The 7 Best Mountain Bike Handlebars 2023
By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | June 27, 2023
Choosing the right mountain bike handlebars can make a significant difference in your biking experience. The best mountain bike handlebars not only enhance your control and comfort but also contribute to your bike's overall performance. When shopping for the ideal mtb handlebars, consider factors such as material, width, rise, and sweep, each playing a unique role in your bike's handling and your riding posture. It's also crucial to understand your riding style and the terrain you typically navigate to find the handlebars that best match your needs.
New This Year:
In 2023, the mountain biking world sees innovations in handlebar design aiming to optimize rider comfort and bike control. As trends shift towards wider bars for increased stability, manufacturers also focus on materials like carbon and aluminum for their strength-to-weight ratio. Additionally, advancements in ergonomics have led to the development of handlebars with specific rises and sweeps, offering more personalized options to riders. Whether you're a trail blazer, a downhill racer, or a weekend warrior, our curated selection is designed to help you find the perfect handlebar for your mountain bike adventure.
OneUp Components Carbon 35 Handlebar
The OneUp Components Carbon 35 Handlebar uses a large diameter 35mm clamp and center section combined with a carefully ovalized shape in the transition zone to create a bar with "best of all worlds" control and compliance. Tested against other popular carbon bars and foam injected aluminum bars, the increases in steering stiffness AND vertical compliance were measurably impressive. If big descents are your jam but your body could use some help with the vibrations, check out the OneUp Carbon 35 and see what all the talk is about.
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 220 g - 225 g | Carbon Fiber | $159.50 |
PNW Components Range 35 Handlebar V3
Made from an aluminum alloy you've never seen, the PNW Components Range 35 Handlebar V3 is the latest from these masters of comfort. They chose 2014-T73 alloy for its vibration-damping abilities, which makes it feel more like a carbon bar when it comes to bumps. Plus there's a nice amount of up- and backsweep in the curves, babying your wrists through the chunkier sections. Another great product from PNW Components!
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 310 g | Aluminum | $74.00 |
Race Face Atlas Handlebar
A cult-classic within the downhill community, the Race Face Atlas Handlebar comes in a 785mm width that makes navigating tricky terrain a breeze. Offered in both 0.5" and 1.25" rises, these cold drawn aluminum bars are certainly worthy of their gargantuan reputation.
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 340 g | Aluminum | $79.99 |
Deity Skywire 35 Handlebar
Designed with input from Blenki, the Deity Skywire 35 Handlebar has all the right bends. We're not saying you can get as stylish as everyone's favorite gloveless Kiwi, but the vibration-damping carbon and perfect angles are a solid start.
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 226 g | Carbon Fiber | $179.99 |
Tag Metals T1 Aluminum Handlebar
The Tag Metals T1 Aluminum Handlebar is a high quality aluminum bar made from incredibly durable aerospace grade aluminum. With 5° upsweep and 7° backsweep, this bar hits the sweet spot for precise control and all-day comfort.
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 352 g | Aluminum | $84.99 |
Tenet Bodem Carbon V2 Handlebar
Wrangle your steed with the Tenet Bodem Carbon V1.5 Handlebar, a DH-worthy bar that's comfortable in shape and construction. Strong enough to handle neck-snapping drops, this handlebar has enough sweep to ensure you'll be riding until last chairlift. And with the included sticker packs, you're going to find a complementary color combo to suit your aesthetic needs too.
| Weight | Material | Original Price |
| 248 g - 256 g | Carbon Fiber | $159.00 |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
How to Choose a Mountain Bike
Mountain Bike Sizing and Fit Guide
How to Get Started Mountain Biking
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Wheel Size
Mountain Bike Suspension Basics
Women's Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
How To Get Started Gravel Biking
Electric Mountain Bike Buyer's Guide
Classes of eBikes
Travel Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
Travel Guides - Where to Ride eBikes
Mountain Bike Cockpit Setup & Seat Height
How to Choose a Mountain Bike Dropper Post
How to Choose Mountain Bike Tires
How to Choose Mountain Bike Handlebars
How to Choose Mountain Bike Pedals
How to Choose Clipless Pedals, Shoes & Cleats
How to Choose a Bike Seat / Saddle
Women's Mountain Bike Gear & Clothing Guide
How to Choose MTB Knee Pads
Bike Helmet Size & Fit Guide
How to Choose Bike Shoes
Shimano Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM Groupset Hierarchy Explained
SRAM vs Shimano Groupsets Compared
What to Bring Mountain Biking
What to Wear Mountain Biking
Mountain Bike Tire Pressure Guide
Mountain Bike Maintenance Schedule
How to Clean a Mountain Bike
How to Change Bike Pedals
How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
How to Replace a Bike Chain
How to Fix Bike Creaks & Noises
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Colin Edwards
Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.
Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.
When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.
With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.
