Pro Taper bars?

atrdrvr7
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Anyone know whats going on with the supply of EVO's or Fuzion's.  Everyone is out of stock.  Some sites even showing discontinued.  I pulled the trigger on a set of ACF's and I'm getting crazy vibration through the bars.  Was hoping to go back to a set of Evo's.

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wrc777
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12/9/2023 6:14pm

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

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atrdrvr7
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12/9/2023 6:26pm
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

1
OwenJakes
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sebree, KY US
12/9/2023 8:17pm
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

What bend are you looking for?

Richy
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12/10/2023 2:14am Edited Date/Time 12/10/2023 5:02am

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

3

The Shop

atrdrvr7
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12/10/2023 3:46am
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

1
12/10/2023 5:37am
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal equivalent?

Brad460
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Richfield, WI US
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12/10/2023 7:29am
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

While I understand they have new owners- when you buy a company you typically don’t need to get distribution and manufacturing “going”…. You continue to operate with current suppliers, etc..


Many companies bought every day just continue to operate as usual…

Seems odd.

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12/10/2023 7:32am
Richy wrote:
Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs. My wondering, is with the...

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

There have been knockoffs available forever (especially grips). I love when I see a used bike for sale and they have the knock off grips on them 😂 

They always look plastic..

IMG 1854.jpeg?VersionId=zIh0YR

 

2
Travis_821
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Alta, CA US
12/10/2023 7:39am
Richy wrote:
Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs. My wondering, is with the...

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

I just looked at those eBay protapers 

bars ,clamps ,pad and grips for $60

1
12/10/2023 8:14am
atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

Mika has a bend that’s almost identical to the husky bend. I think it’s the sx 

Richy
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12/10/2023 8:17am
Richy wrote:
Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs. My wondering, is with the...

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

Travis_821 wrote:

I just looked at those eBay protapers 

bars ,clamps ,pad and grips for $60

Just looked on the US eBay site, I hadn't seen them with the shitty clamps and plastic grips, terrible 😂

1
wrc777
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12/10/2023 8:40am
wrc777 wrote:
They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper...

They were bought out and the new owners are on the struggle bus getting distribution/ manufacturing going. The latest I heard was that teams running Protaper are switching to Renthal due to availability. 

Brad460 wrote:
While I understand they have new owners- when you buy a company you typically don’t need to get distribution and manufacturing “going”…. You continue to operate...

While I understand they have new owners- when you buy a company you typically don’t need to get distribution and manufacturing “going”…. You continue to operate with current suppliers, etc..


Many companies bought every day just continue to operate as usual…

Seems odd.

There were supply issues before the buy out. 

1
wrc777
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12/10/2023 8:41am Edited Date/Time 12/10/2023 8:41am
atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

The Husqvarna oem bar is still available from ktm.  The clutch side is smooth but it feels the same as the Protaper version. 

atrdrvr7
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12/10/2023 9:00am
OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

wrc777 wrote:

The Husqvarna oem bar is still available from ktm.  The clutch side is smooth but it feels the same as the Protaper version. 

I have a set.  Not sure if they have the plush flex of EVO's.  Anyone know?

wrc777
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12/10/2023 9:26am
atrdrvr7 wrote:

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

wrc777 wrote:

The Husqvarna oem bar is still available from ktm.  The clutch side is smooth but it feels the same as the Protaper version. 

atrdrvr7 wrote:

I have a set.  Not sure if they have the plush flex of EVO's.  Anyone know?

I tried them back to back (same bend) and could not feel a difference. I would say my evo husky bend feel more flexible than my evo race team bend. 

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OwenJakes
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sebree, KY US
12/10/2023 5:57pm
atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal...

At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal equivalent?

dude I thiiiiiiink the factory suzuki bend is another name for that? If so, I have one if you need it. I'm probably going to migrate to renthal when I have a need soon.

bierbower105
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Uhrichsville, OH US
12/11/2023 3:54am
At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal...

At 6’3”, I’ve always been a big fan of RM Low/Pastrana MX.  Anyone know where I could find a set or if there is a Renthal equivalent?

Those are my bars of choice also - kicking myself for letting a set go when I sold my bike. They are perfect! 
 

That being said I’m running the stock Suzuki bend on my RM-Z but they do not feel the same. They are wider by the measurements I could find so I cut them down about a half inch and that helped get closer but they still feel off.  I have them rolled back quite a bit too. 
 

Renthal’s feel stiff - maybe I’m crazy but I am pretty picky about my bars and grips set up. It’s a curse. 
 

Please come back PT. 

2
FGR01
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12/11/2023 4:30am
Richy wrote:
Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs. My wondering, is with the...

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

What's the problem?  Check The Kove MX thread.  Plenty of guys to tell you Chinese knock offs are great ! Even for an entire bike!

4
12/11/2023 5:06am
Richy wrote:
Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs. My wondering, is with the...

Kinda related, there seem to be LOADS of super cheap 'Pro Taper' bars on eBay... Clearly Chinese... Very likely knock offs.

My wondering, is with the buy-out and ProTaper seemingly unorganized right now, were they being made in China and now the Chinese are like screw it and selling their stock themselves or are these straight up fakes?

Of course fake bars made of questionable aluminium is never going to be worth any amount of saving.

Were ProTaper still US made in recent years?

FGR01 wrote:

What's the problem?  Check The Kove MX thread.  Plenty of guys to tell you Chinese knock offs are great ! Even for an entire bike!

Easy now.  I had someone in another thread telling me that I was crazy to think that Chinese quality and innovation is anything less than first rate!

3
12/11/2023 11:09pm

Pro taper doesn’t hv bar , that’s crazy.  I hv a gold pare of Kw bend & a black bar evo maybe & that’s it. Will they hv there act together by April? 

2
GPrider
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La Mesa, CA US
12/12/2023 8:05am

I finally got a new PT handlebar the other day. I had to buy a new Husky to get a set though

9
301w
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Pala, CA US
12/12/2023 9:22am

IMG 7032

12/12/2023 1:06pm

Hold on let me get my popcorn. 

2
12/12/2023 1:24pm
301w wrote:

IMG 7032

Who is that dude? 

Would not surprise me to find out there is something odd going on with the PT deal. Very weird for a sizeable company like that to be acquired and essentially shut down operations (for the time being?) without telling anyone. 

Loftin79
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OK US
12/12/2023 9:05pm
atrdrvr7 wrote:

Damn.  Thanks for the info.  I guess I'm going Renthal.

OwenJakes wrote:

What bend are you looking for?

atrdrvr7 wrote:

Husky bend or sx race.  Thanks

I used to work for Tucker Powersports which owned Pro Taper.  Before I quit in January I stocked up on a few things and I believe I have a brand new set of SX Race Fushion bars still in the box.  I’ll confirm that tomorrow if you are interested.  

1
MX Guy
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12/12/2023 9:11pm

They have enough stock to supply the whole Star team with all of their practice and race bikes for the year. Unsure

It'd be cool to see them finally switch to Renthal.

301w
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Pala, CA US
12/13/2023 5:55pm
301w wrote:

IMG 7032

Context? Why did they block you? 

I came across this ig story the same day I came across this protaper thread and thought it was interesting and was hoping someone else had more info on it as I do not at all , I don’t know why I didn’t add context my apologies 

1
12/13/2023 6:37pm
301w wrote:

IMG 7032

Context? Why did they block you? 

301w wrote:
I came across this ig story the same day I came across this protaper thread and thought it was interesting and was hoping someone else had...

I came across this ig story the same day I came across this protaper thread and thought it was interesting and was hoping someone else had more info on it as I do not at all , I don’t know why I didn’t add context my apologies 

I just realized that’s AC and Sexton’s media guy. Weird interaction and I’m wondering what transpired for him to post that. What’s strange is Pro Taper is still posting on their social media. I realize an outside company handles that stuff but whoever is still posting must have some understanding of what is going on that they blocked someone asking questions. 

1

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