90% Of Mountain Bikers Get Their Bar Width Wrong... Here's How To Get It Right

Overview

The video explains how to choose the correct handlebar (bar) width for mountain biking, arguing that many riders set it too wide (or too narrow) for their body and riding style. It also claims the right width can noticeably improve control and comfort at relatively low cost.

Key Points

Bar width as a personal setup parameter

• The presenter frames bar width as a key, personal setup choice.
• Modern production bikes—and many aftermarket bars—are often wider than some riders need.

What to measure

• Bar width is measured grip-to-grip.
• This may differ from “total bar width” because grips can extend slightly.

Related handlebar geometry

The video highlights that width feel is influenced by geometry built into the bar:

• Rise
• Upsweep
• Backsweep

It also stresses that these geometry features are “baked into” the bar, but stem rotation/clamping can still change where the ends sit relative to the rider.

Rethinking “Wider is Always Better”

Instead of assuming wider always improves performance, the presenter plans experiments using progressively narrower bars:

1. Start at 800 mm
2. Cut down to about 680–670 mm
3. Test a personal “optimized” range around 745–750 mm

Why bars changed over time

A historical overview explains common trends:

• Bars became narrower in cross-country fashion during the 1990s.
• They later got wider again with downhill influence.
• Many bikes today feature very wide bars—often over 810 mm.

Two core factors: control and ergonomics

Bar choice is framed around:

• Control
• Ergonomics — how well the bar fits the rider’s body, strength, and range of motion

Because riders differ physically (bone structure, strength, joint range), the “best” width varies.

How width affects body position and handling

The video uses a “press-up stance” example to illustrate a balance:

• Too narrow can create instability.
• Too wide can restrict movement because the rider may lack strength/mobility to position arms/hands effectively.

Mechanically/physically, bar width affects:

• Steering leverage
• The rider’s ability to move weight and steer through turns, climbs, and technical sections

Tradeoffs mentioned:

• Narrow bars: may limit leverage and the ability to reposition.
• Very wide bars: may feel stable but reduce effective steering range because arms/hands can’t move through the positions needed.
• The video also notes wheel/gyroscopic effects and that changes in modern bike geometry can make wide bars sometimes helpful on slack, modern trail bikes.

Real-world test results (as described)

800 mm (wide/full)

• Feels noticeably wider.
• Outside hand struggles to maintain grip position through turns, leading to missed lines.
• Steering feels difficult at key moments despite increased stability.
• On drop sections, the extra width seems to reduce the ability to make the necessary body/leg movement.

~680–670 mm (narrow run)

• Feels very tight/pinched.
• Forces the rider to rely more on body movement rather than “muscling” control.
• Leverage and technical control suffer in some areas compared with the presenter’s sweet spot.

~745–750 mm (personal sweet spot)

• Described as balancing control and ergonomics for the presenter’s riding—especially on twisty singletrack/trail.

Conclusion: not one-size-fits-all

The presenter concludes that bar width isn’t one-size-fits-all and that “motocross-like logic” doesn’t directly translate due to different bicycle riding positions and dynamics.

Example rider widths (cited)

The video cites typical bar widths from other experienced riders:

• Jen Jackson: 720 mm (previously 700)
• Kent Gallagher: 760 mm (trail), up to 780 mm (eMTB)
• Michaela Parton: 750–760 mm (trail/DH)
• Yoland F: 700 mm, sometimes up to 720
• Charlie Aldridge: 740 mm
• Joe Smith: 760 mm
• Brager Vestig: 780 mm (free-ride emphasis), while noting it’s still not as wide as many stock bikes

Final advice

• If you’re on very wide bars (often 810+):
  • Experiment by moving grips inward, and/or
  • Try a width about 10 mm narrower to feel the difference.
• Re-check bar position and fit if things feel off, since bar width affects both:
  • comfort/ergonomics
  • control

The presenter ends by asking viewers what bar width they run.

Presenters / Sources

• Quintilian (quoted for the “show/don’t just state” style principle)
• The presenter does not cite specific “official video athletes,” but references riders by name: Jen Jackson, Kent Gallagher, Michaela Parton, Yoland F, Charlie Aldridge, Joe Smith, Brager Vestig.