nomadmax 

I currently have a set of Specialized Hover Alloy bars on one of my bikes, they have a 15mm rise. In doing stem/spacer calculations; does the 15mm rise produce the same effect as 15mm of spacers with regard to height and reach? My gut tells me that it has to be the same, however, I was outside in the parking lot during geometry class

AlmostTrick

Not exactly, but close. The reason is the stem spacers, while moving the bars up, also move them back due to the head tube angle. Your riser bars only rise up.

I've never seen those interesting bars. Maybe a way to get "slammed stem" fashion points after all!

nomadmax 

Thanks

mrv 

If you keep the bar rise parallel to the stem rise, then it's like adding spacers.
If you rotate the tops of bars forward (away from you on the bike seat), then you will lose gain a couple of mm rise, and increase the reach. (thinking about the bars moving through an arc....)
Personally I like the NITTO Noodle bars (or that style). They are drop bars and sweep back a few mm on the tops. I have a set of Ritchey bars that do the same thing. I do have riser bars on my tourer, the Jones 2.5SG loop swept back bars. 2.5 inches of rise on those. Nice on old MTBs with the too-long top tubes.
I was hoping to sketch up my answer real quick like, but my employer is expecting me to be productive on work stuff. .... whatever.....

correction: rotating the bars FORWARD should increase the vertical rise a bit more, and the reach. - just thinking about it again walking between buildings....

nomadmax 

Thank you @mrv