Jeffoutlaw

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with carbon bullhorns on steel frame bikes. I put carbon bullhorns on my Fuji Feather and it feels great. Anyone have opinions on mixing carbon parts on steel bikes.

Broctoon

Nothing wrong with mixing the two materials. It seems kind of silly for couple reasons:

- carbon bars are best suited to a weight weenie bike, and steel is the last material you should look to for such a bike
- steel is usually chosen for its low cost, and carbon is what you get when cost is your least concern

With that said, I think you should do whatever tickles your fancy. There are no laws prohibiting such a combo. Bike actually looks kind of cool, just needs some tape on the grip areas of the handlebar. How does it ride?

Fugazi Dave

Gotta respectfully disagree with you on a few points.

High-end steel can be extremely light. Like with this bike, which is 5.2kg for the complete build and 1.24kg for the unpainted frame alone. Granted, this is an extreme example, but steel bikes need not be heavy.

Nor does carbon necessarily mean lightweight. Depending on the application and what it’s intended to endure, carbon frames and parts may be quite beefy and not as light as you might expect.

I would say that steel can sometimes be the low-cost, heavier option, but high quality steel frames ride wonderfully and are very competitive weight-wise. Assuming a high level of quality, I would personally choose steel over every other frame material pretty much every time because I like the ride quality.

Personally, carbon parts on a steel bike don’t strike me as odd at all. When I get a new keirin frame, it’s going to be tricked out with all kinds of carbon parts and it’s going to be lovely. The combination of contemporary high-tech carbon and a classic steel frame is great, IMO. I currently have a carbon fork on my steel lo-pro and will be adding other carbon parts in the foreseeable future, including some integrated bars, seatpost, and rims.

ofajen

Be sure to respect any torque specifications on clamp tightening. Carbon fiber parts tend to be less forgiving of excess torque and tightness.

Otto

Broctoon

You're not wrong.


These are fair points.

I was speaking generally, and not in terms of the exceptions (high end, light weight steel frames; and lower cost or extra beefy carbon bars).

In spite of its name, the OP's Fuji Feather is no featherweight. Usually, steel is chosen because of its low cost. Carbon bars are typically much more expensive (and a little lighter) than aluminum ones. So I stand by my assertion that steel frames and carbon components make strange bedfellows, while stopping short of discouraging anyone to combine them. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn't make much sense usually.

Eric F 

That bike is such a mish-mash of oddities that a CF handlebar fits right in with the rest.

Broctoon

I hope you post pics of this bike once it's complete. Sounds like a pretty cool concept.

If I had the money and garage space for more bikes, I'd love to build up a Keirin frame. But I would spec it with parts like you see on real race bikes: 36 spoke wheels, a Sugino or DA square taper crank, etc. Wouldn't insist on NJS stamps, because the only time you get any benefit from those is when you're actually trying to enter a Keirin race. But otherwise, I'd want it look as close as possible.

I'd also love a really light frame in high-end steel (or in aluminum, titanium, or carbon). I'd put all the carbon and titanium parts on it I could find. Integrated bar/stem could be cool, along with carbon crank, super light wheels, etc.

Jeffoutlaw

The bike rides great. The stem is torqued to the manufacturer specified 4nm. This bike is my Frankenstein bike for trying out different setups. I'm planning on getting a Wabi or possibly locating a Cinelli in the future based off of my final setup of my Fuji Feather. Thanks to everyone for the input.

Jax Rhapsody

I was going to disagree too, but his point isn't steel can't be light, it's that weight weenies aren't looking for steel frames because carbon is typically lighter. Plus given the price range, those people would buy a $1200 carbon frame vs a $1200 steel or alloy.

Jax Rhapsody

Nothing wrong with it, makes a steel frame a bit lighter. Kinda like restomodding a car.

Jeffoutlaw

I changed the stem and switched to a front brake with a top lever and added a little bit of bar tape.

I shortened the stem. Changed the brakes to a top lever front brake only. And added a little bit of bar tape on the horns. The steel frame and carbon bars soak up the road vibrations almost completely.

Broctoon

Solid!

bykemike 

Nice seatpost to Jeff, what brand? Is it a vintage piece?

I like that style of handle bars with the flatish "hover" section. I spend a lot of riding time with my hands in just that spot.

Murukai

Looks pretty cool. I am actually looking into modernizing my vintage bike as well and you have me wondering about carbon fiber now.

Trakhak

Very nice. My favorite bike is similar: a fixed-gear 2005 Specialized Langster with aluminum everything, including frame, fork, wheels, bullhorns, and aero clip-on bars. Pretty light, and very comfortable for 5-hour-long rides in northern Baltimore County (except for the bigger hills, of course).

Jeffoutlaw

Bykemike the seat post is original. The bars are super comfortable. I've done a few 20 mile rides on them with no issues whatsoever.