wide bars

before i go spending money on this i'm looking for opinions out there on wide bars on all mountain bikes. I went wide on the dh bike last year and it transformed the bike but have been reluctant to follow suit on the trail bike. I currently have 685's on it. Wide for an xc but lately they feel kinda narrow. Thinking of a low rise 720. What i'd like to hear is opinions from people who have actually gone this road and not the usuall nonsense as to why wide bars are the work of the devil. stuff like how were they for climbs. body position etc. do ya bang the ends of trees more. Thanks in advance. Bren

i just got renthal fatboy 720mm i find them great.
but for some trails you will be testing your arm strength as they will hit off trees
i think it improves handling and climbs are better i think feels like you can put more power down i have tried 6 different bars and i like wide bars but its just a personal preference hope this helps

I have 680 on the XC bike and 720 on the Slayer. The only advantage of the 720 bars is on the dh bits, and it also looks cooler. Apart from that I find the 680 bars perfect for allround riding. Having said that... I'm really starting to like the road drop bars, but shhhh don't let Gerry see this!

well..
I put really wide bars on my reign , i think they're nearly 800 !! and a really short stem and I love it..its all in the mindset I think..when I'm on an actual XC bike, I have the xc position 100% aggressive..but on the reign I love the wide bars and stubby stem set up..i don't knock off trees and I don't notice any problem climbing, but climbing on a trailbike is just a means to an end anyway and sure would you be in that much of a hurry going up , go for it on your trail machine, its a great fun set up one..
I think the 6" machine is the Ultimate bike !! and like I say you don't ride them for competition enjoy them and use whatever technology you can to get the best out of it.
Coach Devil*******

Just got the Answer 780 pro taper as a birthday gift of my brother for my DH bike, they are savage, i'm definatly gonna get the 720 AM versions for the Prophet, Al is doing the same deal as CRC on them to i think Bren, class product.

I have been running a 740 low rise v1 on the trek from the off and love it, at the start I was clipping the odd tree etc but after a week or so no problems.. the real advantage is on the downs as you have so much more control over the steering and the maneuvering of the bike around is effortless. This coupled with a 50 mm stem just feels so right on the bike.. lately i swapped back to stock setup for a week as wanted to try this set up on the Ragley(which i am now running with a 710 low rise) and the Trek just felt twitchy and raked out..Personally I am very happy with wide bar and think you would love it on the shova Bren..

Cheers for the responses lads. I have low rise 720's on the Dh bike so i reckon I'll pop them onto the Shova for now and maybe get something longer for the Dh bike. I had a good idea what they'd do for me on the decents just was unsure about the tech'y narrow stuff and the climbing. I suppose with the wider grip i can muscle it about a bit more over the tech'y stuff too.
The ride around Rossi on Sunday should be a good test.
Thanks again
Bren

oh yeah...low riser bars are made in mtb heaven by nekkid burmese maidens or Gerry mcinerney nekkid covered in honey, whatever religion you are !!

It's funny I often hopped on other peoples bikes just being an anorack. I get amazed by how many have 2 inch rise bars with a pile of spacers under them. It's like sitting on a chopper. I'd kill myself trying to ride a bike set up like that.
Hoarses for courses I suppose.

more like doughnuts for dunces !! feckin eejits !! think about it. you have a set of handlebars and they are 700mm wide and have no rise.
Put two spacers under the stem and you have your rise.
XC handlebars generally come short in width , I have a set of carbon xc bars with about two inches of rise..nightmare to use.
I think with bars its the width of the bars, the rise of the stem , the head tube angle and the travel you have on your forks.
Think some more about it, its not just about the bars, its the length and rise of the stem thats more important.
I've used every combination of bar and stem ever created, including ones that have completely disappeared onepiece triathlon style bars, I even used wide Cyclocross Drop bars a la Tomac one time..
Now i put low risers on everything..XC and Freeride ..
I know I'd like a set of flat 740 bars on my reign..

Id say these would go nicely on an all mountain bike haha, there only a metre wide !!
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h...1t:429,r:5,s:0

You'd bang your gob off the stem trying to ride with them :)

Bren i have the truvatuv boobar at 780,they are savage,ask for a feel next time we are out

of what paul ? Your making me blush.

Put the bars off my DH bike on the shova for Rossi today. Glad I did, savage trails. A few savage climbs too. The wide bars were Much better up, down and sideways :)
I'll be putting the 22 tooth granny ring back on next time i go back up there but the decents are so worth it.