Handlebar Advice

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Tony T
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Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:00 pm
Bike: Ossa Explorer
Location: Tanunda S.A.

Handlebar Advice

Postby Tony T » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:24 pm

This is probably a really dumb question, but as a complete dummy when it comes to this trials thing, what sort of bars to you blokes use? And how wide are they generally?

I have no plans to compete, but I'm interested to know what is most commonly used and where is a good place to buy them.



David Lahey
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Re: Handlebar Advice

Postby David Lahey » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:36 pm

Ideal length depends on the size of the rider but a good starting point for an OSSA would be about 850mm
Getting the rise high enough for a 1970s bike can be problematic because the highest off-the-shelf trials shape bars are made by Renthal and they are called size 6, and they are not high enough for many bike/rider combinations. The OSSA is one bike that needs bars higher than them for even average height riders.
Fred Carter is a KT250 parts specialist based in NZ and sells replica KT250 bars that are a good shape and rise, made from plated steel tube. Here is what they look like on my OSSA.
Attachments
OSSA June 2008 004smaller.jpg


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David Lahey
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Posts: 4062
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 7:01 pm
Bike: Many Twinshocks
Club: CQTC Inc, RTC Inc
Location: Gladstone, Queensland

Re: Handlebar Advice

Postby David Lahey » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:47 pm

Another option is to have bars custom made from structural tubing to the shape you want. Here is a set of custom made aluminium alloy bars on my KT - another bike that needs a decent rise in the bars
Attachments
P1010141.JPG


relax, nothing is under control

Tony T
C grade participant
C grade participant
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:00 pm
Bike: Ossa Explorer
Location: Tanunda S.A.

Re: Handlebar Advice

Postby Tony T » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:55 pm

That photo helps a lot, David.
I've been a spectator at quite a few trials events, but never really took notice of the bike set up from the perspective of the rider.
I was too busy freaking out at the skill of you blokes......... :lol:

I've got a set of early XL350 bars that look close to that so they might get me by for now. I'm off the the shed to dig them out......... :wink:




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