Twisted Engineering handlebars or revalve suspension?

Red7
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Red7
Edited Date/Time 9/17/2018 5:01am
I recently bought a new (left over) 2013 KX450F and have been getting back into riding after 7 years off. I'm in my 40s and I really destroyed my wrist which forced me out of riding. I started riding mx a few weeks ago and my wrist is better than expected but both wrists really feel it if I come up short on a large table top and overall, I'm getting arm pump pretty bad.

So I've been reading about Twisted Engineerings composite handle bars and the reviews seem to be really good but they cost almost as much as revalving my suspension. I've heard the KYB PSF forks are amazing after getting rid of the harsh stock midvalve. So my question is should I go with the composite bars, revalve or both? I can afford both and I suppose comfort is key at my age to keep this old body riding as long as possible. But I've also read guys saying how their harsh front end went away with the Twisted bars while others said how a revalue made all the difference so I may not need both.

Also, how are the 3x flex bars for mx? The only thing that makes me nervous is if i have a bad crash, am i going to be wondering if the bars have hidden damage and they could snap on me. That said, it sounds like they dont break without visible damage from a previous crash. Thanks!
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mtl
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mtl 4/30/2015 9:31am
4/30/2015 9:31am
1) Revalve will do way more than just a set of handlebars that flex. If you need someone who will work with you on valvign use Factory Connection. You only pay once for a revalve with them and any future revalving and changes are free. You only pay for oil and shipping.


2) Those bars are waaaaaay over priced. ProTaper Contour or EVO bars have the same construction and are $75-80.


I would revalve and get a set of ProTapers.
Kryan5
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Kryan5 4/30/2015 9:48am
4/30/2015 9:48am
^ x2
Justin345
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Justin345 4/30/2015 9:53am
4/30/2015 9:53am
I would 100% get the suspension revalved. It'll help the bike out a lot more than a set of handlebars. I've never used those flex bars but I know they're expensive and IMO, look horrible. I say get your suspension set up for you and communicate with your suspension tuner that you like a plush set up.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 4/30/2015 10:09am
4/30/2015 10:09am
Flexxbars ,best money you will ever spend, well,besides a bottle of whiskey and a hooker.

The Shop

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cslacker
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cslacker 4/30/2015 10:14am
4/30/2015 10:14am
Look terrible lol?



I have revalved suspension and TE bars on my honda and the suspension is more important. However... the bars do make a huge difference though with wrist pain. Those saying that Pro Taper bars are the same construction haven't ever tried TE bars. There is no comparison. I swapped out my PT Evo bars for the TE bars and absolutely love them.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 4/30/2015 10:20am
4/30/2015 10:20am
I could never use a bar without a crossbar,to many snapped bars in the old days.

Never cared about looks either,function far outways how something looks.

The Flexxbars will give another inch of travel when you flat that triple ,or short it.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 4/30/2015 10:22am
4/30/2015 10:22am
hillbilly wrote:
Flexxbars ,best money you will ever spend, well,besides a bottle of whiskey and a hooker.
Beat me to it. Best mod for any bike.
1
Kryan5
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Kryan5 4/30/2015 11:13am
4/30/2015 11:13am
I'd rather have my bike setup to better suit my riding so I make less mistakes rather just setting the bike up to mask the mistakes I do make....
walleyeguy
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walleyeguy 4/30/2015 11:32am
4/30/2015 11:32am
Or you can get a 250f. Seriously, much smoother. 450's land HARD when you come up short.
maxamillion 125 4/30/2015 11:32am
4/30/2015 11:32am
I've had my twisted engineering bars for 2 years and absolutely love them. They flex in all directions unlike the flexx bars. I've took some nasty crashes and they've never bent. It think its pretty damn near impossible to break them.
1
cslacker
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cslacker 4/30/2015 12:25pm
4/30/2015 12:25pm
maxamillion 125 wrote:
I've had my twisted engineering bars for 2 years and absolutely love them. They flex in all directions unlike the flexx bars. I've took some nasty...
I've had my twisted engineering bars for 2 years and absolutely love them. They flex in all directions unlike the flexx bars. I've took some nasty crashes and they've never bent. It think its pretty damn near impossible to break them.
It's great to hear that. the only breaks I've heard of were on the older design that didn't have the reinforced core. I have been riding mine for about 8 months and zero issues so far. The thought of paying for a replacement if they do break is pretty painful. I've had a few good get offs though and they have held up great.
1
hillbilly
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hillbilly 5/1/2015 10:24am
5/1/2015 10:24am
Kryan5 wrote:
I'd rather have my bike setup to better suit my riding so I make less mistakes rather just setting the bike up to mask the mistakes...
I'd rather have my bike setup to better suit my riding so I make less mistakes rather just setting the bike up to mask the mistakes I do make....
I like my bike setup to charge like a crackhead after a dropped rock up whooped out squared edge moonscapes riding on springs from a dumptruck and when that one ditch is misjudged and bottoms the fork so loud my deaf pit guy hears it I still have a grip on the bar with my multi broken wrists and hands.

Plus Cole and his brother started making them in his parents basement or some such tale and that is just fucking cool.

Used them since the very 1st version with single crossbar.,like 2001 i think.
Kryan5
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Kryan5 5/1/2015 10:30am
5/1/2015 10:30am Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 10:30am
hillbilly wrote:
I like my bike setup to charge like a crackhead after a dropped rock up whooped out squared edge moonscapes riding on springs from a dumptruck...
I like my bike setup to charge like a crackhead after a dropped rock up whooped out squared edge moonscapes riding on springs from a dumptruck and when that one ditch is misjudged and bottoms the fork so loud my deaf pit guy hears it I still have a grip on the bar with my multi broken wrists and hands.

Plus Cole and his brother started making them in his parents basement or some such tale and that is just fucking cool.

Used them since the very 1st version with single crossbar.,like 2001 i think.
Hahaha, after that post I might just have to buy me a set. I mean who doesn't want to be able to ride their dirt sicle like a pissed off crackhead with no shits given!
Red7
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Red7 5/1/2015 10:52am
5/1/2015 10:52am
Thanks for the replies guys. I like the idea of TE bars flexing in all directions but have read some comments about people having to replace them after a crash which would be tough to swallow after dropping $300. I will research best suspension revalve for the psf forks.
Suns_PSD
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Suns_PSD 5/1/2015 11:24am
5/1/2015 11:24am
I've had all of the above options. I think the stock '13 KX suspension is pretty good honeslty unless your weight is out of range.

The Flexxbars are heavy and have lmited movement.

The TE bars are great. No armpump or next day soreness at all and my right wrist is a mess as well. When you strap your bike down, run the tie down loops thru the lower triple clamp so as not to be pulling down on your handlebars while hauling the bike.
1
Xracerdone
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Xracerdone 5/1/2015 12:18pm
5/1/2015 12:18pm Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 12:18pm
The TE bars breaking were the first gen bars & that has been corrected. I had flex bars, re valved suspension & then got TE bars & they were the shit! I would buy them over flex bars any day of the week after having owned them. There are also plenty of people who have broken their flex bars & they don't replace the parts for free either
#991
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#991 5/1/2015 2:35pm
5/1/2015 2:35pm Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 2:54pm
I have TE bars on all my bikes and they cost us $400.00 AUD a pop. In saying that. I'd get the suspension sorted first. Like a steering dampener, the TE bars will only act as a Band-Aid for a bad front end if you don't.

Both would be my advice. The TE bars compliment good suspension.


Here's a TE bars crash test Video lol.

https://youtu.be/jJOlAJaSXKg

TE bars and a dampener. Really showing my age now.


AnimalHungry 5/1/2015 4:01pm
5/1/2015 4:01pm
I have tried the Fasstco Flexx bars and ended up buying the TE bars and glad I did. For me, the Flexx bars gave the steering a top heavy feel I didn't like and, now I have the TE bars, I prefer the multidirection flexion. IMO the TE bars do the best job of cutting vibration (hands used to go numb after 10 mins), reducing blisters and arm pump.

However, I crashed hard a month back and the TE bars snapped - I was trail riding 3rd gear cruising half throttle on a wide jeep trail and didn't see a rock. Left hand ripped off the bars and into a long fast nose wheelie that was only ever going to end up going the wrong way. Went over the front and rag dolled while my bike did at least two cartwheels. Afraid the TE bars took the brunt of the hit and snapped next to the mount. Don't know what hurts more - the rotator cuff damage and knee surgery or the thought of spending another 300 notes on the TE bars. Love the bars though - will have to not be a dick and pay more attention trail riding next time Smile

Oh, but to answer the OP: revalve first, then TE bars unless you have numb hands after 10 mins like I did in which case get the TE bars first. And the ProTaper bars are absolutely nothing like the TE bars composition and feel or the feel of the Flexx bars.

Cheers
Simon

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#991
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#991 5/1/2015 5:02pm
5/1/2015 5:02pm
Fasstco Flexx bars are for Quads Whistling
GeorgiePorgie 5/1/2015 8:13pm
5/1/2015 8:13pm Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 8:13pm
Sell the 450 and get a 250F.

Dial the suepension.

If you're still having problems. Sell the 250F and buy a 2 stroke 125.

Dial the suspension.

If you're still having problems, Sell the 125, and buy a 2015 Corvette Stingray and drive it the speed limit on Sundays in standard mode (not Race mode).
gjbruny
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gjbruny 5/1/2015 9:15pm
5/1/2015 9:15pm
i just put the TE bars on my '15 300. just turned 40 and have been very hard on my body over the years and it is catching up with arthritis pretty well all over my body. last year i noticed my wrists and shoulders were getting very sore after a day at the moto track. i really wasn't sure what to think of paying that much for a set of bars but my '13 350XCF forks were the most harsh forks i had ever been on. the '15s are better but still have a ways to go. revalve certainly helped but i am amazed at how much less...... or lack of soreness i have since throwing these bars on. i'm almost still in disbelief. was riding some single track last week and clipped a tree HARD. forks were twisted in the clamps pretty badly but the bars were no worse for the wear. guaranteed that crash would have ended up with me buying new twinwalls.

i have 15 hours on the new bars and so far they have exceeded what i had expected.
#991
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#991 5/1/2015 9:31pm
5/1/2015 9:31pm
gjbruny wrote:
i just put the TE bars on my '15 300. just turned 40 and have been very hard on my body over the years and it...
i just put the TE bars on my '15 300. just turned 40 and have been very hard on my body over the years and it is catching up with arthritis pretty well all over my body. last year i noticed my wrists and shoulders were getting very sore after a day at the moto track. i really wasn't sure what to think of paying that much for a set of bars but my '13 350XCF forks were the most harsh forks i had ever been on. the '15s are better but still have a ways to go. revalve certainly helped but i am amazed at how much less...... or lack of soreness i have since throwing these bars on. i'm almost still in disbelief. was riding some single track last week and clipped a tree HARD. forks were twisted in the clamps pretty badly but the bars were no worse for the wear. guaranteed that crash would have ended up with me buying new twinwalls.

i have 15 hours on the new bars and so far they have exceeded what i had expected.
TE bars are really good for the hands and wrists. Scott's dampener helped heaps with my shoulders. Haven't had shoulder pain since fitting it and used to every ride.
loftyair
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loftyair 5/1/2015 10:24pm
5/1/2015 10:24pm Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 10:25pm
Well my son and I like flexx bars, they only flex the way you want them to. After a hard landing and down just a bit to take the sting off. Have tried all other bars, except te. I don't think I want bars that flex all ways?
#991
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#991 5/1/2015 11:06pm
5/1/2015 11:06pm Edited Date/Time 5/1/2015 11:07pm
loftyair wrote:
Well my son and I like flexx bars, they only flex the way you want them to. After a hard landing and down just a bit...
Well my son and I like flexx bars, they only flex the way you want them to. After a hard landing and down just a bit to take the sting off. Have tried all other bars, except te. I don't think I want bars that flex all ways?
You keep telling yourself that Wink . Eventually, you might even believe it.
slackinoff
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slackinoff 5/5/2015 2:23pm
5/5/2015 2:23pm
What flex level do you guys have? 1x 2x 3x?
#991
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#991 5/5/2015 2:40pm
5/5/2015 2:40pm
slackinoff wrote:
What flex level do you guys have? 1x 2x 3x?
X3. Never noticed the flex whilst riding.
gjbruny
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gjbruny 5/5/2015 5:18pm
5/5/2015 5:18pm Edited Date/Time 5/5/2015 5:18pm
#991 wrote:
X3. Never noticed the flex whilst riding.
3x and same here..... you don't feel it when riding but you also don't feel sore the next day either..... it does give the sensation of the forks being more plush. that was noticeable instantly.
KGAspeed
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KGAspeed 5/6/2015 10:41am
5/6/2015 10:41am
loftyair wrote:
Well my son and I like flexx bars, they only flex the way you want them to. After a hard landing and down just a bit...
Well my son and I like flexx bars, they only flex the way you want them to. After a hard landing and down just a bit to take the sting off. Have tried all other bars, except te. I don't think I want bars that flex all ways?
#991 wrote:
You keep telling yourself that Wink . Eventually, you might even believe it.
I'm not sure where your vendetta against the guys at FasstCo is coming from, but they are a great group of core moto guys that have great products, including the bars. I've used them for years - I'm assuming you're tied in with the other company, which is great - competition is good. Good for them.

But, FasstCo knows what they're doing and they flex in a single plane for a reason. They're bullet-proof, tunable and maintenance free. Just wanted to chime in - its very unusual to see such backlash against them. No reason for it.
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jrhughes01 5/7/2017 10:36am
5/7/2017 10:36am
I have Flexx bars and TE Composi-Flex bars on bikes in the family herd. We had TE Composi-Flex bars on my daughter's bike. Yesterday during the Polka Dots' 49er Family Enduro she went down at about 15mph (I was following immediately behind her). Upon attempting to lift the bike upright, noted the left side of bars completely snapped off about 10" from end. This unacceptable result ruined a good day. Upon reading other reviews here learned this not an isolated incident. TE's stated warranty is a joke (20% off full SRP if buy new replacements from them). Be warned! These bars snap, and the warranty is a total NON warranty.

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