Does anyone here have experience with running a trials bar bend for motocross?
I've struggled a bit with finding the right bar bend for my preferences however I've come across a trials bar bend that sounds like it might be what I'm looking for.
It's a Neken bar, the name or product number of the bend is R00004SR and it is 824mm wide, 126mm tall, with 67mm of sweep.
Would I be crazy to run that bend for moto? It sounds like I would be much more comfortable on the bike, but not sure how significant of an effect it would have on the handling of the bike.
So if anyone who runs a similar bend or is more familiar with the 'theory of bike handling' than I am would like to offer some thoughts I would appreciate that
Not really the same thing….. but I use a very tall bar on my MTB, get weird looks sometimes, but super comfortable.
So…… if it makes you comfortable, and is safe, why not try it.
I agree with Feetup... why not give a try?
A few questions. What bike are you riding? What bend is on it now? What makes you like the specs on the trials bend?
Trials bars are pretty close to MX bars, on the trials bike they roll the bars forward (pretty much all the way forward) , so if they look weird that's why.
126mm is really tall, but to each his own, would be fun to try just for shits n gigs.
I suspect you'll notice the bike is harder to corner. Let us know how it goes!
No comment on the trials bend, but NEKEN bars have been known to be rigid and caused me to get arm pump on my KTM. I replaced them with Pro-Taper EVO bars and that all went away.
The specs on those bars are quite a bit wider, a lot taller and have more sweep on them than any bar I’ve used on a motocross/offroad bike.
https://protaper.com/protaper-handlebar-bend-charts/
SX Race bar specs for comparison-
800mm width, 87mm height, and 54.5mm rise,
with a 55mm sweep
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If that much sweep (old school 80s XR) is what you are looking for, no reason it wouldn't work. It's only 5mm taller than a Pro Taper Pastrana FMX bend with 12mm added width per side and 12mm more sweep.
Just note depending on what it's going on you may need longer throttle cable(s) and maybe a clutch cable/hose. Or do some rerouting of the existing cables. Nothing insurmountable, just something to pay attention to. Going to the stops turning right and having the throttle open on its own because the cable is stretched beyond the limit sucks!
Currently on a 2020 KX250 with the stock Renthal 971 bend, and out of all the bars I've tried (on different bikes now) I've still always been stuck wanting less sweep (I should clarify, Neken measures sweep from the outer ends of the bar, rather than centre to centre, centre to centre is about 20mm less than measuring from the outer ends) and a higher bar. All of my bars I roll pretty far forward to try to replicate that feeling.
Also this is the widest bar I could find and I like my bars wide, not sure why as I don't have particularly wide shoulders or anything but narrower bars make my shoulders feel very cramped and it makes riding more difficult.
That's actually part of the appeal of Neken to me, I prefer a crossbar and I've heard that's what they feel like.
One time at the track I bent my bars and someone gave me a spare set to borrow, it was 800mm wide and I could not ride my bike at any pace at all because of how cramped it felt. I was on a 2019 YZ250F then so the width of the bike would've exacerbated the feeling but I could not believe how awful it felt.
Have you tried the Windham bend? Its taller and a little narrower when you cut them a bit, but with less sweep.
I have and I liked it, but it was too narrow and short for what I wanted
Good to know. Just was curious why you'd want to go with such a tall bar. Or with Neken's somewhat confusing specs... is it actually taller?
I always first ask riders what style of riding they are doing first and foremost. Different disciplines of riding require different needs. And every rider has their own style. That's why I started Phoenix Handlebars. It was to help riders figure out what bend they need and not rely on their buddy's suggestion. Let's try to figure out what YOU need.
If you get the trials bar, report back with what you think about a moto or six.
I checked, I believe the trials bar is 2mm taller.
I just ride motocross but I like to open up the cockpit area by moving the bars forward, having wider bars, and lowering the footpegs and getting them further back if I can.
I usually like to stay as neutral as I can on the bike, without having to compress my body too much. It is less stable but it conserves energy and gives me much more leverage over the bike.
I appreciate your ethos with your company, I've felt the same way about certain things.
I'll post an update in this thread if I try these bars out. There's actually a different Neken bend I've been looking at so I might even get 2 different bends.
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