Muddy Brown's Blog: Fresh Goods Sunday - Ultimate USE RIP Carbon Flat Handlebar

29 April 2018

Fresh Goods Sunday - Ultimate USE RIP Carbon Flat Handlebar

I have an Ultimate USE seat post on my Nano Black Inc road bike and is super light and not had any problems with it so when I was looking for a new pair of handle bars for the mtb I had a look on the USE website. They manufacturer loads of different models from flats to risers in both alu and carbon. The RIP is the flat model and comes in carbon and alu. The carbon version comes in two models - 740mm & 720mm which can both be cut down further if required. They have slightly different sweeps / rise's. The alu version also comes in 740 & 720mm options rrp £60. I opted for the carbon version in the narrower width. I don't tend to ride wide bars apart from the Syncross carbon risers on the Beast of the East which is mainly used at trail centres / open moorland rides. All my other mtbs have narrow flat bars which are better for getting through stiles etc along the old railway lines. The 720mm is some where in between and you can see on the photos below there are also three markings to either end of the bar for reducing further. Fitting was straight forward - removing the lock on grips, bell, brake levers, gear lever, Bosch display , stem cap & Garmin mount. The central section is not smooth so increases the grip under the stem clamp area which has loads of markings so you can keep it central / level etc. I then refitted all the items and she was ready to rock and role. I have kept the bars standard width at the mo to see how I get on but will probably cut them down later. The logos are subtle and a lovely mat stealth finish to the carbon. The claimed weight was spot on 168g full width. The sweep is just right but may rotate them slightly but will wait until I have had a few more rides with them.
NOTE - USE also do 9 different models of riser bars as well.
RRP £115 and I paid £88.51

Manufacturers blurb -
The Ultimate Rip takes the flat bar to the next level for XC racers or trail rider, created for modern geometry 27.5 and 29” riders where a rise is not needed or even a more aggressive -5mm is wanted to rip through the country side. You do not need to compromise with the Rip the 8 degree sweep and 720mm width give the aggressive yet comfortable position for all-day rides or fast XC racing through narrower trails or circuits. The bars in are in Stealth Matt Black UD Carbon specially designed to have the perfect layup to create strength, stiffness and flexibility in the right places within the bar to give you the best ride at only 158gs.