[Round Up] Alternative or “Alt” Mountain Bike Handlebars

Alt handlebar round upAlternative or “Alt” handlebars have been ridden by mountain bikers for many years. A lot of riders have turned to these handlebars because of their greater sweep angle. The more backward sweep (meaning the handlebar ends point more back at the rider) offers some riders a more comfortable riding position by allowing the wrists to be positioned at a more neutral angle.

Of course some handlebar designers have not stopped there and created many other versions of alternative mountain bike handlebars featuring multiple hand positions and even road style drop handlebars.

In this article I’ve tried to round up all of the “Alt” bars I could find for easy reference. I’ve divided the article into handlebars made in the USA and those made abroad. I’ll continue to add to this article as I find more handlebars. Add a comment if you know of any bars that I’ve missed.

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Made In The USA

Black Sheep Bikes – BlackSheepBikes.com
Black Sheep Bikes custom titanium handlebars
Black Sheep Bikes custom titanium handlebars
  • Fully custom Titanium – contact them for more information
Groovy Cycleworks – GroovyCycleworks.com

Luv Handles

Groovy Cycleworks Luv Handles
Groovy Cycleworks Luv Handles
  • Material: 4130 Steel or 3/2.5 Titanium
  • Width: 26″
  • Sweep: 21.5deg
  • Rise: 4deg or 1″
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 380g for steel or 275 for Titanium
  • Color: lots of options, check their website
Ti Cyles – TiCycles.com

Halo Handlebar

Ti Cycles Halo Loop titanium handlebar
Ti Cycles Halo titanium handlebar
  • Material: 3/2.5 Titanium
  • Width: 680mm
  • Sweep: 30deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 400g
  • Color: Raw Titanium

Double S 15° Bend Handlebar

Ti Cycles Double S 15 degree handlebar
Ti Cycles Double S 15 degree handlebar
  • Material: 3/2.5 Titanium
  • Width: 675mm
  • Sweep: 15deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 174g
  • Color: Raw Titanium

Double S 30° Bend Handlebar

Ti Cycles Double S 30 degree handlebar
Ti Cycles Double S 30 degree handlebar
  • Material: 3/2.5 Titanium
  • Width: 680mm
  • Sweep: 30deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 340g
  • Color: Raw Titanium
Watson Cycles – WatsonCycles.com
Watson Cycles titanium handlebars
Watson Cycles titanium handlebars

Parkarino

  • Material: Titanium
  • Width: 720mm
  • Sweep: 31deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Color: raw Titanium

Revelation

  • Material: Titanium
  • Width: 680mm
  • Sweep: 32deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Color: raw Titanium

Watts

  • Material: Titanium
  • Sweep: 26deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Color: raw Titanium

Foreign Made

Answer Products – AnswerProducts.com

Carbon 720 Enduro 20/20

Answer Carbon 720 Enduro 20/20 handlebar
Answer Carbon 720 Enduro 20/20 handlebar
  • Material: Carbon fiber with unidirectional 12 outer layer
  • Width: 720mm
  • Sweep: 20deg
  • Rise: 20mm
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 220g
  • Color: Black
Bontrager – Bontrager.com

Crivitz

Bontrager Crivitz handlebar
Bontrager Crivitz handlebar
  • Material: 7075-T6 Aluminum
  • Width: 690mm
  • Sweep: 25deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 270g
  • Color: Black

 

Carver Bikes – CarverBikes.com

 

MyTi

Carver MyTi handlebar
Carver MyTi handlebar
  • Material: 3/2.5 Titanium
  • Width: 710mm
  • Sweep: 29deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Color: Raw Titanium
Jones Bikes – JonesBikes.com

Loop H-bar

Jones Loop H-bar handlebar
Jones Loop H-bar handlebar
  • Material: Aluminum or Titanium
  • Width: 667mm
  • Sweep: 45deg
  • Rise: 13mm
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: Ti is 485g and Alum is 502g
  • Color: Black, Silver, hand brushed Titanium

Cut H-bar

Jones Cut H-bar handlebar
Jones Cut H-bar handlebar
  • Material: Aluminum or Titanium
  • Width: 590mm
  • Sweep: 45deg
  • Rise: 13mm
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: Ti is 400g and Alum is 430g
  • Color: Black, Silver, hand brushed Titanium
Misfit Psycles – MisfitPsycles.com

FUBar

Misfit Psycles FUBar
Misfit Psycles FUBar
  • Material:6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 635mm
  • Sweep: 33deg
  • Rise: 26mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 378g
  • Color: Black or Silver

FU2Bar

FUBar vs FU2bar
FU2bar (top) vs FUBar (bottom)
  • Material:6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 600mm
  • Sweep: 37deg
  • Rise: 26mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 351g
  • Color: Black or Silver

FMEBar

Misfit Psycles FMEBar
Misfit Psycles FMEBar
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 640mm
  • Sweep: 42deg
  • Drop: 66mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 378g
  • Color: Black or Silver
Nashbar – Nashbar.com

Comfort Handlebar

Nashbar Comfort handlebar
Nashbar Comfort handlebar
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Width: 720mm
  • Sweep: 30deg
  • Rise: 23mm
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Color: Black

Trekking Handlebar

Nashbar Trekking handlebar
Nashbar Trekking handlebar
  • Material:6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 580mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 506g
  • Color: Black
Nitto

Bullmoose

Nitto Bullmoose handlebars
Nitto Bullmoose handlebars
  • Material: CroMo steel
  • Stem Extension: 150mm
  • Color: Silver or custom painted – contact Rivendell for more info

Purchase – https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/hb4.htm

Nordeast B206-1

Nitto B206-1 Nordeast handlebar
Nitto B206-1 Nordeast handlebar
  • Material: CroMo steel
  • Width: 525mm
  • Sweep: 20deg
  • Rise: 15mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 386g
  • Color: Silver
On One – On-One.CO.UK

Fleegle Pro

On One Fleegle Pro handlebar
On One Fleegle Pro handlebar
  • Material: 2014 T-6 Aluminum
  • Width: 660mm
  • Sweep: 15 deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 241g
  • Colors: Polished black, White, Hi Polished silver, Anodized blue, Anodized red, Anodized gold, Anodized titanium

Mary Bar

On One Mary handlebar
On One Mary handlebar
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Width: 645mm
  • Sweep: 70mm on 25.4mm or 85mm on 31.8mm
  • Rise: 37mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 25.4mm is 306g or 31.8mm is 289g
  • Colors: Silver, Blue, Gold, Black, White, Red

Midge

On One Midge handlebar
On One Midge handlebar
  • Material: 6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 554mm
  • Drop: 112mm
  • Reach: 64.5mm
  • Flare: 113deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 25.4mm is 277g or 31.8mm is 299g
  • Colors: Black
Origin 8 – Origin-8.com

Adventure Tour

Origin 8 Adventure Tour handlebar
Origin 8 Adventure Tour handlebar
  • Material:6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 580mm
  • Sweep: 18deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 348g
  • Color: Black

Bullnose Combo Bar

Origin 8 BullNose Combo bar
Origin 8 BullNose Combo bar
  • Material:6061 Aluminum
  • Width: 660mm
  • Sweep: 3odeg
  • Rise: 12deg
  • Stem Extension: 150mm
  • Color: Black

Pro Pulsion Alloy Gary-2

Origin 8 Pro Pulsion Alloy Gary-2
Origin 8 Pro Pulsion Alloy Gary-2
  • Material: 6061-T6 alloy
  • Width: 530mm
  • Reach: 135mm
  • Drop: 80mm
  • Flare: 15deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Color: Black

Space Carbon UL8 Off Road

Origin 8 Space Carbon UL 8 Off Road handlebar
Origin 8 Space Carbon UL 8 Off Road handlebar
  • Material: High Modulus 3K Carbon Fiber
  • Width: 685mm
  • Sweep: 25deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 170g
  • Color: Black

Space Off Road II

Origin 8 Space Offroad II handlebar
Origin 8 Space Offroad II handlebar
  • Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
  • Width: 655mm
  • Sweep: 40 deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm or 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 340g
  • Color: Black
Ragley Bikes – RagleyBikes.com

Luxy Offroad Drop Bar

Ragley Luxy Offroad drop bar
Ragley Luxy Offroad drop bar
  • Material: 7050-T76 alloy
  • Width: 420mm
  • Drop: 85mm
  • Flare: 25 deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Color: Black or Silver
Salsa Cycles – SalsaCycles.com

Bend 2

Salsa Bend 2 handlebar
Salsa Bend 2 handlebar
  • Material: 7050-T76 alloy
  • Width: 710mm
  • Sweep: 17deg or 23 deg
  • Upsweep: 5deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 297g for 17deg or 309g for 23deg
  • Color: Black

Woodchipper

Salsa Woodchipper handlebar
Salsa Woodchipper handlebar
  • Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum
  • Width: 42cm or 46cm
  • Drop: 110mm
  • Reach: 80mm
  • Drop Angle: 38deg
  • Flare Angle: 26deg
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 46mm is 332g
  • Color: Black
Soma Fabrications – SomaFab.com

Clarence Bar

Soma Fab Clarence handlebar
Soma Fab Clarence handlebar
  • Material: 6061 T6 Aluminum
  • Width: 660mm – 25.4mm clamp | 670mm 31.8mm clamp
  • Sweep: 40 deg
  • Rise: 37mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm or 31.8mm
  • Color: Black 31.8mm or White 25.4mm

Junebug Bar – check Soma’s site for more drop bars for MTB’s

Soma Fab Junebug handlebar
Soma Fab Junebug handlebar
  • Material: 6061 T6 Aluminum
  • Width: 56cm
  • Drop: 112mm
  • Reach: 65mm
  • Clamp: 31.8mm
  • Claimed Weight: 300g
  • Color: Black or White

Odin Bar

Soma Fab Odin handlebar
Soma Fab Odin handlebar
  • Material: Tange Aluminum
  • Width: 715mm
  • Sweep: 15 deg
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Claimed Weight: 370g
  • Color: Black
Surly – SurlyBikes.com
Surly Open bar
Surly Open bar

Open Bar

  • Material: 4130 Cromoly Steel
  • Width: 666mm
  • Sweep: 53deg
  • Rise: 0mm or 40mm
  • Clamp: 25.4mm
  • Color: Black

11 thoughts on “[Round Up] Alternative or “Alt” Mountain Bike Handlebars”

  1. Chris Sullivan

    Hi J.A.
    Viva “made in the USA”! You missed the Gnar Bar Handlebars, featuring the Control Curve in the handgrip area. The 1st (currently available) generation are 6069 aluminum, made in Portland.
    The Control Curve is designed to function like an arch support for the palm of your hands, allowing you better control and comfort without bulk, and arm pump. In addition, the down & forward bend at the end of the bars allow for much better leverage as you jump, rail berms, or descend at speed.

  2. Great list J.A. I’m was hoping to grab a pair of the polished On-One Fleegle bars for my wife’s new commuter – of course when I finally went to buy them they were out of stock. Hopefully something from this list will be available and suitable.

  3. I have a set of barely used fleegle’s if someone is interested? I went with the Surly Open bar instead because of the extra sweep. Thanks for posting this!

  4. What about:
    the original Nitto Dirt Drops (not as wide, very deep drop, flare angle not as much as WTB)
    or the WTB Dirt Drops (comparable to the Salsa Woodchipper)

  5. I was looking for bars for my commuter bike and found your post. It is absolutely excellent! You found possible bars I hadn’t heard of. Now I just have to make a decision! Thanks for a great resource!

  6. also 2 nice alternatives to the Mary bars to avoid all that shipping cost – both essentially the same shape and narrower widths – Aherne MAP bars available in 615mm and 575mm; and, Nitto B2522 Jitensa Touring bar 580mm

  7. I still refer back to this post years later. It’s really useful. Unfortunately, Misfit Psycles is no more. Their FUbars and FU2bars were great.

  8. When I got this UPANBIKE mountain bike extra long handlebar, I was amazed by its stylish design that mixed well with my bike’s structure. This handler is constructed out of Aluminum Alloy 6061, ensuring superb durability. Every side comes with a durable anodizing feature numerically controlled to give off accurate bending and shockproof feature and compatible with most bikes.

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