What Are Bike Bar Ends and What Are The Advantages of Having Them?
Bar ends are most commonly found in the mountain bike sector. But touring and city bikes are also sometimes equipped with them. Essentially, bicycle bar ends are small extensions to the handlebar grips that provide additional grip options. The extra grips make your handlebars wider for more control and stability. The additional grip option also relieves the strain on your hands as you don’t have to stay in the same riding position. Bar ends can therefore sometimes prevent pressure points and even numbness. That’s why not only off-road cyclists but touring cyclists, too, like to equip their bikes with handlebar bar ends.
Handlebar Bar End – The Advantages at a Glance
- Bar ends offer an additional grip option on the handlebars.
- They can also provide relief for your hands and thus prevent pressure points or numbness.
- Bar ends offer more control and stability by widening the handlebars.
What Different Models of Bar Ends Are Available?
Bar ends are available in different designs and materials. Most models are made of plastic or aluminium. However, some manufacturers also offer bar ends in carbon, which can reduce the bike’s weight even further. Choosing the right material is therefore first and foremost a question of personal taste and individual requirements. That’s why you can find a large selection of different bar ends at BIKE24 to suit your taste and purpose.
What Should You Look for When Buying Bicycle Bar Ends?
There are a few points to consider when buying bar ends. First of all, it is important that the bar ends are suitable for the rest of your bike. So make sure the bar ends are either suitable for the type of handlebars on your bike or for compatible handlebars. The diameter of the steerer tube on which the bar ends are to be attached is key here. You should also make sure that the bar ends are neither too long nor too short. Otherwise they will either protrude too far from the handlebars and so not offer optimal support, or they will interfere with riding.
It is also important that the bar ends are well made, high quality and correctly fitted. So make absolutely sure that the bar ends do not have any sharp edges and that the fastening screws are tightened to the correct torque.
What Do I Need Know When Installing MTB Bar Ends?
This brings us to the question of how to install your bar ends. Most bar ends are very easy to attach to the handlebars and remove again. This means you can attach or detach the bar ends at any time – depending on whether you need them or not. Most models need to be screwed on to the handlebars. Make sure that the screws are tight enough to prevent the bar ends from slipping when cycling. You should also ensure that the bar ends are mounted symmetrically on the handlebars. The left bar end should be mounted at the same angle on the handlebar as the right bar end.
Bar Ends on the Bike – Summary
- Bar ends are part of the bike cockpit and are mainly mounted on mountain bikes, e-mountain bikes, touring bikes and city bikes.
- Bar ends offer an additional grip option on the handlebars.
- This additional grip option can offer you more comfort as well as more control on your tours.
- Bar ends come in a variety of shapes and materials. Which bar ends are right for you depends on your bike and your personal use of it.
- Bar ends are usually screwed to the handlebars. You should follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly when installing them.