I’ve recently started commuting via bike on a Trek FX-3 Disc. I just found out that it has a handlebar with some stupid proprietary “IsoZone” technology which makes it incompatible with a lot of stuff due to crimped bar ends. I want to replace it with a different handlebar. I just use the bike for commuting, other close-by travel needs and just riding for fun sometimes.

Anyone have any recommendations for which handlebar I should get?

Thanks

  • kersplooshA
    2•9 months ago

    The bar ends are really crimped? I thought “IsoZone” meant they put a chunk of rubber inside the bars and concealed it with a normal bar-end plug, like this. Though I wouldn’t put it past Trek to do something dumb like crimp the end of the bars shut.

    Back to your question: flat bars are mostly all the same, IMO. Just get one with the right clamp diameter to match your stem. If you want a specific make and model, I can vouch for the Titec Hell Bent XC bar that I’m still riding after many years.

    If you want to get weird, the bikepacking folks seem to like Jones H-Bars and the like. They allow more hand positions and tons of mounting room for lights/bags/bells/whatever.

    • w!LdOP
      2•9 months ago

      The bar ends aren’t exactly crimped shut. The top of the bar has the foam and to keep the bar circular despite having the foam on there, they kind of squish the bar down so the entrance is no longer round. This is how it looks without the bar end plug:

      The white stuff you see is the foam, the bent looking thing is the bar and around that is the grip…

      I can’t find the Titec bar you mentioned anywhere on sale… I guess it’s no longer produced. I did consider the Jones bar… But I don’t think I’d wanna get it without trying it. For now I think I just want something that has a similar profile and dimensions of my current bar.

      • kersplooshA
        2•9 months ago

        Geez, that’s ridiculous. Bike companies do silly stuff sometimes. If you don’t mind narrower bars you could just trim that portion off with a hacksaw. Otherwise I think your idea of hitting up the used bike shop is the way to go. If they don’t have anything and you’re in the US, Nashbar has plenty of options under $40, too.