Is there a correct way to measure best bar length ?

[benv]

I've got 680mm bars on my kamel and have a set of 720mm tryall bars, as I'm learning I can't work out which are best for me. Wondering if there's a way to measure correct bar size.....

Thanks

[TrialsIsHard]

will measuring them help you determine which one is for you? Ride each of them and see which you prefer, it looks like you've already measured them..

Correct me if I've missed the point completely

[benv]

I read a few weeks ago but can't find it again where some one had said width of your shoulders plus something else which I can't remember

[stirlingpowers]

Hands.

[ItsMatt]

put the bars on and ride the bike

pick the one that makes you want to kill yourself the least

[benv]

Lol I'll try that method

[Jake.]

It's common sense really isn't it, you have 2 bike parts and you don't know which you'll prefer...

Instead you go and ask a bike forum rather than trying yourself, it'd be a bit different if you didn't have the parts but you do.

[benv]

It's common sense if you can ride them well, as stated I'm learning so do know which one should feel right, wider or narrower but thanks for your helpful input

[dngr2self]

It's a question only you can answer unfortunately. There isn't really a right or wrong, it's just personal preference.

[benv]

Thanks for a decent answer, I'll just have to keep trying both and hopefully soon one will feel right

[Mark W]

If it's just the width you're concerned about, put the Try-All bars on then move your grips/levers in/out until they feel comfortable to you. If you prefer your grips/levers a little further in htan full width then you can always cut the bars down.

Those Monty bars always felt too narrow to me, but the riders I know who used them/got used to them swear by that width now. Like everyone's said, it's largely personal preference so just play around with it.

[AlexClare94]

I often think that the wider the bars, the better control you have on your back wheel as it helps with manoeuvring the bike

[benv]

Thanks I've now put the try all bars on again and will have a play, the monty ones do feel narrow but as i don't have the experience I didn't know if that's a normal feeling, or if I'd be better off getting used to narrower bars. I'll just keep playing. Thanks

[TOMTRIALS123]

I use different widths for different bikes. I think me trials bikes has a 680mm bar but my XC Bikes got a 820mm DH Bar.

[benv]

I've tried both again the 680 kamel bars and the try-all 720 bars and the try-all bars are a lot more comfy so sticking with them

[Mark W]

...my XC Bikes got a 820mm DH Bar.

820mm? Does it look like this?

[bing]

I preferred try all 720mm wide bars that I had on my blade instead of the viz pro 700s I had on my echo. I've rode a monty, and the bars are too narrow. Best geo'd bars I've ever had were try all carbons, think they are 730 wide and felt spot on for me. I'd say wider bars are better, better leverage. In my opinion, you want your hands to feel they are slightly outside your shoulders, rather than the other way round

[benv]

Yes that how the try-all ones feel now as the montys felt opposite. The try-all carbons sound good, wouldn't mind trying carbon bars

[Blake]

I used to have 690s on my mod, pretty narrow but I don't have very wide shoulders. I really liked them at the Time as I could get loads of power Down.

I now got some new high risers and they're like 720? A bit wider and feel good still but I have considered cutting them down. Just depends what you prefer I suppose. Jamie moxon used to run pretty narrow bars and was saying how easy it was to put more power down.

[benv]

I think as I get better narrower bars will feel alright but as I'm still learning I think hands being wider apart so help with balance, mine anyway

[ericbenjaminjr]

I don't remember where I got this but I've heard the rule is to measure the width of your shoulders plus your fists.

[trialsalot]

I swear by the geo of Trialtech high rise bars. I run them uncut too. In my head i've convinced myself that if you run narrower bars (ie shoulder width or less) you utilize less muscle groups then you do with wider bars. For example biceps,chest and triceps for narrow then biceps,triceps,chest back and lats. Wider=more power for me. That's not to say its a fact for everyone else. Narrow bars also make you look like a T-rex (you've just put your hands in that position while reading it!)

Just for reference I just rode the tried the montys and went back to trialtech. I'm sure the Koxx bars wont be far off the geo (starts trawling through tarty bikes).

Try both for a substantial amount of time and see what suits your riding buddy.

[TOMTRIALS123]

820mm? Does it look like this?

kinda

[benv]

Yeah I'm sticking with the try-all. Been playing with them on and put the montys back on to see and they felt to narrow and I had less control balancing so it's def easier for me with them wider. Cheers

[ericbenjaminjr]

I swear by the geo of Trialtech high rise bars. I run them uncut too. In my head i've convinced myself that if you run narrower bars (ie shoulder width or less) you utilize less muscle groups then you do with wider bars. For example biceps,chest and triceps for narrow then biceps,triceps,chest back and lats. Wider=more power for me. That's not to say its a fact for everyone else.

I've noticed the same thing and I 'think' that should be correct for everyone. I'm guessing its a matter of physics. Thats why I chose the inspired bars. Up and backsweep is 1° less than the trialtechs giving me the same rise due to the wider width. Uncut they are exactly the width of my shoulders + fists.