Product

6 of the Best BMX Handlebars – 2018 BMX Buyer’s Guide

6 of this year's finest BMX bars, reviewed by the Ride UK BMX team

A selection of the Best BMX Handlebars available in 2018

BMX handlebars are fairly simple, but they come in a few varieties. From the amount of sweep up or back, to tube butting and thickness, plus the choice of two-piece or four-piece construction, there are definitely a few options available. Here are six of the best BMX handlebars from our recent tests.

We’ve tested the best BMX parts out there. Value for money, quality and brand credibility are the things we care about here at Ride UK.

“Value for money, quality and brand credibility are the things we care about here at Ride UK.”

Here are some extracts about each set of bars and why they made it onto our list of the best BMX handlebars this year. Check out the full review pieces for all the finer details on these six BMX handlebars for 2018.

For further reviews on everything BMX from complete bikes to tyres and tools, have a browse through the Ride UK 100, our in depth buyer’s guide to the 100 hottest BMX products on the market right now.

The Best BMX Handlebars 2018 by Brand

Cult

Cult is quite the revered brand. Started by Robbie Morales in 2010, it has been a huge success, with a strong company image, a diverse team of riders and some of the most trustworthy products on the market.

Cult AK Bars Review

RRP: £59.99

As you can see, the AK bars aren’t too wacky – just a simple, classic handlebar with a rather nice graphic containing the Cult logo. No crazy colours either, just black or chrome.

Geometry wise, these bars feel great. Twelve degrees of backsweep is around the most you’ll get on a set of bars these days, whereas the two degrees of upsweep is pretty standard. Combined with the generous width (30”), the result is a balanced feel, giving a natural position, no matter what size rise you choose. Cult offer no less than four sizes between nine and ten inches, so most riders should be covered.

The geometry also translates to a good looking set of handlebars. The shape is good, there’s a nice slow bend at the bottom and we think the crossbar is just right – not too high.

Federal Bikes

Federal Bikes was launched by Seventies Distribution in the year 2000. It’s certainly been through a few different chapters as the landscape of the BMX industry down in Hastings has changed, but Federal continues to be, without question, one of the UK’s strongest BMX brands. Their team over the years has been consistently strong – from international big dogs like Davey Watson, Jared Washington, Stevie Churchill, Bruno Hoffmann and Steven Hamilton, to homegrown heroes such as Dan Lacey, Mark Love and Dan Cox. Federal has always maintained its status as a honourable brand to represent, which has translated into the success of its products, both in the UK and further afield. Federal has earned global respect.

Federal Drop Bars Review

RRP: £64.99

Federal Drop Bars have been around for a while. Why? Because they’re excellent bars, so they continue to be popular. They have the correct proportions, the right angles, a nice natural arm position, all the qualities you want from a handlebar.

That embossed logo will probably be the first thing you notice on these bars, it’s another fine example of branding by Federal – classy and understated.

Both the 4pc and 2pc V2 Drop Bars are available now. Something to suit all tastes.

The feel of these bars is clearly a bit different to the 2pc, thanks to updated sweeps, but they’re aimed a different kind of rider. Federal know their market, so the angles on these 4pc bars are different for a reason. They felt damn good to us.

Fiend BMX

Garrett Reynolds started Fiend in 2011. Garrett Reynolds. X-Games gold medalist every year, Simple Session winner every time, absolute legend boss of street riding every day. His video parts have probably melted more minds than any other, he’s just unstoppable.

Fiend forms the outlet of that kind of riding – the perfect blend of super technical skill and brutal gnarly massive big-balls riding. As Brian Tunney once said, the Fiend crew may very well ride a one-foot-high ledge but they’ll also truck off the roof next to it. Fiend’s success as a BMX brand has been carried purely by amazing bike riding – exactly as it should be. Zero gimmicks, pretty much no marketing, just a solid crew of riders who absolutely slay the world of BMX riding on a regular basis.

Fiend Team Bars Review

RRP: £69.99

The manufacturing of the Fiend Team Bars is as you’d expect: full 4130 chromoly, heat treated and butted to save a bit of weight. They are solid, too. Designed with the Fiend team in mind, they have to be! Fiend say they can withstand anything that can be thrown at them – these are trustworthy handlebars…

They come in a range of sizes, so most riders should be suited. From 8.5” to 9” rises, all sizes share the 12º and 2º sweeps, but the higher bars have a little extra width. They’re balanced.

The Team Bars are a nicely made set of bars. Nice feel, simple looks, solid enough for Fiend’s team of savages. Done.

Flybikes

Flybikes began in 1999 in Vigo, Spain. A beautiful place! The guys have a crazy passion for BMX bikes and strive for perfection in how their products look and how their parts ride. There are some signature design aspects in Flybikes parts that let you know they’re part of the family as soon as you see them. From the little tree insignia to their clever and stylish design principles, Flybikes stuff is carefully dialled. The Flybikes team has always been strong, supporting some of the world’s most stylish and most progressive BMX riders, from icons like Ruben Alcantara and Sergio Layos to future legends Courage Adams and our man here, Devon Smillie.

Flybikes Fuego Bars Review

RRP: £79.99 (£69.99 for regular colours)

These bars are the perfect match to the Flybikes Fuego frame, of course. Especially colour-wise if you can get hold of this flat trans blue.

The Fuego is a solid bar. Butted tubing, heat treated, good geometry, all the things you’d expect. Devon has locked these down to his ideal angles of 3º upsweep and 10º backsweep, which is a bit more up and a little less back than many bars on the market. For those who prefer that kind of feel, these are a very good choice. In terms of rise, you can choose between 9” or 9.5”.

A nice feature of the Flybikes bars is that they come with incremental 0.5” cut lines to make it easier to customise the width. No measuring needed, no risk of wonky cuts, just lock the blade in and you’re sorted. Super useful!

S&M

S&M is a true BMX brand. It doesn’t get much more real than S&M. Founded by a pair of wild teenagers in 1987 (Swingrover & Moeller) they’d already had enough experience with BMX race frames to know that they needed something better and were prepared to try and make it themselves. So began the history of S&M aka The Shield… In 1988 the Slam Bars were introduced, 1989 saw the Dirt Bike, and everything pretty much rocketed from there. With the departure of Swingrover in 1990, Chris Moeller set about running the brand on his own – while riding and partying as much as possible, naturally.

S&M Hoder Skyhigh Bars Review

RRP: £64.99

Mike Hoder is a big human. Big name, big personality, big riding. He needs big handlebars. S&M make a variety of Hoder bars, from the regular version to the taller ‘Hoder High’ bars to the even taller ‘Hoder Sky High’ bars that we have here. Consider this review to cover all sizes – they’re all the same high quality material and build quality.

Made in house at S&M HQ, the Hoder bars are a damn fine handlebar. Classic geometry on all sizes – 1.5º upsweep, 11º backsweep. We can verify that these angles feel superb. The Sky High bars we’ve featured here (recognisable with the Hoder ‘Hooters’ logo above the clouds) are 9.5” tall and a whopping 31” wide. Beasts!

If you prefer your bars a little lower, the Hoder Highs are 9” tall and the regular Hoder bars are 8.625” – they’re both an inch narrower than the Sky Highs too.

Stay Strong

Stephen Murray, certified BMX legend, started the Stay Strong brand after his life-changing accident in 2007. The accident, at the Dew Tour in Baltimore, left Stephen paralysed from the neck down. In the last ten years, Stephen has done some amazing things with the Stay Strong brand. He really is an incredible human. You can read the full story in his autobiography, Staying Strong, that came out exactly ten years after the crash. To learn more about Stephen, see our 10 Weeks of Murray series that explores everything from his background and family life to his current lifestyle and the Stay Strong team. Knowing and working with Stephen is something we’re very proud of.

Stay Strong Larry Edgar Bars Review

RRP: £59.99

Larry Edgar is an absolute animal on a bike. The dude goes higher than anyone else, fact. He does 360 tables legitimately upside down… It has to be seen to be believed. We love Larry’s riding, it’s 100% wild, exciting to watch and always a crowd pleaser.

Proudly representing Stay Strong, Larry now has a signature set of handlebars that he uses for navigating the skies.

These bars are dialled. They’re 9” tall but don’t look like big bars – they’re nicely proportioned. 29” wide, black only, these are straight up no-nonsense bars. With a proven combo of 12º backsweep and 1º upsweep, these bars feel totally natural and balanced, especially with a set of ODI x Stay Strong grips…