I'm completely stoked on my SQlab cockpit! I run the 30X 16-degree bar. I have wrist issues. I should say, I HAD wrist issues, from a bad MTB crash years ago. The 16-degree backsweep has 100% eliminated that problem. It took me 0 minutes to get accustomed to it and the same amount of time to love it. I chose the 711 MTB Tech and Trail Grip. I'm glad that I took the time to carefully measure my hands in accordance with SQlab's instructions. Even though large gloves are tight on me, I bought medium grips - so glad I did. Those grips are by far the best I've ever tried, and that includes three types of Ergon. The 711 give me the best bar control and no hand discomfort whatsoever. My saddle is the 611 Ergowave Non Active CrMo Saddle. It is the least expensive saddle that SQlab makes for how I ride. Again, I'm glad that I carefully measured my sit bones. I ended up with a size 13 (second-smallest) even though I'm 6'2" and over 200 pounds. The 611 is so good that I have been able to ditch the diaper pad. Wow! that makes riding so much better! Like the bar and the grips, this saddle is also the best, by far, that I have used. That makes a clean sweep for SQlab. I installed these SQlab components in the summer of 2019. I ride 3 or 4 days per week all year-round. They all still look like new in the winter of 2021.
Any hand numbing with the 16 degree 30x? I ride a 2019 Marlin and the factory bars are terrible. Just 2 miles around town on roads and my lifeline area between my thunb and index/middle finger gets tiff, numb and tingles. What degree of rise did you go with also?
@@xxLIBERTYorDETHxx The handlebar/grip combo that Trek installed on the 2019 Fuel EX was so bad that, based on the demo ride, I almost did not buy the bike. However, I have not experienced any problems with my SQlab handlebar/grip combo. I don't ever think about my hands and wrists anymore - there is no pain, no tingles, no fatigue, even after 3.5 hours of riding steep, technical trails. I don't know if that is due to the grips or due to the bar - my guess is that it's the combination. My bar has a 45mm rise. I would do that again, too. But I might not on a different bike. It would depend on how the dimensions of my body interact with the dimensions of the bike. Based on your description, you may have too much weight on your hands; a higher rise bar would alleviate that. If you are considering SQlab components, go to their website to get their recommendations. If you still have questions, give them a call. The man who helped me was friendly and helpful.
@@gatoryak7332 Thank you for the reply. Last Autumn I bought Ergon GD1 grips and I really like the cushion on them compared to the DMR Deathgrips I originally bought, but the Ergons, while helping a bit, didn't cure my issue. So next on my list is a bar with back sweep. I'm mostly just doing 4 mile runs around town for exercise and very mild trails.
Aaaaaaaaaaand yesterday I just picked up a 611 Ergowave saddle. It is a little odd how far back you are intended to sit on these BUT I found it pleasantly surprising how something about the fit made my lower back kind of “de-pressurize.” I have yet to do a trail ride on it yet but around the block felt pretty good. I’m anticipating that the combo of the bars and the saddle may be a game changer in terms of bike fit. I’m excited!
I exclusively use SQlab saddles and use the 711 grips and they are the best grips I have used. I use the 610 on my road bike and the 612/611 on my mountain bikes
Good review here, I’ve broken about 5 SQ Lab saddles at the rails even on the more expensive TI rails.. that said SQ labs saddles have been probably the best feeling saddle (while it’s straight) I’ve ever felt Ergonomics wise, but the fact that they flex underneath the sit bones 🦴 makes the saddle more prone to braking bending on big impacts or jumps and drops.. not the saddle you want to pay 150$+ for if you ride hard at all~ I wish they could make them more durable so that they wouldn’t keep braking on me and I only weigh about 165lbs so it’s not because I’m over the weight limit ☝🏼 Anywho nice video just wanted to share my 2cents for anyone looking for a saddle you can ride Hard on 😎🤘🏼
Dang I’m sorry to hear you’ve broken the seats! Thankfully I haven’t had that issue yet. I agree with you they are very comfortable.🙂 Thanks for your insight!
Fricken love the 16 degree sweep bars! Can really tell when I go back to more standard 7,9 degree etc. Instantly puts my elbows and wrists in a bad position.
Had the 16deg on my normal bike, go an Emtb, put on a 9 deg angle and my wrist are agony after a few mins of just messing around on the road outside my house. Will get the SQlabs again, just trying to decide between the 12 and the 16 deg, and the med or high rise. A lot of negative stuff about bike control suffering, but honestly, rider skill is about 99% of it, 1% being the bar shape. Great video btw, too the point and very informative.
@@FifeFlow I hard crash or have fallen off in 20-30 years of biking, done more stupid stuff in the last few months with my EMTB already then before! Maybe because it's easy to get places where you shouldn't really go!
Another option to look into is Flexxbars. I haven’t used them personally, but I have some friends that like them. They are a pretty penny, but they legit have suspension in the bars which is crazy!
Yea I'm a big guy 6'6 and 240+ and just haven't had any luck. Any time over 2hrs my hands are numb , I'll try them if they help thank you for the advice .
Great review - The 30mm rise looks pretty tame. I wish they had a 40 instead of a 45mm. Moving up from a 20mm rise to the 30mm even with the addition sweep doesn't seem like a big jump. Looking for more sweep and more upright riding position.
This video is great. Great information, and a great mix of camera angles. Speaking to the camera mixed with action voice-overs really make this video easy to watch.
I’ve been super impressed with their stuff. The bar to me is a big deal. I’ve used a bunch of them and noticed it was easy to use the 12 degree bar. Mostly realized how much I liked it when I rode a different bar after haha.
I've think the SQLab bars are great except for the stiffness. I got arm-pump with the alu bars. So I'm wondering, if the carbon bars are a bit more foregiving. Does anyone have experience with the carbon bar (compared to the alu one)? Are they more foregiving?
I want to try the 311 FLX 16 degree carbon bars on my XC/Gravel bike, but damn are they expensive. That and the Innerbarends. My wrists hurt on the ~8 degree Next bars on now.
Ordered which SQ lab item? I still have them all on my bike at the current moment, but the grips are on their last leg. They didn’t last too long so honestly I wouldn’t recommend their grips anymore. They were fine but they wore easily.
@@FifeFlow sorry I mean the SQlab high rise riser bars. 9 degree backsweep, 5 degree up sweep, 45mm rise. Dayuuuum! Can't ride em till my new frame arrives in friggin April 2021 though 😒
Yeah my husband tried the rev grips out and didn't end up loving them but not hating them here is a video of his thoughts if it helps - th-cam.com/video/BUyGzytdjSY/w-d-xo.html
I'm completely stoked on my SQlab cockpit! I run the 30X 16-degree bar. I have wrist issues. I should say, I HAD wrist issues, from a bad MTB crash years ago. The 16-degree backsweep has 100% eliminated that problem. It took me 0 minutes to get accustomed to it and the same amount of time to love it.
I chose the 711 MTB Tech and Trail Grip. I'm glad that I took the time to carefully measure my hands in accordance with SQlab's instructions. Even though large gloves are tight on me, I bought medium grips - so glad I did. Those grips are by far the best I've ever tried, and that includes three types of Ergon. The 711 give me the best bar control and no hand discomfort whatsoever.
My saddle is the 611 Ergowave Non Active CrMo Saddle. It is the least expensive saddle that SQlab makes for how I ride. Again, I'm glad that I carefully measured my sit bones. I ended up with a size 13 (second-smallest) even though I'm 6'2" and over 200 pounds. The 611 is so good that I have been able to ditch the diaper pad. Wow! that makes riding so much better! Like the bar and the grips, this saddle is also the best, by far, that I have used. That makes a clean sweep for SQlab.
I installed these SQlab components in the summer of 2019. I ride 3 or 4 days per week all year-round. They all still look like new in the winter of 2021.
That’s awesome! I’m glad that those components are working so well for you!
Any hand numbing with the 16 degree 30x? I ride a 2019 Marlin and the factory bars are terrible. Just 2 miles around town on roads and my lifeline area between my thunb and index/middle finger gets tiff, numb and tingles. What degree of rise did you go with also?
@@xxLIBERTYorDETHxx The handlebar/grip combo that Trek installed on the 2019 Fuel EX was so bad that, based on the demo ride, I almost did not buy the bike. However, I have not experienced any problems with my SQlab handlebar/grip combo. I don't ever think about my hands and wrists anymore - there is no pain, no tingles, no fatigue, even after 3.5 hours of riding steep, technical trails. I don't know if that is due to the grips or due to the bar - my guess is that it's the combination.
My bar has a 45mm rise. I would do that again, too. But I might not on a different bike. It would depend on how the dimensions of my body interact with the dimensions of the bike. Based on your description, you may have too much weight on your hands; a higher rise bar would alleviate that.
If you are considering SQlab components, go to their website to get their recommendations. If you still have questions, give them a call. The man who helped me was friendly and helpful.
@@gatoryak7332 Thank you for the reply. Last Autumn I bought Ergon GD1 grips and I really like the cushion on them compared to the DMR Deathgrips I originally bought, but the Ergons, while helping a bit, didn't cure my issue. So next on my list is a bar with back sweep. I'm mostly just doing 4 mile runs around town for exercise and very mild trails.
Aaaaaaaaaaand yesterday I just picked up a 611 Ergowave saddle. It is a little odd how far back you are intended to sit on these BUT I found it pleasantly surprising how something about the fit made my lower back kind of “de-pressurize.” I have yet to do a trail ride on it yet but around the block felt pretty good. I’m anticipating that the combo of the bars and the saddle may be a game changer in terms of bike fit. I’m excited!
I love the saddle! even though it doesn’t have a lot of cushion it is very comfortable. I am happy it’s working out for you!
I was considering the SQLAB saddle for my mountain bike but your video helped a lot thanks. I’ll stick with WTB Silverado.
I exclusively use SQlab saddles and use the 711 grips and they are the best grips I have used. I use the 610 on my road bike and the 612/611 on my mountain bikes
I really like their saddles. I don’t have their bars anymore but I still ride their seat!
@@FifeFlow Why did you abandon their bars? Did you find better bars?
Good review here, I’ve broken about 5 SQ Lab saddles at the rails even on the more expensive TI rails.. that said SQ labs saddles have been probably the best feeling saddle (while it’s straight) I’ve ever felt Ergonomics wise, but the fact that they flex underneath the sit bones 🦴 makes the saddle more prone to braking bending on big impacts or jumps and drops.. not the saddle you want to pay 150$+ for if you ride hard at all~
I wish they could make them more durable so that they wouldn’t keep braking on me and I only weigh about 165lbs so it’s not because I’m over the weight limit ☝🏼
Anywho nice video just wanted to share my 2cents for anyone looking for a saddle you can ride Hard on 😎🤘🏼
Dang I’m sorry to hear you’ve broken the seats! Thankfully I haven’t had that issue yet. I agree with you they are very comfortable.🙂 Thanks for your insight!
Fife & Flow Yea really do like the way they feel~ Only compliment was durability 😅👏🏼
Holy crap, man! Don't hit big impacts/jumps/drops with your butt on the saddle! Get up on your legs!
@@gatoryak7332 if you’ve ever jumped you should know shit doesn’t always go to plan.. lmao!
Fricken love the 16 degree sweep bars! Can really tell when I go back to more standard 7,9 degree etc. Instantly puts my elbows and wrists in a bad position.
Had the 16deg on my normal bike, go an Emtb, put on a 9 deg angle and my wrist are agony after a few mins of just messing around on the road outside my house. Will get the SQlabs again, just trying to decide between the 12 and the 16 deg, and the med or high rise. A lot of negative stuff about bike control suffering, but honestly, rider skill is about 99% of it, 1% being the bar shape. Great video btw, too the point and very informative.
I tend to get beat up more in general on an e bike too. More weight to handle for sure. Also, thanks for watching 🤘🏼
@@FifeFlow I hard crash or have fallen off in 20-30 years of biking, done more stupid stuff in the last few months with my EMTB already then before! Maybe because it's easy to get places where you shouldn't really go!
For softening vibrations you can try a shock absorbing stem
I've gone through a lot of grips different bars . because my wrist hurts and fingers go numb I'll have to try these bars and grips out .
Another option to look into is Flexxbars. I haven’t used them personally, but I have some friends that like them. They are a pretty penny, but they legit have suspension in the bars which is crazy!
Yea I'm a big guy 6'6 and 240+ and just haven't had any luck. Any time over 2hrs my hands are numb , I'll try them if they help thank you for the advice .
🤔been thinking about changing my stock 25mm riser and 9 degree backsweep for a 30mm rise and a 12 degree backsweep🤔Mmm...👌great video.
Great review -
The 30mm rise looks pretty tame. I wish they had a 40 instead of a 45mm. Moving up from a 20mm rise to the 30mm even with the addition sweep doesn't seem like a big jump. Looking for more sweep and more upright riding position.
Yeah it’s tricky to nail the cockpit setup. Good luck 👍🏼
This video is great. Great information, and a great mix of camera angles. Speaking to the camera mixed with action voice-overs really make this video easy to watch.
Thank you! I am happy you found it enjoyable 😁
I’ve been super impressed with their stuff. The bar to me is a big deal. I’ve used a bunch of them and noticed it was easy to use the 12 degree bar. Mostly realized how much I liked it when I rode a different bar after haha.
Sorry about taking it from you lol 😘
Why did you get rid of it?
@@jordanprysmiki4337 I took the bar haha. Andrew ended up ordering the same bar, but with a higher rise. He is liking it so far!
I've think the SQLab bars are great except for the stiffness. I got arm-pump with the alu bars. So I'm wondering, if the carbon bars are a bit more foregiving. Does anyone have experience with the carbon bar (compared to the alu one)? Are they more foregiving?
Great review. Talented rider and beautiful to boot 🙌
Excellent Review!
Good day what is the measurement of your sit bones? Did you do plus 2 or 3 for the final measurement? Thank you safe ride.
At 2:46 I think you meant 30 mm rise not degrees
Hey great video! Can you tell me what is the stem you use here?
Kore Rivera 31.8 42.5mm length - it’s been stripped of its coating and that is why it is silver :)
@@FifeFlow it looks great
Try the 30x carbon...it reduce vibration a lot more than the aluminum version 👍
Cool right now I have some FSA carbon bars and I’ve been liking those :)
@@FifeFlow And if you want even more flex, thex have the FL version ;)
I want to try the 311 FLX 16 degree carbon bars on my XC/Gravel bike, but damn are they expensive. That and the Innerbarends. My wrists hurt on the ~8 degree Next bars on now.
You should try the innerbarends from sqlab
Very good review.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Does anyone know what kind of aluminum is used by SQlab in their handlebars?
Just ordered these bars about an hour ago...I'm expecting good things!
Awesome!
How did you decide on 12 degrees?
Just ordered one. Did you keep it?
Ordered which SQ lab item? I still have them all on my bike at the current moment, but the grips are on their last leg. They didn’t last too long so honestly I wouldn’t recommend their grips anymore. They were fine but they wore easily.
@@FifeFlow sorry I mean the SQlab high rise riser bars. 9 degree backsweep, 5 degree up sweep, 45mm rise. Dayuuuum! Can't ride em till my new frame arrives in friggin April 2021 though 😒
Nice what frame?
@@FifeFlow its the 2021 Commencal META AM 29! 63.6 HTA and 78.5 STA
Was die mit der Zunge noch so alles machen könnte... Total faszinierend
Post is great
Love your video
Thanks!
I don't seem to have problems running a fully plastic seat. I wear pads in my shorts and I've never been uncomfortable.
This is my first time riding a firm seat and I like it as well!
Great review! I'm waiting on my SQLab bars now 🤟 check out revgrips to lessen those vibrations that's my planned setup 😁
Yeah my husband tried the rev grips out and didn't end up loving them but not hating them here is a video of his thoughts if it helps - th-cam.com/video/BUyGzytdjSY/w-d-xo.html
@@FifeFlow great review again! PNW Loam grips are my 2nd go to grips worth checking them out as they also have a handlebar minimizing wrist pain 🤟
Sweet grips!
Did you trim down the width on the SQ LAB bars?
I no longer have the bars but my width is 740 mm but I’m a pretty small framed person!
@@FifeFlow What bar did you choose to with over the 30x?
damnn , you're an attractive bike girl 😏 glad you had fun!