What makes Forge+Bond’s FusionFiber carbon unique is swapping a nylon polymer in place of traditional resin, and now that same material tech boosts comfort in your mountain bike bar, too. Not just another carbon MTB handlebar, this new Forge+Bond 25 MTN bar increases rider comfort. More vibration damping without sacrificing steering stiffness delivers boosted control and decreased rider fatigue, so you can ride more…
Forge+Bond 25 MTN vibration-damping carbon MTB bar
By substituting conventional resin with their FusionFiber nylon polymer, Forge+Bond’s carbon mountain bike handlebar claims to be both light and more comfortable. FusionFiber promises up to 3x improved vibration damping vs. traditional carbon construction.
And they claim that their FusionFiber handlebar is more durable than conventional carbon, failing at about 1/3 higher forces than most conventional carbon bars.
Also by replacing that traditional thermoset resin that hold the carbon fibers together with a thermoplastic polymer binder, the Forge+Bond FusionFiber solution also means this can be a much more sustainable product. At the end of the bar’s life, or ultimately if you manage to break it, Forge+Bond’s nylon polymer can be heated up to a high temperature, and the carbon itself can be separated from the binder for recycling. That’s one of the biggest benefits of Forge+Bond FusionFiber, just like in their carbon rims.
OK, now why do we want more mountain bike bar flex?
Can we all agree that with the shift to 35mm diameter mountain bike handlebars, a lot of bars actually became too stiff? I know everyone talks about stiffness being the goal of premium bars. But to me, it’s been like a decade and 1″ clamps since I had a real problem with a mountain bike bar that was too flexible to the extent that it lessened the enjoyment of my ride.
So, I’m totally intrigued by Forge+Bond’s claims of improved rider comfort.
Tech details
Forge+Bond crafts their new carbon 25 MTN bar from their FusionFiber thermoplastic composite held together with long-chain nylon polymers.
Forge+Bond don’t give away too much of their proprietary manufacturing tech. But instead of assembling pre-preg carbon layers (that have to be kept refrigerated), they use an automated process to both precisely cut dry nylon-impregnated carbon sheets and lay them up into a mold where multiple heat cycles bond it all together to create this unique FusionFiber mountain bike bar.
The 25mm rise bar gets 7.5° of backsweep, 5° of upsweep, and a 35mm diameter x 75mm wide clamping area. The 800mm wide bar weighs a claimed 250g uncut. And you can trim it down as short as 750mm wide if you want to go narrower.
Like their rims, Forge+Bond manufactures the new 25 MTN carbon bar in the USA, in their Gunnison, UT factory. And they rate these bars for pretty much any type of mountain biking – from XC to DH – hence calling it an all-mountain bar.
Forge+Bond 25 MTN bar – Pricing & availability
The Forge+Bond 25 MTN bar with its FusionFiber carbon construction is available now for $265, direct from F+B. Additionally, the bars feature a Return to Fun lifetime warranty. F+B will recycle any component that genuinely does get broken, and get you back on the bike, too.
Also, for a limited time, if you buy any one of their existing carbon wheelsets across all disciplines – road, gravel, or MTB – Forge+Bond will let you buy their new handlebar for half price, just $132.
