need new bars, recommendations?

[sirthumpalot]

Well, today I bent the stock bars and I need to get some replacements. What do you all recommend? The stock bend is fine with me but I wouldn't mind a bit more durability. Also I want to order them in time to have this for next weekend and I will take any suggestions for online retailers as well.

Thanks!

[tuck]

Sirthumpy: When I got back into riding 3yrs ago on a 95 YZ 250,I was getting about 7 hours to a set of renthal bars before bending them in minor getoffs.After 4 sets I decided to put out the coin for ProTapers & universial mounts.I have since been through 3 bikes.On all 3 I have busted my famous Fatboy/Flying-W-Cartwheeling/Bike trick,several times.The ProTapers refuse to bend,(I wish I could say the same for myself.The older I get the slower I heal)Anyway I'm on my 2nd set of P/Ts and the only reason I bought this set was to try a different bend.I went from CR high to Doug Henry I like the D/H bend better. Great bars! ?

[Chris_Slade]

Ever seen the ProTaper ad in MXA?

"The Travis Pastrana action figure bends 13 ways, Protapers don't" ?? (or something like that)

They don't bend no matter what. I have had some get offs that bent the clamp on my KX250, but NEVER the bars. Those things will last until you DECIDE to take them off...Spend the $75-90 on a pair. It's the last set of bars you may ever buy. ?

I currently have the stock Magura SX bars on my KTM...they are basically pro-tapers...look into them too. Seem to be lasting despite a few nasty ones!

[motoman393]

Oh trust me they bend...but they are very tough (toughest bar on the market)! I have gone throught 2 pairs of Pro Tapers and 1 pair of TAG's in the last year...but the 3x I have crashed hardest was when the bars bent, and 2 of the 3 crashes led to major injury! If you want the best go for the Pro Tapers! Later,

Garrett

[Slice543]

I have bent a few pair of renthals, overall they are a good bar. I have yet to bend pro-tapers, but have seen other people bend them. You can usually pick up pro-tapers in just about any magazine ad for $89-99 and the Renthals run about $60-65 in the ads. With the Renthals you can use your stock triple clamp, but with the pro tapers you have to buy an additional adapter kit (around $60) or another triple clamp ($100+). Now your in the dilemma of which triple clamp is better. Just whatever you do, do not go to your dealer and buy the $16 steel bars, because it is a trip you will make many times, not to mention missing out on a day of riding after a crash.

[Wild_Bill]

Anything but the cheap stock bars will do. But, keep in mind that the forces involved in a crash will be transmitted into and absorbed by something. You may want the bars to bend instead of the triple-clamps bending(or breaking). Back in the '70s a friend filled his bars with lead to prvent them from bending easily but broke the triple-clamps off when he crashed hard. I know technology has changed since then but natural forces haven't.

[SMP]

I went with the Renthal Fat Boy bars and the Allied triple clamp, they look good and have made it thru many a crash.

[RichB]

I went to Tag's on my KX a year or so back, I like them a lot. They seem to dampen the vibes better than Tapers but may be just a hair less durable. I just bought a set of Renthal's for the 426, went 2 weeks, had by annual big get-off and bent them. So basically I wasted 70+ bucks.

Bad on me.

[MikeOK]

My Azonics have survived a few get-offs. (well actually several get-offs, one bad one). I would rate them the most durable and I've tried Pro-Taper and Tag also. The Tags bent when I rode in a strong wind lol...

[dan_Rekito]

Definitely get rid of the stock "bendomatic handlebars" I personally run Renthal bars on both bikes. You dont really need a fat bar unless your putting your heels over the bars doing a "SARAN" or something. 2001 YZ426F 1996 XR650L ?

[chopbroc]

Go with pro-tapers, but they will bend......just not very easily and I wouldn't worry too much about tripple clamps breaking. I've had some unbelieveable get offs racing desert wide open on fast XR's. The pro-tapers are defenitely the way to go.

[sirthumpalot]

I'm going to price the pro-tapers and the required clamps and see if I can afford it, thanks to everyone for your feedback. ? I don't have any complaints with the stock bend, but do any of you have a favorite bend? I'm 6'0 and the ergos are great sitting, standing I feel a bit bent over.

Also how many bent bars are the result of the rider landing on the bars as opposed to hitting the ground? In this case I would rather have soft bars but I'm not sure how often this happens.

Thanks again!

[Odie]

I run the Renthal Fat Bar - basically a pro taper with an additional cross brace. If you manage to bend these - then the bar is the least of your worries.

Later,

Odie

[yamahabear]

hey my buddy just bent his renthals on his 00 426 so he bought the new Pro Taper CR bend and they feel really comfortable and have good control.

[mxracer553]

Renthal Twin walls rule there are almost industructable I am an experet at hard crashes I recently broke my hand. Didn't hurt the bars at all!