When the PNW Components Range bar hit my radar I had to try one. It boasts a slight increase in the sweep from typical rise bars intended to increase wrist and back comfort without compromising performance handling. It looked like a viable solution for alleviating discomfort on high mileage multi-surface XC/ all road style rides.
Features & Specs (via PNW Components)
- Clamp Diameter 31.8mm (now also available in a 35mm option as well)
- Rise: 30mm
- Width: 780mm (note, the current release of this bar has been extended to 800mm)
- Material: 2014-T73 heat treated alloy
- Listed weight: 334g
- Backsweep: 10º bend
- Upsweep: 5º bend
- Intended usage: all mountain, trail, enduro
- MSRP: $69
The PNW Range bar is a great-looking bar with nice subdued graphics, at a very reasonable price point. Though it added a small bit of heft over the carbon handle it replaced, the increase in sweep did make for a noticeable improvement in comfort for both my wrists, neck, and back on long-distance rides. Most importantly though, I was still able to ride technical trails like a mountain bike — something the more radical alternative style bars can’t do.
I’ve been running the Range bar on my Kona Honzo carbon hardtail, which features a solid all-around but lightweight build suitable for chill single-track rides and long-distance multi-surface rides. My typical outings on this setup range from 20-35 miles over several hours, which has me prioritizing comfort over minimal race weight.
I like the sweep enough that I could see running this bar on my trail bike as well. The primary downside of the Range bar is that it is available in a single rise. That said, 30mm is preferable to 20mm, which seems to be the most common option. (I’d also be interested in trying a 40-50mm rise as well if it was available.
The folks at PNW Components were nice enough to furnish me with a loaner bar for this review. They also included a set of the PNW Loam Grips, which nicely matched the graphics of the bar. I liked the Loam Grips quite a bit, but do wish they offered a second version with a larger diameter. On longer rides, I find that running a grip with a larger diameter adds additional comfort.
Since I began working on this write-up, PNW Components released an updated iteration of the Range Bar, the Gen 3. The newest version of the bar maintains the original low price of $69, and the width of the bar has been increased to 800mm (easily cut to one’s personal preferences) and added a 35mm clamp option. When they widened the bar, they were also able to reduce the weight of the bar, increasing the already solid value. That said, if you were shopping for one, and comfort was your goal, I’d stay with the classic 31.8mm which should offer less stiffness and more damping of the trail chatter.
The PNW Range Handlebar sells for a reasonable $69. Learn more at PNWComponents.com
