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A motorcycle handlebar is a tubular component of a motorcycle's steering mechanism. Handlebars provide a mounting place for controls such as
brake A brake is a machine, mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for Acceleration, slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of ...
,
throttle A throttle is a mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by construction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ha ...
,
clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...
,
horn Horn may refer to: Common uses * Horn (acoustic), a tapered sound guide ** Horn antenna ** Horn loudspeaker ** Vehicle horn ** Train horn *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various animals * Horn (instrument), a family ...
, light switches and rear view mirrors; and they help to support part of the rider's weight. Even when a handlebar is a single piece it is usually referred to in the plural as handlebars.


Construction

Handlebars are made from round-section metal tubing, typically
aluminium alloy An aluminium alloy ( UK/IUPAC) or aluminum alloy ( NA; see spelling differences) is an alloy in which aluminium (Al) is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, tin, nickel and zinc. There ...
s or chrome plated steel but also of
carbon fibre Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers ( Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon comp ...
and
titanium Titanium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Found in nature only as an oxide, it can be reduced to produce a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength, resistant to corrosion in ...
, shaped to the desired contour. Holes may be drilled for the internal routing of control cables such as
brake A brake is a machine, mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for Acceleration, slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of ...
,
throttle A throttle is a mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by construction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ha ...
, and
clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...
. Risers hold the handlebars above their mounting position on the upper triple clamp or the top of the
fork In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tines with which one can spear foods either to h ...
, and may be integrated into the bar itself or separate items. Each handlebar end may contain bar-end weights to damp
vibration Vibration () is a mechanical phenomenon whereby oscillations occur about an equilibrium point. Vibration may be deterministic if the oscillations can be characterised precisely (e.g. the periodic motion of a pendulum), or random if the os ...
by isolating the bar's resonant frequency from that of the engine. Electrically heated grips may be fitted to provide warmth for the rider in cold weather.


Sizes

There are several size parameters that describe most motorcycle handlebars: * Width from grip to grip may vary from a single tiller to . * May rise above triple clamp up to or more, called ape hangers when very high, or may drop a few inches below, called clubman bars. * Pullback, the distance grips are behind their mounting location, may vary from . * Diameters vary; commonly , though oversized bars of may reduce to at the grips so standard controls may be mounted.


Types of handlebars

Handlebars come in a variety of types designed for particular types of riding: * "Ape-hangers" — found mainly on choppers, these are handlebars of such exaggerated height that the rider has to reach up to them, hence the name. Rumored to have originally been implemented to aid riders on motorcycles with no rear suspension to lift themselves from their seat to avoid potholes, they can also aid in a more comfortable ride since the riders hands are closer to shoulder height. However, if the position of the hands is higher than the shoulders, they may cause numbness in the hands, but the use of throttle locks or cruise controls may help alleviate such symptoms. Some jurisdictions restrict the maximum height of ape-hangers for safety reasons. * Beach bars — similar to cruiser bars, slope back toward the rider to allow a relaxed riding position. Tend to be very wide, and offer the rider a relaxed position. * Buckhorn handlebars — similar to ape-hangers, but shorter and curved (thereby resembling a buck's horn). They are sometimes called "mini-apes" (miniature ape-hangers), but are not. Buckhorns have a different hand positioning than mini apes. The bar ends on Buckhorns are angled in and down towards the rider, mini apes hand positioning is out and more horizontal. A good example of buckhorn handlebars are the ones on Ghost Rider's Hellbike, from the 2007 movie Ghost Rider. * Clip-ons — popular on
sport bike A sports motorcycle, sports bike, or sport bike is a motorcycle designed and optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on asphalt concrete race tracks and roads. They are mainly designed for performance at the expense of comfort, ...
s, in which two separate short handles are clamped directly to the fork tubes. Adjustable or non-adjustable, these may be fitted above or below the triple tree. These two piece clip-on bars may also be attached to the top triple tree clamp and be non-adjustable. * Clubman bars — a one-piece handlebar mounted on the triple tree, reaching forward with ends slightly angled backwards to give the rider a lower, more crouching riding position. Common on
café racer A café racer is a genre of sport motorcycles that originated among British motorcycle enthusiasts of the early 1960s in London. Café racers were standard production bikes that were modified by their owners and optimized for speed and handling ...
s in the UK, Clubman bars are sometime known as "Thruxton bars" or "Thruxton drops" (after the Thruxton race circuit); ''Motorcycle Mechanics'', October 1969, p.13 ''Pride and Clarke'' single-page advert, ''Thruxton drops in 29/6, postage 5/6''. Accessed January 29, 2018 or "Ace bars" (after the Ace Cafe on the North Circular Road in London). * Cruiser handlebars — long and slope towards the rear of the motorcycle so that the rider can sit upright. * Drag bars — nearly straight across to create a forward-leaning and aerodynamic riding position. * Jota bars - a five-piece multi-adjustable bar with a straight centre piece, and right-angle knuckle joints between the centre bar and handlebar grips, as seen on most
Laverda Jota Laverda Jota is a Laverda 1000cc Italian motorcycle suggested by the importers Slater Brothers, Slater Bros. of Collington, near Bromyard, Herefordshire, England. Based on the existing 1973-1981 Laverda Laverda 1000#3C, 3C model that made at 7,2 ...
s and other 70s/80s motorbikes. The right angle is designed to point downwards for aerodynamic advantage, but older riders rotate them upwards for comfort. * Motocross bars —
motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...
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off-road Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events w ...
, and dual-sport motorcycles normally have tubular bars with a cross-brace to resist torsional twist. * Rabbit Ears - feature straight riser sections which bend sharply back and down toward the rider, giving the appearance of the ears of a rabbit. Popular on choppers. * T-bar - similar to drag bars, but have built in risers which create the look of a 'T'. This modifies the riding position from the forward leaning drag bar to a more relaxed riding position. * Z-bar — containing no bends, all miter cut and welded tubing to create a sharply angled handlebar. The vertical riser sections can vary in height, creating a short or tall Z bar.


See also

*
Bicycle handlebar A bicycle handlebar is the steering control for bicycles. It is the equivalent of a tiller for vehicles and vessels, as it is most often directly mechanically linked to a pivoting front wheel via a Stem (bike), stem which in turn attaches it to ...
*
Motorcycle fork A motorcycle fork connects a motorcycle's front wheel and axle to its motorcycle frame, frame, typically via a yoke, also known as a triple clamp, or triple tree, which consists of an upper yoke joined to a lower yoke via a steering stem, a shaf ...


References

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