All Mountain Bike Parts Descriptions

#24) Handlebars - They come in steel, chromo, aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, and whatever other element metals that may come along. For most mountain bikes they come in 3, 5, and 7 degree sweeps (how far they bend back from the stem). They come in 1, 1.5 and 2" rises (how far they rise from the stem as well as sweeping back). Handle bars are also priced from dirt cheap to silly, but they can shave weight, absorb shock, and be beefy enough for riding the crazy stuff. Handle bars usually use a 25.4 (1") stem clamp size, but the 31.8 (1 1/4") size has been getting popular. These seem to be the standard, which means, if you do get a good handlebar it won't be obsolete in a year or two. You can just swap it over to your new ride.

Bike Parts Diagram