MTB Handlebar size, pros/cons

Q.' LostVideos-AT-hotmail.com said:

Right now, the OEM bar on my bike is approx. 23" (584mm) wide. It's a bit uncomfortable for me ...
I have very wide shoulders for my size and my hands feel like they're way too close together.

What are the pros and cons between wider vs. narrower handlebars? I'm 6" tall, about 185 pounds and
I don't ride too extreme, but almost always off road. Bike is plain ol' 26" dual susp. X frame MTB
with Judy TT 80mm up front (Vanilla Rx back) and 2.10" tires.

Thanks,
C.Q.C.

The main con with wider bars is not being able to fit them between obstacles on very technical
singletrack or at trail heads. Your bike will feel slower at turning due to the fact that you have
to move the arms more for the same radius turn, or you can think of it as more precision. 🙂. You
should do what feels best to you on the bike, if you are uncomfortable with 23", go wider.

I have wide shoulders and use 27 inch bars - go for it. Getting between trees isn't much of an issue
- for every inch wider the bar is, it sticks out 1/2 inch on each side - can you pass a tree within
1/2 inch? Also, no matter what width bars you have, the best protection against trees are bar ends
that curve inward - they fend off the tree and protect your hands.

RE/

Quoted message said:

What are the pros and cons between wider vs. narrower handlebars? I'm 6" tall, ab

I'm wide too. Had wide bars, then trimmed them down to about 23" so the bike would fit through
narrower spaces.

Now I'm back to 26" and like the feel much better.

--
PeteCresswell