ODI CFT Podium MX Handlebar - Ricky Carmichael Edition RC4 Bend

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Tested: ODI Podium CFT MX Handlebars-Ricky Carmichael Edition RC4 Bend
If it works for the GOAT, it might just work for you... Unless you are super tall.
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Vital Review
s1600 TestedODIRC4Bars 418329
The Good
The black and bronze look amazing. For medium to short riders, this bend is really nice. Vibration and sharp hit reduction.
The Bad
Taller riders might not like the bend. Crossbar (even the CFT) isn’t for everybody.

One of the benefits of being one of the best motocross racers in human history is creating your own specific bar bend. Ricky Carmichael has been with ODI team since the RCH Suzuki Supercross team, and now he has come up with his own updated version of the RC bend for ODI. The RC4 bend is available in both the Podium Flight (no crossbar) and Podium CFT (crossbar with damping). We got our hands on the CFT version to test out on our 2020 Honda CRF250R.

ODI CFT MX RC4 Bend Handlebars Features:

  • MSRP: $134.95
  • 1 1/8" clamp diameter (requires "oversized" triple clamps or bar mounts)
  • Signature Edition RC4 Graphics
  • Knurled left slide helps with grip bar adhesion
  • Constructed of 2014-T6 alloy for added strength
  • Includes High density RC4 Signature Edition foam bar pad
  • RC4 Bend Developed by Ricky himself

First Impression

These are some nice looking bars. The black bar and bar pad are set off nicely by the Kashima-inspired hardware for the crossbar. Also, the RC4 and ODI logos look sweet with the white and red accents. I feel like the black/bronze/white/red combo would look good on any bike. To make it a little more Honda-y I threw on the red/white Emig Pro V2 Lock-On grips that have bronze highlights as well. 

Installation

No surprises here, they are just oversize handlebars. Since the stock Honda bar is 1-1/8th, I didn’t have to get new bar clamps. The bar might actually be a tiny bit thicker than the stock Renthal bar because just placing the Podium CTF in the low bar clamps, it was a really tight fit and the bar doesn’t roll loosely around. When adjusting exactly where I wanted the bar to be, all four bar clamp bolts were completely loose and I still had to muscle it into position. At a pretty standard 200mm of control area, there is plenty of room for all the standard controls and still room for handguards if that’s your style. 

On The Track

To find the perfect bar bend for RC, ODI actually started with their McGrath bend and started making tweaks from there. They are the same width (805mm) but the new RC4 bend is one millimeter higher at 78mm and has 5mm more rise at 45mm. But, there is a tiny bit less sweep at 54mm. 

At 5’9” ish, I think I’m pretty middle-of-the-road height for most moto guys and though Ricky is 5’6”, the bars don’t feel too low or too far forward to me. Modern moto bar bends have been trending flatter and lower with less sweep for a while and these are in that same category. Compared to the stock Honda bend, I feel like the RC4 bend puts me in a better cornering position and I can get my weight forward more easily. 

We’ve reviewed the ODI Podium CFT bars in the past, but here is a quick overveiw. The crossbar is not solid - it is a two-piece design that has an elastomer damper between the two sections. This allows for a certain amount of controlled flex that is neither too rigid, nor too floppy. This elastomer also has a vibration-damping effect that isn’t present with non-crossbar 1-1/8th bars. On the track, you notice that the bars smooth out the really sharp hits but still remain precise and give you complete control.

The only downside to these bars for me is that I visually prefer a non-crossbar handlebar. The crossbar and pad are a little distracting and make the front of the bike seem bulkier than it needs to be. But this is a personal idiosyncrasy, not really a fault of the bar. 

Last Words

If you are on the vertically challenged side of the spectrum or just prefer a flatter, lower, straighter bar bend, the new RC4 signature bend from ODI might be just right for you. Also, if you want to get a little more cushion from your bars without going to more expensive bar mount systems (like the Xtrig PHDS) the Podium CFT bars are a good bet. Lastly, if you are just a fan of Ricky and want sweet looking handlebars, you just have to get these!

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Specifications

Product
ODI CFT Podium MX Handlebar - Ricky Carmichael Edition RC4 Bend
Type
1⅛
Construction
Seamless, high-strength triple-butted 2014-T6 alloy to provide added strength, shot-peened and hard anodized for improved durability
Miscellaneous
• Patented CFT (Controlled Flex Technology) crossbar system is designed to flex at a controlled rate due to the built in elastomer that slows down the vibration and chatter caused from extreme riding
• Reduced vibration and rider fatigue
• Designed for those riders looking for the perfect balance between strength and comfort
• The strongest handlebar from ODI
• Oversized 1-1/8” clamp diameter improves bar/clamp grip; requires oversized handlebar mounts
• Lightly Knurled left slide helps with grip bar adhesion, without interfering with lock-on grips
• Signature Edition RC4 Graphics
• Includes High density RC4 Signature Edition foam bar pad
• RC4 Bend developed by Ricky himself
Price
$139.95
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