In search of better ergonomics, I scoured the Interweb to explore my options. I got rid of the OEM handlebars long ago, and I've been using Renthal CR high bend bars, made a little higher with a 6 fat washers loaded under the bar clamps (and longer bolts). It was an improvement, but I couldn't help but feel the handlebars needed to be moved forward (not just higher). I was also interested in getting rid of the cross-bar. Riding on the road, comfort was fine. Rather, the improvement I was hoping to achieve was for those times I am standing on the pegs wrestling the bike over rocky trails. I especially noticed this on steep uphill climbs.
So, after much research I placed an order from
RockyMountainATV for a pair of 2" Rox Risers and a set of YZ bend Tusk Chub Big Bars 1 1/8" fat bars. It was about $125 for both items. I ordered the Rox Risers that clamp into my existing 7/8" bar clamps, but they have 1 1/8" mounts for fat bars. Going to fat bars would achieve my goal of eliminating the cross bar that is standard on 7/8" aluminum bars.
The Rox Risers allow for plenty of adjustability. You can pivot these suckers at any angle you like in the stock bar clamps. Before mounting them, I removed my ghetto risers (the fat washers), and re-installed the original bolts.
I installed the Rox Risers in quite a forward position, then I mounted the new Tusk fat bars. Feels nice. And standing on the pegs, I don't feel like I'm fighting against my own bodyweight when climbing treacherous rocky hills.
In order to fit the Moose Racing Contour aluminum handguards I've been using with the old 7/8" Renthal bars, I had to order Moose clamps to fit fat bars. Reluctantly, I did so from my local dealer. At $50...just for the inner clamps! I think I paid $60 for the handguard set which included the guards, plastic deflectors, and the 7/8" clamps. Oh well. It's done and my handguards are now mounted.
These fat bars are nice and wide at 31.6". The stock bars are about 29.5" and the Renthals I've been using are about 30.5". The new fat bars feel nice riding around town, and riding off-road the steering feels light. Better control for sure. The YZ bend is pretty flat and low compared to the CR or KX bends. I was afraid of going too high since the Rox Risers add 2", plus the YZ bars don't have too much pull-back,
RockyMountainATV had a good reference guide on their site. Here's the low down:
Easton EXP
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| CR High Bend | 31.50" | 3.70" | 2.40" |
| CR Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.20" | 2.20" |
| Carmichael Bend | 31.50" | 3.00" | 2.20" |
| Henry/Reed Bend | 31.50" | 3.60" | 2.20" |
| RM Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.90" | 2.10" |
Fly Racing Aluma-Steel
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV F Bend | 29.76" | 5.51" | 4.05" |
| CR High Bend | 31.34" | 3.50" | 2.12" |
| Kawasaki/Suzuki Bend | 31.49" | 2.79" | 2.16" |
| Mini Bend | 29.13" | 3.77" | 1.65" |
| Vintage Bend | 33.07" | 6.77" | 3.54" |
| Yamaha Bend | 31.61" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
MSR Carbon Steel
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV High Bend | 31.50" | 6.00" | 3.94" |
| ATV Low Bend | 31.00" | 4.00" | 3.62" |
| CR High Bend | 31.63" | 4.50" | 3.80" |
| CR Low Bend | 32.13" | 3.63" | 3.50" |
| CR Mid Bend | 32.25" | 4.25" | 3.38" |
| KX High Bend | 31.50" | 4.25" | 3.07" |
| KX Low Bend | 31.88" | 3.25" | 3.38" |
| Mini High Bend | 28.50" | 4.60" | 2.36" |
| Mini Low Bend | 28.13" | 3.71" | 2.36" |
| RM High Bend | 31.88" | 3.75" | 4.13" |
| YZ High Bend | 32.25" | 3.88" | 3.75" |
| YZ Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.64" | 2.76" |
Pro-Taper Contour
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV High Bend | 31.50" | 4.75" | 2.17" |
| ATV Low Bend | 31.50" | 3.74" | 2.37" |
| ATV Mid Bend | 31.50" | 4.25" | 2.21" |
| CR High Bend | 31.50" | 3.74" | 2.37" |
| CR Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.23" | 2.24" |
| Carmichael Bend | 31.50" | 3.00" | 2.17" |
| Factory Suzuki/KTM Bend | 31.50" | 3.63" | 1.85" |
| Henry/Reed Bend | 31.50" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
| KX High Bend | 31.50" | 4.25" | 2.21" |
| Mini High Bend | 30.50" | 3.74" | 2.00" |
| Mini Low Bend | 30.50" | 2.80" | 1.85" |
| Pastrana FMX Bend | 30.50" | 4.75" | 2.17" |
| Pastrana MX/RM Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.91" | 2.17" |
| Raptor Bend | 30.30" | 5.64" | 3.41" |
| Universal Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.80" | 2.17" |
| Windham MX/RM Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.90" | 2.13" |
| Woods High Bend | 30.50" | 3.74" | 2.45" |
| Woods Low Bend | 30.50" | 2.80" | 2.37" |
| YZ High Bend | 31.50" | 3.31" | 2.05" |
Pro-Taper EVO
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| Carmichael Bend | 31.50" | 3.0" | 2.17" |
| CR High Bend | 31.50" | 3.74" | 2.45" |
| Henry/Reed Bend | 31.50" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
| RM Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.91" | 2.17" |
| Windham/RM Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.90" | 2.13" |
| Woods High Bend | 31.50" | 3.74" | 2.56" |
| YZ High Bend | 31.50" | 3.31" | 2.05" |
Pro-Taper SE
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV Low Bend | 32.00" | 5.50" | 3.30" |
| ATV Mid Bend | 32.00" | 5.90" | 3.00" |
| ATV High Bend | 32.00" | 6.30" | 3.94" |
| Carmichael Bend | 31.50" | 3.00" | 2.17" |
| CR Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.80" | 2.68" |
| CR Mid Bend | 31.50" | 3.23" | 2.36" |
| CR High Bend | 31.50" | 3.74" | 2.45" |
| Factory Suzuki Bend | 32.00" | 3.63" | 1.85" |
| Henry/Reed Bend | 31.50" | 3.70" | 2.17" |
| Honda Mini Bend | 28.75" | 4.60" | 1.97" |
| KTM 50 Bend | 25.50" | 3.15" | 1.75" |
| KX Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.80" | 2.36" |
| KX High Bend | 32.00" | 4.25" | 3.07" |
| Kawasaki Mini Bend | 28.75" | 3.71" | 1.97" |
| Raptor Bend | 30.30" | 5.63" | 3.41" |
| RM Low Bend | 32.00" | 2.91" | 2.17" |
| RM High Bend | 31.50" | 3.23" | 2.87" |
| School Boy High Bend | 28.10" | 3.46" | 1.77" |
| School Boy Low Bend | 28.10" | 3.07" | 1.85" |
| Suzuki Mini Bend | 28.75" | 4.00" | 1.97" |
| Windham/RM Mid Bend | 32.00" | 3.90" | 2.13" |
| XR50 Bend | 28.50" | 6.75" | 1.75" |
| YZ Low Bend | 31.50" | 2.64" | 2.76" |
| YZ High Bend | 31.50" | 3.31" | 2.05" |
| Yamaha Mini Bend | 28.75" | 3.90" | 2.28" |
Renthal Bar
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV Honda/Suzuki/Kawaszki Bend | 31.10" | 5.59" | 3.54" |
| ATV Race Bend | 30.51" | 4.72" | 2.68" |
| Banshee Bend | 30.51" | 5.90" | 3.93" |
| 89-91 CR Bend | 31.29" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| CR Bend | 31.30" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| CR Mini Bend | 29.13" | 3.78" | 2.68" |
| CRF 150R Bend | 30.7" | 5.43" | 1.65" |
| Fourtrax Bend | 30.31" | 6.30" | 3.86" |
| KTM Mini Racer Bend | 25.28" | 3.31" | 1.73" |
| KX Bend | 31.69" | 3.66" | 2.17" |
| KX Mini Bend | 26.57" | 3.54" | 2.68" |
| KX/RM Mini Bend | 28.82" | 3.94" | 2.48" |
| LT-R 450 Bend | 31.65" | 3.50" | 3.23" |
| Mini Carmichael/Allessi Bend | 29.13" | 4.65" | 1.65" |
| Mini Racer Bend | 30.20" | 6.06" | 2.76" |
| Raptor 700 Bend | 31.10" | 5.55" | 3.54" |
| Raptor Bend | 30.90" | 5.51" | 3.94" |
| RM Bend | 32.05" | 3.11" | 2.32" |
| RMZ Bend | 31.42" | 2.91" | 2.28" |
| Suzuki Quadracer Bend | 30.31" | 4.72" | 3.62" |
| XR250/600 Bend | 31.30" | 3.27" | 2.95" |
| 04-05 YFZ 450 Bend | 30.43" | 4.33" | 3.82" |
| 06 YFZ 450 Bend | 30.70" | 4.17" | 3.46" |
| YZ Mini Bend | 28.74" | 4.06" | 2.32" |
| YZ/WR Bend | 31.61" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
Renthal Fat Bars
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV Bend | 31.29" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| CR High | 31.29" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| Carmichael High | 31.57" | 4.49" | 2.13" |
| R. Carmichael | 31.57" | 3.89" | 2.12" |
| J. McGrath | 31.61" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
| KFX 450R Bend | 30.26" | 3.78" | 2.83" |
| Mini Bend | 29.13" | 4.65" | 1.65" |
| Universal Low | 31.41" | 3.15" | 2.24" |
Renthal Rider Bar
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| Carmichael/Windham | 31.57" | 3.90" | 2.13" |
| J. Button-High Bend | 31.77" | 4.33" | 2.63" |
| McGrath/Lusk/Stewart | 31.61" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
Renthal Twinwall
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| CR High Bend | 31.29" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| Jeff Emig Bend | 31.69" | 3.66" | 2.16" |
| Jeremy McGrath Bend | 31.69" | 3.26" | 2.16" |
| Kevin Windham Bend | 31.61" | 3.62" | 2.24" |
| Ricky Carmichael Bend | 31.57" | 3.89" | 2.12" |
| YZ Bend | 31.92" | 3.34" | 1.41" |
Tag T2
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| Cary Hart | 31.50" | 3.31" | 2.05" |
| Factory | 31.50" | 3.62" | 1.85" |
| Ricky Carmichael | 31.50" | 3.03" | 2.05" |
| Stewart | 31.50" | 3.31" | 2.05" |
Trail Tech ATV X-Bar
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| Low Bend | 31.10" | 3.27" | 2.44" |
| Mid Bend | 31.10" | 3.74" | 2.44" |
| High Bend | 31.10" | 4.21" | 2.44" |
Tusk Chub Big Bar
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV High Bend | 31.5" | 4.75" | 2.41" |
| CR High Bend | 31.5" | 3.75" | 2.45" |
| MX Race Bend | 31.6" | 2.8" | 2.25" |
| YZ Bend | 31.6" | 3.5" | 2.38" |
Tusk T-10
| Bend | Width | Height | Pull Back |
|---|
| ATV Sport Model Bend | 31.75" | 6.25" | 3.50" |
| CR High Bend | 32.00" | 3.75" | 3.00" |
| CR Mid Bend | 32.00" | 3.50" | 2.50" |
| KX High Bend | 32.25" | 4.00" | 3.00" |
| Mini High Bend | 29.13" | 4.50" | 2.75" |
| Raptor Bend | 31.50" | 6.25" | 4.00" |
| YZ High Bend | 32.00" | 3.50" | 3.00" |
