Other types of handlebars on your cruiser?
 

I wanted to see what other bars some cruiser riders gave gone to on their cruiser bikes. With photos, I hope. I came here to write this, and saw a thread about BMX bars on cruisers. Many cruisers use those bars that basically form a half circle. What have some of you gone to?

When I put my Schwinn Cruiser together back in around 1980, I worked at a bike shop and was able to try out BMX handlebars, Schwinn 7881 handlebars and others. They did not have the feel that I was looking for. I went to a motorcycle dealer down the street from the bike shop and they had these Superbike handlebars. They felt good, they had a low rise so I was able to lean forward and get more weight on the front end for better handling. And they fit into a BMX stem. One of the things that also liked about them is how wide they are. But that caused problems in the garage. I ended up taking an inch off each end. I kind of wish I could add that inch back on. Trade-offs. The other trade-off, being that they are made for motorcycles, so the wall thickness is heavier. On a bike like mine, you don't notice the weight. You do notice how solid they feel.

More recently, I picked up an Electra Cruiser and put BMX handlebars on it. For me, again, I didn't like having my hands up so high with the "Sit up and beg" posture. I ended up selling the Electra with traditional cruiser bars on it. I wasn't a fan of them either. I will admit that they make perfect sense if you need to hold on to a surfboard, or coffee, with one arm while using the other to steer. With wrap around cruiser bars there is no weight on your hands.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d67dd1f7b.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20c67fc376.jpg


These handlebars are still available:

Superbike Handlebars

The price isn't too bad, considering that these are motorcycle handlebars. And available in chrome.

[QUOTE=Velo Mule;22187165]
More recently, I picked up an Electra Cruiser and put BMX handlebars on it. For me, again, I didn't like having my hands up so high with the "Sit up and beg"
/QUOTE]
I’ve tried over 20 handlebars of different shapes , from flat bars to risers bars of different heights including bullhorn or “ cruiser” bars as they are also called .
But I wasn’t happy until I tried a set of BMX bars . Handlebars that give me the control I was looking for without putting pressure on my arthritic hands .
By using BMX bars I’m able to raise my hands to a comfortable position without using a high stem . High stems look odd and weak to me .
That’s why they make so many different handlebars . You can’t please everybody with just one style .

I could see Eddie Lawson flying through a corner with those bars.

I have some bars I borrowed from my daughters bike. MTB bars without much rise or sweep and a little too narrow.

I am going to trade them out for 3” rise MTB bars.

Keep in mind.

Measure your bars you have now at the stem.
They’re probably 25.4mm AKA 1inch. This is also the old MTB and hybrid standard.

BMX bars and the motorcycle bar above are 7/8”. These won’t work unless you get a BMX stem.

I think there’s a big long thread about bars somewhere on BF.

The BMX bars that I tried were Black Op's MXII bars. I got these because I could mount accessories on the top bar, and of course, I wanted to try a bar with my hands up higher. I still have the handlebars. Perhaps for another project. I have an old Schwinn step through frame for my wife, if I build this up, perhaps she will like them. Or if I ever get a Schwinn Tricycle, I think these will look neat.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...36a8e269ee.jpg

These are still available from Black Op's. They are 26-1/8" [66.4cm] wide.

I don't use cruiser bars on any of my cruisers. I typically use mtb risers either as they are, or upside down.

Mostly I don't use cruse

I totally have the low-profile 24" BMX cruiser bars on my old Colson. I entered a clunker classic years ago up in Downieville, CA and the handlebars had to be a minimum width. So I put these BMX low profiles on there and loved them. I have the orginal standard cruiser bars still too and just swap them out depending on where I'm riding. We were really into the Cruiser/MTB set-ups for a while there.

BMX bars!


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13ffec0db1.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bba33b6749.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...38c0d4b816.png
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dbcc5ad1e2.png

Last pic looks like a ton of fun.

Too cool.
Thanks for posting.
I want drop bars on a beach cruiser just to be contrarian.

Any number of models by Sunlite aren't too bad.

I know this isn't really a cruiser, but I hate low bars. I also wanted a more pedal forward position. So, I fabricated some parts to move the seat back and installed a set of apehangers on this fat tire bike. I have since rolled the bars down a little and farther forward, and swapped out the seat for a wider seat and moved it forward a couple of inches, since these pictures were taken. It's really quite comfortable, gives you a nice upright riding position, but won't win any races.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...51df71ca3f.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b41c1f4435.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3b19e6801e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3bd28933fa.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2fc7ad196a.jpg
This thing makes me feel like I'm on a cafe racer, or something.

Get aero and pass the drop bar roadies.
Looks good and fun.

Noticing that chain stay doesn’t look as long as some cruisers. Maybe a good klunker conversion.

I've never paid attention to chain stay length, but I do have a Cranbrook and Drifter1, I could measure&compare. Plus a number of cruiser actually have a curve in them. LaJollas are smaller than most cruisers I see, Probably about the size of a Sante Fe II. Would make a good klunker, it's light(lightest walmart bike, most likely), has a english bb. My Cranbrook is goona be my klunker if I can find a fork for it.

It all depends on type of material

Coolest Next I've ever seen!

Thanks. Still a work in progress.