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Bullhorns on a mountain bike?

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Old 05-28-11, 02:09 PM
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Oil_LOL
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Bullhorns on a mountain bike?

Just got some bar-ends for my Rockhopper, loving the extra hand positions, and the ease of climbing now. I was wondering if anyone has ever used bullhorns handlebars (as seen on many uban fixed-gear bikes) on a mountain bike, either for built in bar-ends, putting the shifters and brake levers on the flats, or traditionally, with a single speed mountain bike, with the brakes integrated into the ends. Are there any mountain bars specifically with built in bar-ends? I know that Steely Dan (on the Commuting boards) put bullhorns on his recently deceased Raleigh M-80, for city use, but has anyone used them for off-road adventures?
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Old 05-28-11, 04:44 PM
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Summon LesserofPuppets!
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Old 05-28-11, 06:37 PM
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I don't see any reason not to if you like bar-ends. It would be pretty much the same thing put into one bar rather than a bolt on solution. You'd save a little weight if nothing else.
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Old 05-28-11, 07:45 PM
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I used Bullhorn bars back in the early 90's on my first MTB. It was a rigid Trek that I rode everywhere I could and they worked fine. From what I recall the bars I purchased were being marketed for mountain bikes at the time.
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Old 05-30-11, 06:49 AM
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Bar ends were the shiznit back when people used words like "Radical" to describe their riding style.


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Old 05-30-11, 07:03 AM
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How to set up mechanical disc brakes - from the "most radical mountain biker in the world".


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Old 05-30-11, 12:43 PM
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ohmygod, I want a mountain bike that says SRAM on the side now...
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Old 05-30-11, 07:09 PM
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Have them on my commuter bike but wouldn't want them on my MTBs- I ride in a lot of brushy areas and wouldn't want to hook one on a branch. I'm clumsy enough as it is.
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Old 06-01-11, 12:39 PM
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I've got controls on barends so I can keep my hands on the ends most of the time.
It's a great setup for smoother trails and fireroads! I like flatbars better for rough stuff, though.
I had to shave the ends of these Sette barends down quite a bit as their grip diameter was greater than road bar grip diameter to start with.

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Old 06-02-11, 10:10 PM
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I love it ^^^
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Old 06-03-11, 01:25 AM
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Originally Posted by 3speed
I don't see any reason not to if you like bar-ends.
the main reason is you have to find new brakes and shifters because bullhorns (and drop bars) have a wider diameter than mtb bars

if you wrap the bar ends with bar tape they look pretty close to bullhorns




Bar ends were the shiznit back when people used words like "Radical" to describe their riding style.
i'd like to think my bike is radical

Last edited by frantik; 06-03-11 at 01:35 AM.
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Old 06-03-11, 10:28 AM
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I had an old norco bushwacker for years that had them. They were a hoot and definitely helped on the climb. But I found them.. awkward for any flow or speed.

Kinda like toe clips. Fun to hop on and get lots of flashbacks to more innocent times, but I don't find them useful for very much.
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Old 06-03-11, 11:09 AM
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I saw Scott AT-2 bars on a thriftstore bike for $30 a couple weeks ago. Thought I'd wait for half-price day, but it was gone by then.

Basically bullhorns that fit MTB controls. Well, you can't get Gripshifts on 'em, but pretty much all other MTB controls.

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Old 06-03-11, 11:44 AM
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I have 2 Scott Thermoplastic bars just like those. At 160 grams probably one of the lighter bar/bar end combinations out there. Mine are from the 90's. When ever I see them on E-bay I try to buy them.

Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I saw Scott AT-2 bars on a thriftstore bike for $30 a couple weeks ago. Thought I'd wait for half-price day, but it was gone by then.

Basically bullhorns that fit MTB controls. Well, you can't get Gripshifts on 'em, but pretty much all other MTB controls.

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Old 06-03-11, 12:18 PM
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Old 06-03-11, 02:09 PM
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Just imagine if this guy ran into the back of that girl that stopped in the middle of the trail. (video post a couple weeks back)
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Old 06-03-11, 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
". . . and the cow goes, SHAZOO!"
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Old 06-03-11, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by frantik
the main reason is you have to find new brakes and shifters because bullhorns (and drop bars) have a wider diameter than mtb bars
the diameters of road and MTB bars are typically different (unless you find a rare bullhorn with MTB diameter as shown in this thread), but it's possible to stretch out the hanger bracket of a rapid fire style shifter to fit around a road diameter bullhorn bar. it's exactly how i made it work on my MTB w/bullhorns conversion. MTB brake levers would be harder to do with this method, but when i put bullhorns on my now deceased MTB, i just went with some reverse pull levers on the horns.






as to whether this set-up would be appropriate off-road, per the OP's question, i have no idea. my hybrid-converted MTB pictured above was only ever ridden as a back-up/foul weather/winter urban commuter before it met it's fate with that effing bus 2 weeks ago (RIP buddy).

Last edited by Steely Dan; 06-03-11 at 03:49 PM.
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Old 06-03-11, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Daspydyr
Just imagine if this guy ran into the back of that girl that stopped in the middle of the trail. (video post a couple weeks back)
she still wouldn't have felt it with all of her armor
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Old 04-19-20, 09:10 AM
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Grips for Bullhorn

Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I saw Scott AT-2 bars on a thriftstore bike for $30 a couple weeks ago. Thought I'd wait for half-price day, but it was gone by then.

Basically bullhorns that fit MTB controls. Well, you can't get Gripshifts on 'em, but pretty much all other MTB controls.
I have a vintage GT Backwoods with OEM / Stock Bullhorn handlebars. I want to replace the grips. Any grip suggestions other than tape?
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