A decade ago mountain bikers might have been skeptical about running carbon-fiber ‘bars, but they are now a standard bit of build kit, on most premium bike models. Beast Components seek to address a structural problem that still exists with its new Carbon 2.0 handlebar.
Riders might no longer be concerned about the best MTB handlebars failing under load, when pinging through a technical rock garden or landing a big drop, but clamping stress remains an issue.
Even with meticulous torque wrench use, there is a possibility that shifter, lever and trigger controls can damage your handlebar. And it has to do with the pursuit of extreme lightweighting and unevenness of the clamping forces.
Some clamps remove additional material to save a few academic grams, with the result being a surface contact area that can leverage excess stress onto your carbon-fiber handlebar.
Taking the edge off clamping carbon
The staff at Beast Components have a deep understanding of composite design. Its design staff are graduates of engineering at Dresden’s technical university. Composite lightweighting is what they obsess about, with great technical literacy and access to the latest research.
Applying this knowledge to the issue of asymmetric clamping and pinching forces on carbon-fiber handlebars, Beast Components have reinforced their designs with a polyester mesh, at the clamping area.
The mass penalty is 20g, but you gain superior fatigue strength and a handlebar that can absorb double the conventional clamping forces – without cracking. Perfect for those DIY mechanics who naughtily guess fastening torque by feel, instead of always using a calibrated torque wrench.
Beast is offering its 2.0 carbon-fiber handlebar design in a selection of sizes. The flatbar has 5mm of rise and is available in 740- or 780mm of width. Weight? The 740mm is only 172g.
If you want a Beast Components riser bar for enduro or DH riding, there are both 31.8- and 35mm bore options. Riders can select 15-, 25- or 35mm of rise, with widths from 740- or 800mm. Weight ranges between 167- and 217g.
Pricing starts at €219.90 for the Beast Riser Bar [2.0] in a UD-Finish black, with the SQ-Finish black and UD- and SQ-Finish colored variations retailing for €239.90 and €290.90
The full range of 2.0 handlebars is available from Beastcomponents.com.
