Handlebars

BMX race handlebars: four dimensions set your position

The handlebar sets torso height, shoulder width and wrist angle. It is the part that changes the feel of a race BMX fastest, and the cheapest one to update as a rider grows. Four dimensions define it: width, rise, backsweep and upsweep.

Aluminium, carbon, one-piece or crossbar

Aluminium (6061-T6, 7050) dominates the market: lively, impact-resistant and painless to replace after a crash. Carbon damps part of the vibration and takes weight off the top of the bike, where it is felt most. Two-piece bars with a crossbar remain the reference at high rise for their lateral stiffness; crossbar-free models suit the smaller classes and low, tucked positions.

Width, rise, backsweep, upsweep

• Width: around 660 mm for Mini up to 720-737 mm for Pro. UCI rule 6.1.075 caps handlebar width at 73.7 cm, or 737 mm: anything wider is turned away at scrutineering. A wider bar opens the chest and gives leverage at the gate; too wide, it tires the shoulders over a moto.
• Rise (height): from 4" for the youngest riders to 10" for Pro and Cruiser. This is the dimension that lifts or drops the torso.
• Backsweep: commonly 11 to 12°, the rearward angle of the ends towards the rider. It lines the wrists up.
• Upsweep: 1 to 3°, the upward angle of the ends. Kept low, it holds the forearms in line.

Centre clamp: 22.2 mm or 31.8 mm

The historic BMX standard is 22.2 mm (7/8") at the centre. The 31.8 mm oversize has taken over at the top of the range for clamping stiffness, particularly on carbon bars and tall rises. The two diameters are not interchangeable: the bar has to match your stem clamp. The ends, however, are always 22.2 mm whatever the centre, which guarantees grip and lever compatibility.

Which rise for which class?

In Micro and Mini, a 4" to 5.5" rise at 660 to 690 mm wide keeps the rider forward on the bike. In Junior and Expert, expect 5.5" to 7.5" at 700 to 720 mm. In Pro, Pro XL and Cruiser, 8" to 10" at 720 to 737 mm lifts the torso and helps pedalling out of the saddle. The adult range therefore sits between 720 and 737 mm (28" to 29"), the UCI maximum being 73.7 cm: bars of 760 to 800 mm are mountain bike figures and have no place in BMX race. Treat these as starting points: rider height and stem length fine-tune the setting.

Compatibility: stem, grips, levers, bar ends

Three checks are enough. The centre diameter must match your BMX stem. The straight length available at the ends has to take the grip, the brake lever and the bar end: BMX grips with lock-on collars use more room than slip-on models. Finally the ends must be plugged with bar ends, a point checked systematically before a race.

BMX race handlebar brands

Tangent is a safe bet on intermediate rises. Chase covers Mini through to Pro XXL. Box Components holds the affordable aluminium ground. Answer works with geometries proven in competition. Pride and Elevn round things out on carbon and the wider sizes. Being multi-brand lets you compare real dimensions: not every manufacturer measures rise the same way.

Care and replacement

An aluminium bar should be replaced after a heavy impact: micro-cracks are not always visible. Trimming applies to aluminium only: a carbon bar is never cut down, and should be inspected after every crash. Never exceed the stem torque figures: over-tightening marks the tube and weakens the centre section.

The BMX RACING advice

Give us the rider's height, their class and their current stem: we point you to the right width and rise combination, not to the most expensive model. Dispatched within 24 to 72 hours, you can spread the cost over 2 or 3 payments.