MTB Bontrager Cockpit Upgrade
Let’s face it; one of the fun things about mountain biking is all the cool stuff you can “upgrade” on your ride. Carbon, Aluminum, Titanium, the materials keep getting stronger, lighter and faster and in the end most of us just have to “have them”.
This month we are looking at upgrading the cockpit area (bars, stem, and grips) with the new Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Bar, Bontrager Race X Lite Stem, and ESI Grips (also distributed through Trek / Bontrager).
Since we have already been fitted for our ride in the past (thanks to the guys at WobbleNaught and JB) we just ordered in parts in the same stem length, rise, etc.
Bontrager Race X Lite Stem
You’ll find this stem on Trek’s higher end road bikes and mountain bikes. Light enough for the road but strong enough for the mountain, the forged 7050-T6 aluminum alloy X Lite stem features a flip-flop 7 degree rise (also available in a 17º Rise) and 31.8 clamp that help make it a study in lightweight versatility.
Installation with the removable faceplate is pretty much a snap. All that is required is a 5mm hex wrench (maybe a 4 to remove your old stem) and about a ½ hour of time of fidgeting with spacers to get the reach and height back in the proper place. A torque wrench is also suggested by the folks at Bontrager and specs are right on the stem.
Benefits we saw going to this stem versus most stock/production stems were the weight, coming in at 131 grams it falls in the lighter range of most stems and still retains it’s stiffness. The 7º flip-flop style gives lots of options for adjusting bar height and getting the rider in the best possible position.
Weight: 131 grams (120mm 7º stem)
Price: $89.99
Features:
- Light enough for the road but strong enough for the mountain
- 4-bolt face plate helps distribute clamping load on ultra-lightweight handlebars
- Angled steerer tube clamp spreads clamping zone out on steerer and is carbon friendly
- Opposing dual steerer clamp bolts are strategically positioned near the center of the clamp, evenly distributing clamping forces
- Forged 7050-T6 aluminum body
- +/-7 degree rise
- When installed on a carbon steerer, this stem requires at least 5mm of spacers above and below the steerer tube clamp area.
Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Bar
Bontrager’s lightest cross-country handlebar weighs in at just 110g, that is freaking light. The Race XXX Lite is constructed of High Compression Molded (HCM) carbon fiber that’s laid-up to achieve an optimal strength to weight ratio. They have also shortened the bar to 580mm versus 620mm on the Race X Lite. If you are a wide shouldered rider you might want to consider the wider bar.
Installation once again is pretty straightforward. Removal of the grips, shifters and brake levers is all that is required. Tools needed will be 3, 4, 5mm hex torq-wrench, some Windex and a ballpoint pen. Follow all torque specs on the instructions.
Benefits from this bar are second to none. First off it is a 110-gram carbon fiber flat bar, one of the lightest on the market (please let us know if you find different) and it is stiff. Paired up with the RXL stem above this make one sweet setup in the cockpit area. Light, stiff, responsive. This duo has it all. On our first few rides we could definitely tell a difference.
Weight: 110 grams
Price: $179.99
Features:
- Constructed with light, strong and proven HCM Carbon technology
- 31.8 Bar Diameter, 580mm wide
- Weighs only 110g
- Not designed to be cut
- Compatible with carbon friendly bar-ends
ESI Silicone Grips
I have seen grips anywhere in the range of 20 grams up to over a ¼ of a pound for some molded numbers. What it really comes down to in the end is feel. Since we are talking about a bike with SRAM twist shifters we opted to go with ESI silicone grips, the chunky model. At 32mm in diamter these are some of the better fitting grips that we have paired up with SRAM twist shifters.
Benefits of going to a lighter grips are big weight savings and the ESI seem to last a lot longer than some of the super light foam grips on the market that could in 20 to 30 grams lighter. If you are looking to shed weight on your ride, this quick and simple way will do it without draining your pocket book.
Removal of your old grips is a snap, slide a ball point pen under grip (careful not to scratch the bar or rip the grip), squirt rubbing alcohol, window cleaner or water under the grip, twist grip off bar. Installation: Clean handle bars. Press in End Caps. Using rubbing alcohol or window cleaner clean inside of ESI MTB grips, wet bar and inside of grip, slide onto bar. Rotate grip to have the thicker side towards palm. Let dry for 24 hours.
Riding on the "chunky" model is a great setup, especially when pairing it with Grip shift shifters on your bike. The little extra thickness makes the transition a lot smoother.
Weight: 60 grams (chucky) 50 grams for regular
Price: $16.99 to $18.99
Features:
- Engineered one side thicker for absorbing shock and vibration with the opposite side thinner for bulk-reducing comfort
- No tread or logos needed! Silicone has a memory; when you grab an ESI Grip you get a custom mold of your hand for a no slip ride every time.
- ESI are race proven lightweight grips and used by bicyclist all over the world including the Gary Fisher and Trek professional teams
- Grip Shift or Custom sizes. You can cut ESI grips with sharp scissors, utility knife, pipe cutter, etc. Hold next to your bar and cut leaving an extra 1/8” in length. We recommend Chunky style for a smooth transition on Grip Shift.
