ve tried to date.
There’s no denying that Da Bar is comfortable on relentless descents and chattery trails. Vertical compliance is ample. This can take the sting off g-outs and harsh hits that can overwhelm short-travel bikes. However, on a few different enduro bikes, and even an eMTB, the amount of movement stood out considerably.
Da Bar does stand out as one of the more compliant components on those style of bikes. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but I’d prefer to trade off some comfort for control on anything more than a traditional trail bike.
In terms of angles, I got on well with the 8 and 5-degree bends across the variety of bikes Da Package was tested on. For bikes with head tube angles steeper than 65 degrees, I might be looking for a stem length longer than 45mm to slow down the steering inputs. At the moment, there's only a 35 or 45mm-length stem choice when it comes to Da Package.
The only performance woe that I experienced was some rotation from the ODI Lock-On grips. In order to prevent this, I needed to tighten down the single-bolt clamp to the point where I thought it might strip (5Nm).
Pros
+ Softer flex is ultra comfortable, especially on short travel bikes.
+ Aluminum sleeve reduces stress around stem clamping surface.
+ Exposed carbon finish leaves no room to hide manufacturing errors.
+ In-house testing exceeded EFBE Category 5 Gravity-rating.
Cons
- Flex may be too soft for larger riders or those who prefer a full 800mm wide bar.
- Lock-on grips may need to be torqued higher than expected.
- Proprietary clamping surface is clever but comes at a higher price point (Da Stem required).
OneUp Components Carbon Handlebar
When carbon bars first became mainstream items for downhill and enduro bikes about a decade ago, all they preached about was stiffness. OneUp wasn’t afraid to tout that the first selling point for their aptly-named “Carbon Handlebar” was to provide comfort brought on by the patented oval shapes.
It’s also clear that OneUp believes in the strength of their design since it passed the stringent EFBE TRI-Test. The 35mm diameter Carbon Handlebar also features a rotational gradient which is said to relate directly to the head angle. Instead of basic reference guidelines, head angles of 62 and 66 degrees are listed.
It’s also clear that OneUp believes in the strength of their design since it passed the stringent EFBE TRI-Test. The 35mm diameter Carbon Handlebar also features a rotational gradient which is said to relate directly to the head angle. Instead of basic reference guidelines, head angles of 62 and 66 degrees are listed.
• Patented oval shape
• 20 or 35mm rise x 800mm width
• 8° backsweep 5° upsweep
• Weight: 233g (35mm rise at 765mm width)
• Colors: raw finish
• MSRP: $159.50 USD / $199.50 CAD
• oneupcomponents.com
Specifications
The Carbon Handlebar comes in two rises; 20 or 35mm and just one basic black finish, but sticker kits are available for customization. Uncut, the bar measures 800mm wide with 5 degrees of upsweep and 8 for backsweep.
Singular clamp grips must be installed with the collar on the inboard side. No, you can’t use your old bar ends from the 90’s with this bar. There’s also a maximum stem clamp width of 65mm and a minimum trim width of 740mm.
The listed torque specs are 6Nm for the stem face plate clamping force and 5Nm for handlebar controls. It’s worth noting that their stem requires the upper face plate bolts to be torqued first, then the bottom set.
Price and Weight
A standout number surrounding the OneUp Carbon Bar is the price tag. $159.50 USD makes it one of, if not, the most affordable carbon bars on the market. That’s backed by a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
On our scale, the 35mm rise Carbon Handlebar weighed 233g after being trimmed to 765mm. That’s a touch heavier than the claimed 225g measured at full length.
Ride Impressions
Before diving into the characteristics of this bar, let it be known that this handlebar has been through the wringer. It has served as my go-to when a test bike arrives with stock equipment that I don’t get along with. That means it has been subjected to frequently adjusted bar controls, brake bleeds, plus plenty of off-trail excursions and the usual shuttle damage.
With that said, the finish is showing its age after more than a season of abuse. The gradient markings are starting to peel in places. I found that changing the roll depended on the size of the test bike and my preferred stack height, so this feature wasn’t crucial for my setup preferences.
Like the We Are One Da Bar though, I did notice the need to clamp most grip collars tighter than expected. The grip clamp torque did fall within the given range of 4Nm though.
Overall, the OneUp Carbon Handlebar remains one of my favorites due to the angles and soft, but not overly flexy feel. There’s a certain way that this bar seems to swallow up vibrations that are otherwise passed along by alloy handlebars.
Pros
+ Flex and feedback is on the comfortable side without feeling vague.
+ Good price for a carbon handlebar.
+ EFBE TRI-Tested.
Cons
- Finish can peel over time.
- Rotational gradient should be taken lightly.
- Clamping surface is not compatible with all direct mount stems.
Title Form 35 Carbon
Title MTB’s Form Carbon 35 bar is the company’s take on composite components and is molded into a unique box-shaped cross section near the bends. The unidirectional carbon fiber layup is contrary to the orientation of other oval-shaped handlebar patents and weighs a scant 196g.
Despite this shape Title MTB states that their Form 35 Carbon is engineered to retain stiffness in the steering plane, but remain vertically compliant - Title claims that the Form 35 bar is one the softest on the market. The Form 35 Carbon was also TRI-Tested by EFBE and given a Category 5 rating, making it more than suitable for downhill riding.
Despite this shape Title MTB states that their Form 35 Carbon is engineered to retain stiffness in the steering plane, but remain vertically compliant - Title claims that the Form 35 bar is one the softest on the market. The Form 35 Carbon was also TRI-Tested by EFBE and given a Category 5 rating, making it more than suitable for downhill riding.
• Weight: 25, 35mm rise (194, 196g)
• 35mm clamp diameter
• 87mm clamp width (Compatible with DM1)
• 9° backsweep 5° upsweep
• Colors: matte black finish
• MSRP: $213.00 USD / $279.95 CAD
• titlemtb.com
• 35mm clamp diameter
• 87mm clamp width (Compatible with DM1)
• 9° backsweep 5° upsweep
• Colors: matte black finish
• MSRP: $213.00 USD / $279.95 CAD
• titlemtb.com
They’ve also included fine finishing touches like indexed cutting guidelines for trimming down the width, centering and rotation gradients, as well as a grippy stem clamping area.
Specifications
The Form Carbon 35 bar comes in 25 or 35mm rise options with a stock width of 800mm and a matte black finish. It also houses a massive clamping surface area of 87mm that’s wide enough for Title’s direct mount DH stem.
In terms of angles, the Form Carbon 35 is a touch more relaxed with a 5-degree upsweep and 9 back.
The specified stem clamping force is listed at 6Nm but there are no specifics listed for the bar clamp controls. Thankfully, we never experienced any grip slippage or concerns for needing high clamping torques on the Form Carbon 35.
Price and Weight
The Form Carbon 35 bar is incredibly light at under 200g. When cut down to 770mm, our 35mm rise ample weighed 190g. The 25mm rise is claimed to be a hair lighter as well (2g less at full length).
Cheap, light, strong - pick two, right? That’s a common crossroads customers face and the Form Carbon 35 lives up to that pickle because it’s the most expensive of the three (taking into consideration pairing the bar with the stem from their respective brand).
Ride Impressions
For such a lightweight handlebar with a wild looking shape, there’s nothing perplexing about the ride quality. The Form Carbon 35 is neither too stiff or overly soft. It has a Goldilocks feel for aggressive riding and didn’t fatigue my hands or arms over the course of long days either.
Typically, I prefer an 8-degree backsweep bar cut to 770mm when using a 35mm length stem for bikes with head angles around 63-64 degrees. The 9-degree backsweep of the Form put my hands in a comfortable position, slightly further back towards the steering axis. That seemed to slow the steering and take some pressure off of the front wheel compared to the 8-degree options when installed on the same bike. Moving to a 40mm stem could be worth exploring if that bothers you.
Pros
+ Lightest of the three by a solid margin.
+ Wide clamping surface makes it compatible with DH stems.
+ EFBE TRI-Tested.
Cons
- 9-degree backsweep might not suit riders who prefer short 35mm-length stems
- A raw finish would be appealing to view the construction
How do they compare?
Can you notice the difference in the round, oval, and box-shaped cross sections? A blind test would be an interesting one, but if I had to take a stab at the vertical flex in each one (on a scale of 1-10, softest to stiffest) I’d give the We Are One Da Bar a 4. OneUp’s Carbon Bar would be around a 6 and Title MTB’s Form Carbon 35 would be close by at a 7. For reference to another popular bar not in the test, Deity’s Skywire Carbon 25mm rise, I’d give that a 9 as it’s one of the stiffest bars I’ve ridden.
When it comes time to choose one of these, you’ll probably think about cost first. We Are One’s proprietary Da Bar requires its own stem, driving up the total cost and may sway you if your current component is still shiny.
Secondly, I’d consider which type of bike you’ll be installing it on, how aggressively you ride, and how much you weigh. If you’re riding a short travel bike and want to maximize comfort, the softer bars could suffice. Keep in mind, the narrower you cut them, the less flex they will inherently have too.
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I went from rediculously harsh/bad RaceFace 35mm bars and it was night and day. Admittedly those early race face next r 35 bars were super bad and not nearly as nice as these 35mm carbon bars listed here.
Currently betting that someone will introduce a smaller bar diameter standard (I think 30mm or 33mm is pretty likely) within the next 2 years so that it's easy to make compliant and is still marketable as a "new technology".
Would also let you run thicker grips for extra cushion.
I officially endorse skinny bars
We are all different, and need/prefer different things, so theres rarely a one size fits all solution.
There is some good logic to the set-up tips I use, and theyre generally well accepted.
I find a lot of people are fairly resistant at first, as it feels unnatural, or foreign to them, it takes some getting used to for sure.
I coach about 40 different riders, and work with another several coaches, all but one have made it a permanent change. If I was even close to as fast as that guy, I'd be happy, hes a freak with bike skills.
My codes feel fairly standard compared to others, it just takes some time to get used to.
Theres some good logic to the idea, but it definitely takes some adjustment, and getting used to.
Shoot me a message, and I'll give you some more detail, and reasoning if youre at all interested.
If neither of those work, I recommend some Formula Curas which are pretty inexpensive and will change your life.
And it's a skill you can learn to modulate that power. You'll never make your fingertips that much stronger.
I find we all need to brake MORE! for less time, hence why I prioritize power output.
If you can use less force to pull the brakes for a similar output, then it’s less fatiguing. It also provides more control over the output you do have, meaning you can vary the force required more, so that you can be at the optimal brake force, more of the time.
It’s not necessarily about intimate power, it’s about using that power (force) more effectively, and more consistently
35mm high risers will be the new standard soon.
i argued with some clown at the bike shop, we measured several setups and when roll and sweep are brung into it, they damn sure do shorten the reach
From my in no way comprehensive research lowest rise -> highest: DMR defy, Anvil swage v2, Renthal apex, I9 a35, Funn equalizer, Canfield. Of those the DMR (27mm) and Funn (34mm) have the shortest stack height. The rest are pretty standard 38-40mm.
Did you buy an sq lab bar? I like em, but wish they had higher ride options and a full 800mm width.
Why isn't there some kind of objective rating for flex so that a 110lb versus 220lb rider can get a sense of what to expect (even when factoring for variation due to cutting)?
"Proprietary clamping surface is clever but >requires? comes at a higher price point (Da Stem required)."
Fwiw here's my generalized experience in 31.8 (least compliant to most): plain ol' aluminum - vibrocore - carbon... with Ti feeling somewhat relatable to carbon regarding compliance but less absorbing of vibration. Obviously, each mfgr bar is different beyond materials so not a hard n fast rule.
How am i supposed to afford your expensive shit?
youtu.be/Px7B0FPsvY0
Everything breaks. Well, maybe not steel.
Main problem with carbon is its tendency to spontaneous and catastrophic failure. Metal will bend or begin to crack, carbon will just shatter, usually with zero warning, when it's ready to die
I think catastrophic failure risk in carbon wheels is overstated. Every recent failure I've heard of has been a loud noise and a crack in the rim that continued to hold air. Yoann Barelli rode a cracked I9/WAO for months and he's doing worse things to bikes than me. Don't go Enduro racing on XC wheels to tempt fate but I think this idea that riders are falling on their face regularly due to carbon wheel failure is fantasy.
WAO would tell you that riding on a visibly damaged carbon rim is very unsafe so I don't think Barelli doing something stupid is a valid point. If Barelli was on an FR560, FR 541, he wouldn't have broken a rim in the first place.
Ive been on Canyons carbon spectral and torque, zero issues.
w/o crashes, carbon is more durable. I've had a few crashes on the canyons and theyve been all good aswell.
My son went through 3 alloy frames this year between feb and end of april. Headtube seperated on like a 5 foot drop, modern alloy bikes are just not up to fluff.
Commencal, TR, Trek & rocky - 90% of the bikes mentioned we've had to get refunds for as they kept failing.
My friend Snapped a headtube on an SX not long ago in a small feature and now in a legal battle with commencal as he was put in hospital for several weeks.
I want to try a custom steel or Ti bike for my next build, probably similar to what Aston MTB has, but with an ebike motor/gearbox combo unit instead of a Pinion or dérailleur.
I have vibrocores with steel spokes on one bike, and berd spokes on carbon rims on another bike.
Would love to hear your thoughts on how those spokes feel with the Vibrocore rims!
PS I meant to upvote you but accidentally clicked downvote
Here are a few options for really high rise:
www.evfreaks.uk/collections/geometry-risers-ergonomics/products/direct-mount-spacers-10mm-15mm-20mm#judgeme_product_reviews
www.amazon.com/dp/B09MZK2T3Y
www.kemimoto.com/products/direct-mount-riser-stem-fit-surron-light-bee-x-segway-x160-x260-electric-dirt-bike
www.blacksheeptrading.co.nz/product/sur-ron-handlebar-direct-stem-riser-31-8mm
www.pricklymotorsports.com/products/direct-mount-spacer?variant=41213501800625
yoshimuracycling.com/collections/stem/products/endh-stem-base-kit-dmb-base-k
Additionally, WilliamsRacingProducts will make you something custom if you ask nicely or pay them a lot
www.williamsracingproducts.com/shop
fasstmtb.com/collections/downhill
A) no, alloy bars do not all feel the same. Renthal makes bars that feel much nicer/different than other options, more damped in particular.
B) yet you all continue the myth that (almost) all carbon wheels are way pingier than any alloy rim
So our collective experience with them, is essentially all on the same bar. and those bars tend to be of a entry level variety.
Carbon wheels do feel pingier (in my experience) this might be due to higher spoke tension than what alu wheels are typically.
My WAO's arent comfortable, its not a way I would describe them. But, solid, stiff (not overly) precise, these are things I would use to describe them. My I9' alloy enduros, very non-descript in every way
Different materials can feel different, when manufactured in differnt ways, maybe you didnt know that....
I've grown to love my Unions, and miss them everytime I ride something different.
Recently rode a buddies bike with DT Swiss wheels, made me pine for the precise feel of my Unions.
Thinking of swapping out the I9's on my small bike
All this vibration damping is primarily taken care of by tyres, grips & forks.
Either soften your tyre, get squishier grips or mess with your forks before buying into this nonsense.
The primary purpouse of handlebars is steering and positioning.
Use your components wisely, they’re not cheap.
I often wonder why there’s not really any high end steel bars? Heavy yes but folks like coil springs & steel frames plus steel bars would be good for custom bending.
It just seems an expensive way to dampen vibration.
I speak as a 50 something old fart who works with hand & cordless tools so non tingling post-ride hands is something i’ve striven for over the decades and unsurprisingly front tyre pressure is number one factor.
Softer casings, lower pressures, bigger volume are what will make way more difference than bar material.
Grips are another area for improvement. I’ve often fancied experimenting modifying my bars to fit custom made air/foam grip inserts. I feel a sunday shed project coming on….
All this takes me back to my original point that bars are for getting your hands in the right place. No fancy expensive materials will work very well if yer paws are not well positioned. Thats what i reckon anyway.
Sooo many options, hope something works out
I'd argue that both are necessary. You need both ride experience and measurements, ideally with measurements coming after ride experience. If you found one bar to be most comfortable and then found that it was 'mid pack' in flex, then you could probably attribute that to the placebo effect. If you found one bar to be most comfortable and then find it's the most flexible, then you could argue that flex actually makes a difference (but, again, maybe it was placebo and you got lucky). Just knowing the relative flex on its own (without subjective reviews) isn't useful cause maybe even the softest bar is too stiff for it to matter.
Honestly I like both and both achieve the goal to an extent but they feel pretty different. I think i might pick each one over the other depending on the bike/type of riding i am doing.
I've just been toughing it out and getting my hands hardened up the first few bikepark days every year, but as someone who takes ~6 months off of biking to ski every winter I am getting sick of "breaking in" my hands every bike season
you can go to the specific vendor and buy of the shelf
imagine 60bu ks and they still making profit out of it
I own the original 'package' from when WAO started making the bars for 77, and I think the 77 stem looks better. This new one is a copy of the 77, and much more plain looking.