Dirt bike handlebar sweep, height, width and why it matters in motocross
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- I go over why handle bar height, width and sweep are important to tall riders and the set up might not work the same for shorter riders in motocross. I go over why sweep can benefit or hurt your technique. Also, an indicator if that your handlebars might be too low for your height.
Music: Neffex
Song: Light it up
I raced in the 80's and 90's, when the bars were rotated lower to the rider, with the grip ends pointing down a bit, and the lever pointing down. It is mush easier to keep you elbows up, when the bars are lower, and you wrists straight with the levers down a bit. I say we have adopted the freestyle set up for MX, high bars for leg trick clearance. The high bars and level levers make it harder to keep the elbows up and your wrists straight in line with your finger angle,---but the tracks are smoother and they get away with it. Look at the pros exiting corners with their throttle elbow to their waste almost. They also do not "re-grip" the throttle anymore to keep the elbow from dropping. I think the riding position has moved forward so they moved the bars forward, and it may be a good set up for SX rhythm sections, but the high bars for me, make it harder to feel the corners when entering them, and feel sketchy on flatter ground. Everybody seems to need a berm to turn a bike today. Since the rider position is more forward today, that teased the "rake and trail" of the front end, (Have seen Jett crash because of that). So to offset that, the rear sag has gone from 100mm to 105mm, to get that front end trail back. Now I took 18 years off riding and picked up a 2019 YZ250 2-stroke. I tried the new set up for 2 seasons, and went back to 1990. (plus I lowered the bike at the seat 1" and the suspension .75" because that bike is stupid tall).
Luckily, the bike geometry is about the same today as it was in the early 80's, and you can try both set up's to see which you like. Personally, I see no real "reasoning" for today's high bar set up with level levers. My bike is sooooooooooooooeasy to ride now. Drops into a corner well. Doug in Michigan
I am 5"9" tall. Tall riders did move their bars more forward in the rational days, but not past the grips being level, (ends not pointing up). Plus, if you are standing on the ground, with your arms at your side relaxed, then raise your arms with the shoulders only, you can see you hands are twisted a bit, closer to the old set up that was called "ergonomic". I suspect wrist injuries are higher today.
@@EarthSurferUSA yeah, everyone needs to find what works best for them. I'm 6' and have recently rolled my Mika sx bars back to -1. I feel like it helps me turn better, but makes it a little more cramped standing up. I'd say neutral is always the starting point and you can go from there, but some people take it way too far. I'm on a Yamaha now and switched from my ktm bend to the sx bend. I find certain bars pair well with certain bikes too
Im 6’9 and struggle on my 2011 kx250 I raised the seat and added bar risers but the bars feel so far back when I’m standing so thank you this helped a lot!
Thanks! This is the best explanation of different bends and why you should pick a certain one. I have often wondered which bend would be best and searched for an answer. Thanks for finally giving one. I'm an older woods rider. I know I have poor form and could use some coaching. I have been working hard on keeping elbows up but I am not always successful.
Thank you and Glad I could help. Bars make a big difference, especially if you are taller or shorter. There’s no way they can design the bike for everyone, so I think they target the 5’6” to 5’10” range.
Kind of like front wheel trail, I have a notion that my hands want some trail behind the steering stem. The bars are so high today, the hands are almost in line with the steering stem, and I suspect that makes the front end feel twitchy. I have not been able to prove it with math, but to me, the steering feels more stable when the bar end are behind the steering stem, like the trail behind the tire contact patch, a "self centering" feeling. I wish I could prove it with math, (tinkered a bit), but it has been decades since I did much math. It might get pretty complicated.
I run mine at -1 on my Yamaha (Mika sx bend). When other riders ride my bike they always say they can't ride it because the bars are too far back, I ask how that makes it worse, and they never say why. I feel like rolled back helps cornering. I don't like coming into a corner and feeling like I'm reaching in front of the forks.
What factor to consider is -the position of the footpegs; some you can go back -5mm or -10mm on the bike. This allow more room..Some of pros go with this setup to have also better foot control ovet the rear end of the bike Sexton; Tomac etc
I am not sure it is for more room, as it would change the weight bias of the bike when standing. Going rearward would put more weight on the back wheel when standing, so the adjustable pegs give you the option. It is something you can test for yourself, and you can always go back.
When I ride straight bars with little sweep puts my my elbows up my shoulders hurt like heck. The added sweep prevents shoulder pain for me.
Sometimes you have to adjust around past injuries. I love the Steg Pegz, but I have a bad right knee, when it flares up, I have to take them off until my knee feels good again.
Ktm high has about lowest sweep I've found. 6ft tall.
Thx, this video was super helpful. U are the man 👊
Great stuff Billy 🙌🏼💪🏼
Thanks Scott!
Quality vid. Great information
Thank you!
5'8 to 6'1
800/805 length
Height 87 mm/88mm.
Rise 53/55ish
Sweep 52/55ish
Best in my opinion is Pro taper Evo.
I'm 5'4 Im currently running the pro circuit Reed signature bend. I run it at -1 and I'm extremely comfortable & not really having any elbow issues. Still I know nothing about bars I'm just a reed fan so I got them. Any advice is welcome, thanks
@@House_of_Zodd if you like them and aren't uncomfortable, then I don't see any problem with that. If they are messing with your form or riding, then you can reevaluate
Sorry for the dissertation! Here's one thing I've learned....You can go absolutely looney when shopping for bar bends! hahaha
Haha yes, and waste a lot of money!
Dope channel / subscribed!!!
@@yodavizion thank you!
What worked for a few of my friends is if you are tall you have longer arms so you don’t want tall bars they went lower and and higher more sweep for short T-Rex arms. Lol
Exactly, this thing about tall riders automatically needing risers or tall bars is nonsense, the overall body proportion matters. Also I think taller riders like a lazier (more stood up or comfortable) attack position, but is detrimental to cornering.
I've been experimenting with bars height and sweep. On my motocross bikes I loved bars with minimum sweep for elbows up attack riding position. Now on hard enduro, prolonged steep rocky hills I don't seem to be able to get comfortable and take the "bike pull" away from my hands. Because I ride on rocky terrain, grabbing the bike with my knees is not really viable. I have 10mm further back, aftermarket pegs and I always ride on the ball of my feet. I've got the bar mounts on the forward position, turned back (they are eccentric). Im 1.81 (5'11") tall. Any recommendation on bar height/sweep, would be appreciated.
Does he ever mention the degree of bend in his repeated reference to sweep?