Different Types of Bike Handlebars: The Complete Guide
Cycling is becoming one of the world’s most popular sports in the US, Canada, and across the world. Whether you’re using a road bike to make your commute more sustainable, participating in a road race, or trying out mountain biking, there’s plenty to learn about cycling. If you’re an avid cyclist, you’ll want to be familiar with the different types of bike handlebars.
The different types of bike handlebars range from the common (flat) to the quirky (mustache). Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals. That said, you can evaluate them based on comfort, versatility, leverage, aerodynamics, and control.
In this article, I’ll cover the features of a good bike handlebar, the different types of handlebar materials you’ll usually find, and the bicycle handlebar types. I’ll also talk about the pros and cons of each material and type of handlebar so you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences the most.
Features of a Good Bike Handlebar
Generally, a “good” handlebar is evaluated on three criteria: width, rise, and backsweep. If all of these are right, you don’t have to worry about injuries and other health problems due to poor posture. Frequent incorrect positioning on a bike can cause back, hip, neck, muscle, and joint pain.
When checking whether a handlebar is good for you, here are the factors you should consider.
Bike Handlebar Width
The bicycle handlebar width makes a difference in terms of how much you can control, the weight of your bike, and the likelihood that you’ll be injured.
For example, if you use a handlebar that’s not wide enough, you’re likely to curl your shoulders and back to fit on the bike. You may be able to sustain this in short bursts, but this can cause muscle cramping and injury after a while.
When a bicycle handlebar is wider, you’ll have a better hand position, resulting in more leverage to turn the tires. This ultimately gives you more control and precision over your bike’s movements.
On the other hand, a bike lane requires far less control than a backwoods trail, for example. On a bike lane, wider handlebars are going to make your bike heavier and tire you out faster.
Bike Handlebar Rise
Similar to width, the handlebar rise determines your level of control and posture on the bike.
Handlebar rise is measured by evaluating the handlebar’s vertical incline from the bike’s center to the ends. If the handlebars are relatively flat, there will be little rise. If there’s a big curve where you place your hands much higher than the center of your handlebar, there’s a high rise.
The rise impacts your posture and, therefore, your center of gravity. Higher bike handlebars will bring your center of gravity forward on your bike, while lower handlebars will keep your center of balance further back. You generally want your center of gravity somewhere in the middle of your bike, though that may change on hills or other steep terrains.
Handlebar Backsweep
Backsweep refers to the degree the handlebars turn toward or away from your body. The handlebar backsweep differs from the handlebar rise and width in that backsweep largely impacts only comfort.
Handlebar backsweep strongly impacts your wrist positioning, though you should have decent control over your bike no matter the rate of backsweep.
Some people prefer their bikes to have a moderate turn away from themselves as it supposedly helps to correct posture, but others disagree.
Bike Comfort
While handlebar backsweep significantly impacts your level of comfort, other aspects of your bike’s handlebars, like the material it’s made from and the diameter affect your comfort levels as well. If the place you’re buying a bike from allows you to, you may want to give the bike you’re eyeing a test ride before you take it home.
Bike Versatility
Make sure that your handlebars keep you at a relatively moderate height and a decent posture and won’t add too much weight to your bike. These features allow for multiple hand positions, which will help you to use them in many different scenarios.
If you’re from an area like Boulder, Colorado where biking is almost as common as driving, you’re going to want a set of bike handlebars versatile enough for road biking, mountain biking, casual biking, and more. Otherwise, you might be spending thousands of dollars on several mounta bike handlebars, each of which can only be used for one purpose.
You can use some tricks to adapt handlebars to make them more versatile after you buy them. But generally, there isn’t much you can do in this regard.
Bike Leverage
Bikes work by using the energy of your legs’ circular movement on the pedals and converting it into forward movement. The faster you pedal, the quicker the gears connected to your bike’s back tire move, and the faster your bike moves. If you use a higher gear, your bike will require less rapid movement to go faster.
However, while your ability to pedal is related to aspects such as your cardiovascular fitness, your leg strength, and more, it also relates to your positioning on the bike. If you’re positioned low to the ground, you’ll have less leverage and power when pushing your bike’s pedals. If you’re higher on the bike, the opposite is true.
Bike Aerodynamics
For most people, aerodynamics isn’t the most important thing when purchasing handlebars. But if you’re racing competitively or trying to make your bike as efficient as possible, you might want to consider aerodynamics.
When you bike, you create some degree of drag. As your body moves forward, it slams through air particles, causing at least some degree of resistance your body must overcome. Imagine dropping a feather from a building: If it weighed the same as a bowling ball, it would fall at the same rate of speed if not for air resistance slowing down the feather.
The handlebars on your bike determine the degree of air resistance your body’s posture creates and the resistance the bike itself creates.
Bike Control
While bike width and rise can impact your degree of control, these aren’t the only factors that can do so. Other factors include suspension, tire quality, and break quality. Control is important, as being unable to stop or lose control over certain terrain is dangerous.
Think about how easy or difficult it is to move the front tire, how easy it is to lift your tires, and how easy it is to stop. Certain handlebars are designed to give you extra control, while others don’t. A lot of the need for control relates to your level of skill and personal preference, but the handlebars play a major role in this regard.
Bike Handlebar Material
The type of material you use for your bike handlebars is likewise essential. It impacts your bike’s weight, balance, durability, and many aspects relating to aerodynamics, control, and more.
Four kinds of materials are used to build bike handlebars: aluminum alloys, steel, carbon fiber, and titanium. The material you select is often a matter of cost and personal preference, but each offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum Alloy Handlebars
Aluminum alloy is one of the most common materials for handlebars. They’re considered the “medium quality” among all the different materials. When purchasing handlebars, you must consider cost, strength, durability, and weight. Aluminum alloy handlebars are advantageous because they’re relatively affordable, durable, strong, and lightweight.
Now, while this might make you think that aluminum alloy handlebars are the best material, this isn’t necessarily the case. Their lightness and durability help to keep them in decent condition for long periods. As a result, you rarely need to replace them.
But depending on the type of biking you’re doing, you may want more durable metal.
For example, if you’re partaking in BMX biking, aluminum alloy handlebars might not be best for you. Additionally, if competing in road races and want to cut as much weight as possible, you might choose a different kind of handlebar. However, if you’re just stepping your foot into cycling, aluminum alloy handlebars are a great start.
Steel Handlebars
Steel handlebars are similar to aluminum because they’re incredibly cheap and durable. Steel is the least expensive material used in biking parts, so opting for steel handlebars over something like carbon fiber can save you a lot of money.
However, steel handlebars are also very heavy. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Handlebars that are too heavy for your bike can mess up its balance, making it hard to control, slow to break, and all around less comfortable to ride. Additionally, steel handlebars can put a lot of excess weight on your front tire, making it more prone to wear and tear.
Fortunately, steel handlebars are relatively uncommon among handlebar producers. If you do see steel handlebars, they’re most likely designed for BMX bikes. This makes a lot of sense because BMX bikes take a lot of hard hits, and steel is the most durable handlebar material. Unless you plan on falling often and putting your bike under rough conditions, you can probably make do without steel as a material for your handlebars.
Carbon Fiber Handlebars
If steel is inexpensive and durable, carbon fiber is expensive and somewhat flimsy. That’s not to say that the material is poorly produced; in fact, the opposite is true. Carbon fiber is designed to have a small amount of flex, so you can actually adapt the handlebars to take the exact shape and pattern you want.
Additionally, carbon fiber is incredibly light. Some carbon fiber handlebars are about as light as aluminum handlebars. This is perfect if you’re trying to increase your aerodynamics and increase speed on long-distance races.
Unfortunately, carbon fiber handlebars aren’t durable at all. While other bikes can take scratches, gashes, bends, and breaks, bikes with carbon bars can’t. In fact, a scratch across a small part of the handlebars can damage the structural integrity of the entire unit. In other words, carbon fiber shouldn’t be used if you’re just getting into the sport.
That said, I like these RXL SL Carbon Mountain Bike Handlebars (available on Amazon.com). The handlebars are designed to help you maintain good posture and reduce discomfort while you’re traveling on challenging terrain. Plus, you can install them without the help of a professional, making them handy for when your handlebars break down in the middle of the road and you need to make a last-minute switch.
Titanium Handlebars
Compared to steel and carbon fiber, titanium is more durable and more expensive but lighter. Titanium combines all of the aspects you love in carbon fiber handlebars with the durability of steel. They’re strong, long-lasting, and light.
Titanium handlebars can be used for any kind of riding. Whether you’re road biking, racing, or mountain biking, titanium’s durability and lightness give you the tools you need to accomplish your biking goals. Additionally, titanium is used in almost every bike handlebar except for BMX. That way, you can combine the material you need with the handlebar you want.
If you are an all-around biker who wants to invest in a nicer set of handlebars with some versatility, titanium is for you.
Types of Bike Handlebars
Now that you know what to look for in a bike handlebar and its materials, it’ll be much easier to go through some of the most common types of handlebars, their pros and cons, and whether they suit you.
Flat Handlebars
Flat bike handlebars, as their name implies, are easily identifiable by their relatively flat shape. Flat handlebars rise slightly from the center toward the rider. In some cases, however, they’re almost a perfectly straight pipe attached to the bike’s front tire.
Flat bars are highly versatile, allowing for multiple hand positions and giving you the ability to attach accessories to the bars or hang things off of them. Additionally, a flat bar provides a lot of control and is generally comfortable.
Flat handlebars aren’t great when you’re going on an incline because it can be hard to shift your weight. They also don’t get high marks in the aerodynamics department.
Flat handlebars are the way to go if you’re a casual road bike user or a beginner. But if you’re a mountain biker or racer, you may want to reconsider. Flat bars are the standard for your typical road bike handlebar.
Drop Handlebars
Drop bars are one of the most popular kinds of handlebars on road bikes and other bikes used on flat surfaces. Unlike flat handlebars, they’re highly aerodynamic and stylish.
Drop bars are designed with a large curve or hook shape where you place your hands that face toward or away from the biker, depending on the set. These designs are called “regular” and “reverse,” respectively. Other than the multiple hand positions, the bars are pretty flat to the base.
Because of their design, drop handlebars make it easier for racers or road bikers to get into a “tucked” position. This makes both the bike and your body far more aerodynamic and all-around more comfortable.
If you’re focused on comfort for racing, these are going to be some of the best handlebars for you. On the other hand, you lose some control and versatility, so these aren’t great for mountain biking or other non-road conditions.
Riser Handlebars
Riser bike handlebars are similar to flat handlebars, except they significantly go up from the center. This slight change makes them act very differently from a flat bar. Riser bars give you far better control in your precision of turns and in your ability to lift the bike, so they work well for rough terrain.
Riser bars also gets high marks in leverage, comfort, and versatility. This is because they help you maintain a comfortable posture and wrist position. Unfortunately, they can also cause incredible drag, so if aerodynamics is important to you, give this one a pass.
Otherwise, there are reasons riser bars are a crowd favorite. They’re great for any kind of training and can be helpful for kids to improve their posture when biking.
One good brand of handlebar is the BW Riser Handlebar (available on Amazon.com). The handlebars look basic enough, but the aluminum alloy construction makes it easier to maneuver.
Bullhorn Handlebars
For whatever reason, bullhorn handlebars seem to be popular on stationary bikes, though you can find them on other types of bikes. These handlebars have a lot of gripping space and are fairly comfortable. (In case you don’t know what these are, drop by your local gym.)
Bullhorn handlebars look like drop handlebars, albeit with a small protrusion on the top that looks like a horn coming out of the curve, hence their name. The protrusion gives you a place to put your hands and rest your arms on the curves. Aside from being comfortable, these handlebars are very aerodynamic and provide great leverage to really get up to higher speeds on your bike.
However, these often aren’t the best for mountain biking because they’re somewhat big. They can easily get hooked on plants, trees, or other obstacles you might be pedaling around.
Cruiser Handlebars
Picture the stereotypical bicycle you might see in a movie or cartoon, the one with the little girl biking on a bright pink bicycle holding a balloon. Remember those handlebars that look like a giant “u” protruding from the top of the bike? They’re cruiser handlebars.
Cruiser handlebars are designed primarily for comfort. They allow you to sit in an upright position on the bike as you pedal your way down the road. With lots of gripping room and the tops of the bars rising up, there’s very little you need to do to ride a bike with cruiser handlebars.
However, cruiser bars aren’t aerodynamic or versatile. You also can’t get much leverage with them. Cruiser bars are far too big for mountain biking, and while they could be used for road biking, they just don’t make sense for these purposes. Overall, cruiser bars are not as versatile and will only really be seen on dedicated cruiser bikes.
Aero/Racing Handlebars
Aero handlebars, also called triathlon, time trial (TT), or racing handlebars, are the most common type of bike handlebars within the racing community. True to their name, aero handlebars are designed to be incredibly aerodynamic.
The handlebars are two short posts incredibly close together designed to keep your weight centered and make your body as small as possible.
These handlebars create small armrests for you to rest on as you speed down the racecourse. These handlebars are comfortable, aerodynamic, and give you great leverage. However, they lack versatility and control. Their vertical nature makes short, sharp turns hard to initiate, and your center of gravity must shift with the tire’s direction.
Though great for racing, they are potentially dangerous in less-than-ideal conditions and hard to use when climbing any incline. Unless you’re in a road race, avoid these handlebars.
BMX Handlebars
BMX biking has grown to be incredibly popular over the last forty years. BMX, an acronym for bicycle motor cross, involves biking over uneven and rugged surfaces, doing tricks, flips, and, in many cases, some hard falls.
BMX handlebars are designed to be extremely durable and are often rather heavy. They aren’t ideal for mountain or road biking, but can’t be beaten if you’re hoping to do any tricks.
BMX handlebars have a similar shape to cruiser handlebars but are thicker, rise higher, and have a cross beam in the center to help support the handlebars. BMX handlebars have great control and can easily be used to help lift tires or make sharp turns. When it comes to aerodynamics, the handlebars create a lot of draft and aren’t the most comfortable.
If you don’t like plain black BMX handlebars, go with the KLT BMX Bike Handlebar (available on Amazon.com). Aside from its colorful looks, its chromium molybdenum steel construction ensures that it’ll last for quite a while. The only downside to this is that it might draw too much attention from others on the road — but then, you do you, friend!
Butterfly Handlebars
Butterfly handlebars are perfect for you if you’re someone who often goes on long backing tracks. Butterfly handlebars look similar to drop handlebars, but instead of having the curves facing parallel to your body, they face outward to make a long and wide frame.
Butterfly handlebars are extremely comfortable as there are many kinds of grip positions, arm resting positions, and the ability to move shifters and hand brakes on the handlebar. Butterfly handlebars are very similar to flat or riser handlebars: They’re comfortable, versatile, and provide decent leverage.
Butterfly handlebars don’t provide as much control as other handlebars, but certainly provide enough that you won’t feel in danger. Butterfly handlebars aren’t very aerodynamic, but this doesn’t matter as much on a long ride.
Mustache Handlebars
Mustache handlebars aren’t nearly as common as the other handlebars listed but are still worth mentioning. As you can imagine, mustache handlebars look similar to a mustache. They’re essentially drop handlebars that have been flattened so the “u” shape is upright.
Mustache handlebars provide a lot of gripping space. They are highly versatile since you can use the arms to hang materials and provide decent control.
Unfortunately, they aren’t very aerodynamic nor provide a lot of leverage. Mustache handlebars can also be uncomfortable depending on their positioning and how far you may need to stretch to use them.
Considering their qualities, mustache handlebars aren’t very practical. But if you’re looking for novelty, mustache handlebars might be for you.
Ape Hanger Handlebars
Similar to mustache handlebars, ape hanger handlebars score low in the utility department. They’re uncomfortable, not versatile, not aerodynamic, and provide limited leverage. While they do provide some control, they’re unnecessary in almost every case.
The only real advantage to using an ape hanger handlebar is that they look fun.
Ape hanger handlebars resemble a cruiser handlebar but with far more rise. Many of them reach up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) above the center connection, making it so that most cyclists’ hands are up near their shoulders. While this is fine on a motorcycle, this isn’t very good for a regular bicycle.
It’s important to note, however, that some jurisdictions have restricted or prohibited the use of these handlebars. If you really want to use these, make sure you check with your local authorities first.
Recumbent Handlebars
Recumbent handlebars are specially designed handlebars meant to be used with recumbent bikes. These bikes change the seating position of cyclists so they’re in a semi-reclined position rather than an upright position. This allows people who want a more comfortable ride or those who may be injured or disabled to cycle without putting pressure on their back or neck.
Recumbent handlebars can’t be easily adapted to be used on a regular bike. As a result, recumbent handlebars aren’t very versatile, though they’re very comfortable, have great control, and are highly accessible for those who might not be able to use a regular upright bike.
Final Thoughts
Most bike handlebars differ in width, rise, backsweep, comfort, versatility, leverage, aerodynamics, and control.
Ultimately, deciding which handlebar to use is a matter of personal preference. However, there are some instances in which you might want to avoid certain handlebars and choose others. Try to go for a bike that provides comfort, versatility, leverage, and control if you’re unsure what you need.
