SURLY's Drop Bar for Mountain Bikes? (Corner Bar Review)
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- First look and installing the Corner Bar by Surly.
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No actual release yet? Any hint?? Ciao from Italy. We'd rather have news that it won't be released say till 2022 (random example), than no news at all and noone has a clue... maybe you? 😉
Look at Surly and their sense of practicality.
I think this is a BRILLIANT product and checks off many boxes! A really COOL way to have 2 BIKES in 1!
Well this is the most unexpected bar setup I’ve seen yet! It seems almost perfect for a rebuild of an old hard tail I have. I had been thinking of something like a wood chipper bar but this would help so much with using existing components!
Same!
Love it! Thank you Surly! Now increase the length of the bull horns for usable hand placement, make a silver version (to go with my retro MTBs), and make it in aluminum (or find a way to drop the weight).
I would buy that version.
Yeah... The only think I don't like is the weight!!! If they do it in aluminium I would buy it for sure.
They do a version/copy/replica of it in the philipines, it's pretty popular there, it is kinda exactly like the Corner... there are vids around on the tube, easy find...
Putting increased length on the bull horns puts you way out there when set up for normal riding in the drops. This is opposite to regular drops which are set up to ride in the hoods primarily, then tucked for the drops. Potentially doable, but as I set mine up, not very realistic for this 56 year old back.
Exactly, thank you.
I have a flatbar gravel bike that I have been using on the road consistantly on 60+ mile rides. This is cool because just changing out the bars would make these rides more road like and changing back to flatbars isnt bad. picking some up for those more roadie days
Thanks this is the perfect product for me. I'm a grumpy old roadie who can't keep up with my friends anymore on group rides. I'm looking for ebikes that don't look like ebikes. With this bar I can have something close to my usual riding position on an ebike without buying new components. Thanks again!
Russ, regarding the grips, use hairspray. Step one, jam a ball ended allen key between the grip and bar (a screwdriver will piece the grip). Step two, squirt the hairspray in the gap and twist the grip. Job done. To put them on, just squirt the inside of the grip. Hairspray dries out, but the more you use, the longer it will take.
you can always rinse away the hairspray residue in between applications, no need to let it build up
OH, am replacing my suspension soon on my hybrid to a Surly suspension corrected fork, putting this handlebar on would make it into a nice gravel bike.
Not a "gravel bike," but for touring on my 2003 Santa Cruz Chameleon, I switched out the (26" tire) Fox Vanilla's for 27.5 Surly ECR forks and topped it off with Moloko Bars. Rode well up the California Coast and back again.
Now, my question, if I got a Corner Bar and flipped it upside down, would it work as a riser bar?
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks Surly!!
Easiest way to fit ESI grips. Put 4 zip ties inside the grip with the "lock block" end to the outside. Spread them to 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock and slide them and the grip onto the bar. (Some water on the bar helps). Once in place pull the zip ties out with pliers. 👍🇬🇧
I recently did a conversion to my 98' Rocky Mountain Blizzard with drop bars Ritchey Ergomax, 1x9 setup, a Microshift bar end shifter, Shimano XT rear derailleur, Tektro RL520 vbrake levers, eXotic carbon fork and it's awesome.
I want it. I want it. I want it.
I am planning a project bike from an old 90s steel mountain bike (rigid fork). To use your term, this would be “a riot.”
I wanted a bike with rack mounts, but didn't want to spend $1500+ on a new bike, so I stripped and powder coated my 1998 steel Gary Fisher. I swapped out the fork about 10 years ago (RockShox Dart coil fork w/28mm stanchions), so the frame and fork were fine. Short equipment list: New Alivio crank, Wolf Tooth Components 34T narrow-wide chainring, bash guard, and Road Link. The rear has an 11-40, 9-speed cassette, Deore XT rear derailleur, coupled to an Alivio 9-speed shifter. I replaced the V-brakes and levers, because they were worn and installed a Blackburn rack on the back. It's a go-anywhere, fun commuter, and works fine on hard pack multi-use paths, gravel roads, beat-up paved roads and smooth single track. I am currently running 2.0" road tires. The only negative thing about the 9-speed 1x drivetrain, I do find myself stuck between gears on occasion. I just have to settle in to one gear and one cadence, and accept that I will only be going 5.6 mph up a hill. This is a minor trade-off IMO for being able to dump the front derailleur, cable and shifter. If you're riding solo, who cares? The 34/11 drivetrain combo and 26" wheels at 100 cadence will yield a little more than 23 mph, which is adequate. I pedal hard and coast on long downhill runs.
@@christopherharmon9336 I have already done a budget 1x. I have an old hybrid that I hated and had no use for. So I turned it into a gravel-ish bike for riding when it rains.
I went with Salsa Cowchipper bars and MicroSHIFT Advent 9-speed (10 speed drop bar shifters were not available). IXF crank and a generic 40T chain ring. Cassette is an Alivio 11/36 (it was cheap). Spyre C brakes (not cheap) and assorted spares. Gravel Kings in 36mm.
It’s not bad at all. Sure, it’s a bit pokey. But it’s great for riding when it’s mucky out. In fact, it got 50 miles today, although the rain never really came.
@@peterbaskind9872 NICE!
Hi there! great idea! You may have rescued me with my back problem. I can't grab the handle that low. I can see that this is almost three fourths of a way of not ducking that too low as compared to a road bike. And perhaps a smart move to convert my current mountain bike into a gravel bike. I will agree that it will be less spending in moving the cables and shifter controls too. More power to your channel!
just seen this tonight and I think this is just what I have been looking for on my '90's mtb!
try flipping the bar and using it more like a jones bar :D
IKR I just put jones bars on my old XC hardtail. Loving it! That was my first thought.
i was just thinking that!
I was thinking the same, but I guess that's what the Moloko is for
Exactly what I was thinking :)
I look more for the comfort side on long rides, and your comment made my head goes bouuum i have to participate in the debate.
I ride Jones bar and pretty happy.
But this one upside down, could be even more interesting to me.
I have Moloko..in Finnish:Mulukku on my Krampus and as i can see..this has much more drop and eventually it is completely different..more drop..possibly flare...no "hoods" as Mulukku has. And why would Surly design something they already have? I beg to disagree gentlemen.
Oh my goodness! I was just looking into what it would cost me to try this! I was skeptical at first, however I may have found my people after all!
I use an upside-down Riv/Nitto Albatross bar on my Masi Giramondo, and it's a pretty similar effect--a little bit drop, a little bit flat, a lot alt. I love it. If I wasn't already happy with my bar config, I'd consider one of these.
SWEET! I have a 1986 Trek that I have been thinking about converting to a gravel bike, but didn't want to mess with chnging out all of the components! This might be just what I am needing!
The Cave of Bad Ideas has invented a new bike classification: Practically A Gravel Bike. I like it 👍🏻
"Fits perfectly in the cave of bad ideas."
Savage-
A PAG-Bike
Drop bars have many advantages over flat bars. Would not use for hard core trails or downhill but for moderate singletrack and cross country type riding, definitely
Cheers
What about for a hybrid where you want a more aero position?
Drop bar comfort on long rides combined with the versatility of an MTB. This is a bad idea how?
Use alcohol and inject them under the grips. Try to have them spread inside and it will pull right out...a lot easier than struggling with compressed air...is also a better way to put grips on since alcohol will just evaporate once you have the grips in place
Windex does the trick too
I use hair spray to put grips back on. To get them off just use wd40 or something like. Then wipe it down after.
Ive tried both and compressor is easiest. Zips right on and its stuck in place instantly. Waiting for even 90% isopropyl alcohol to dry can take days
@@MaYbYl8eR yeah if the grips have no holes for the liquid to evaporate away that's true
Surly. Always innovative and creative. Love it! Always creating breakthrough ideas that catch on over time.
I've been thinking for a while now about converting a 2011 Niner EMD into a drop-bar forest service and gravelish road-focused bike.
The biggest obstacle for me to do this is justifying the outlay to buy the requisite drop-bar shifters along with compatible derailleur(s) and disc brakes. In essence, I'd have to plump for a new groupset. Now I don't! Great idea Surly! I'll be ordering a Corner Bar and make this a winter conversion project.
As usual Russ, another informative and entertaining video! Thank you.
How it went?
A review of this bar with an old 80's/90's mtb would be killer. That's probably why Surly made it 24,5 mm.
Good review! Drop bar shifter/brake options are very limited if you want cable brake (no GRX) and combine with MTB derailleurs. This solution makes perfect sense to give multiple riding positions while taking advantage of modern MTB shifters and brakes.
Agreed! I do appreciate the SRX Pro and AdventX from the Eastern Market, as they've kept the fully mech adventure bike category alive and budget friendly. If you're building from the ground up and you cant drop coin on Apex or GRX, you can still get a clutched dropbar setup for a great price.
But if you're converting from mtb, then this bar is definitely the way to go. 90% of the functionality for a fraction of even the cheapest Asian options. I'm all about making biking affordable and accessible to all. This bar does just that!
@@BoomerangVillage I'm not after a single, so no need for a clutch. Plus I'm not going for hydro, so GRX is out for me. I'm happy with my 2 bikes having inter-changeable 10-speed cassette across Deore on the DiscTrucker and Tiagra on the gravel bike. They work just fine, I take them to some rough stuff but never had chain mech issue. Now my Surly's on Shimano 10-speed compatible MicroShift index shifters (AdventX requires the chain of the spec that is 11-speed Shimano equivalent) and a friction shifter in the front (which I like the most for front - it is easiest to micro adjust. :) ). We all have different needs. It is cool when we found what satisfy our needs.
Beyond cool. I want this on my hybrid.
Me too man
This is what I was looking for for my Rockhopper conversion. I ended up with Soma Eagle bars, which are pretty similar but without the "drop".
Yoooo that bar is sweet!
Lets you easily convert your mtb to drops without any major rerouting or recabling.
Even better: you can buy cheaper shifters and brake levers as opposed to reeeeally expensive integrated brifters for your next gravel build.
Me want
Bought it and put it on a 29" hardtail. Now getting a carbon rigid fork for it. It's freaky. I love it.
Now see there are so many work arounds to get that old mtb up to date with the gravel scene. Kudos for Surly. It's not about buying the latest and greatest or fall into the trap of bike mfg peddling something new that can already be accomplished with just some minor part upgrades. Saving yourself a lot of $$$$$$.
This is interesting, thank you for making this. I switched from my original (Trek) bars to a Jones H-bar loop, and oh man, what a difference that has made in terms of stability. This here drop bar looks good though, and I appreciate your review!
Seriously great content and your production quality is fantastic! Thank you for the inspiration and hard work!
This may be the bar to use on my future 1998 Barracuda XC "gravel" soft-tail build. I still have my 26" wheeled Barracuda frame that's a unified rear triangle design. I am looking at putting together something like Eric of Spindatt has with several old mtb's.....First I need to upgrade the current Plus Hardtail and maybe do the "GravaCuda" in the winter.
Hello, it is just an interesting idea for a drop bar on a mountain bikes and i was looking for such a solution in the past. I use a handle bar with inner barends (like the ones from sqlab) right now and i am very lucky with this.
good video sir. I'm going to pick one of these up soon, and some bar ends, mounted on the inside, for more hand positions.
Looking forward to trying these on my Larry vs Harry ... Making the newest category: semi-drop-e-gravel-bakfiets
Interesting indeed. One never knows what they will like until one tries it.
I may try it on one of mine.
Thanks for sharing.
This seem pretty dope. I may have bought this vs the Ritchey model I nabbed for a drop bar build on an old Stumpjumper frame.
These look Awesome for an old mountain bike!! I just recommended them to a friend.
I'm not a weight weenie, and I'm too poor for carbon fiber, but making this out of steel is the only drawback to me. This is easily the sweatiest area of any bike. It doesn't matter what you coat it with. Clamps and crashes will expose it enough to lead to rust.
Just reapply some paint. Steel is a much more durable material for handlebars compared to aluminium
How much do you sweat?!?!
@@CaffHCloudlow do you not? When you ride your bar tape stays bone dry?
@@conman1395 yes I do but not enough to significantly corrode a handlebar through bar tape
I have moloko bars on my cannondale bad boy. Love them. When/if I ever get the ECR I ordered in October these are going on. Alt-bar advocate.
I love this kinda stuff. Good job Surly! Nice review PLP!
Thanks for the great content guys! Love seeing you get creative with bikes!
God damn Russ! This is golden! Short video analysis! From the get go...get em suubs! So great! So fine! Get people hooked! Second...thoroughly (english not my first language) go throuh the product, get the ups and downs, and im seroously needing your bikewhispering to get a comment...will this work on my Krampus? Dude! You are a friking legend! Keep this kind of videos coming up and you will reach bikerumour and what not views! F yeah! Greetings from the Finnish Lapponia. Keep up the good work! Love ya! You are the best!
I love it! It practically has spindatt written all over it.
Perfect for those Shimano Dual Action shifters sitting in your drawer
Oh man, at last!
@@intermodal_0 OK so I got the name wrong, its Shimano Dual Control. I have NOS XT set that will go on the Corner bar when received. Should I try the set up on my Breezer Thunder or on my Klein Mantra? Haha
Flat bars limit your hand position and that contributes to fatigue. Previous answers were handle bar extensions. This is a nice alternative for any bike with flats. Not sure it changes a mtb to gravel, though.
Man, this would be perfect for my old Trek collecting dust in my shed.
But what will become of the dust collection?
That‘s what i was wanting for my trekking bike for years! 🤩
Interesting handlebars, thank you for posting and showing us this new product.
hey, it pretty much makes sense, in fact.
My bike is an XC-type hardtail (Scott Scale 950, 2022). The straight& wide handlebar is quite inconvenient for longer, not very harsh (I don't like "gnarly") rides: it pushes your elbows on the outside and your wrists become very tensionate... you get tired very quickly. A bit off a backswipe would remove this tension.... but this design also gets youlower, maybe a bit more aero? which for a long ride might have its advantages. Not as sporty position as in standard XC, but more comfortable than standard XC and still more aero?....I'd love to experiment with this design.
While I’m still saving up for a proper gravel bike, this looks like it would be a really good option for my current commuter (an old Giant Boulder that got for about the same money as these bars).
I have an old 80s Giant Boulder. I was thinking of putting these Surly bars on it but for now I’m going to ride with these mustache bars that I picked up on Amazon
Fun idea from Surly. I just finished robbing drop bars from a mid-70's Schwinn Continental to put on a '95 Trek Mtn bike. Kept the brake levers and friction shifters, so of course I needed new cables. I wish I'd known about this just to do a proof of concept test ride.
That actually doesn’t look bad at all. I might even give it a try. Thanks for the introduction.
Oh, those look great! Glad you brought them to our attention.
More test ride video. Love to see pics of conversions from viewers.
It’s so weird and yet I want to try it out on my Farley so bad.
I had been looking for something like this for years. 4 months ago I 'bit the bullet' and converted to drops (at expense). I don't regret it but jeez I would have loved these for a hundred bucks.
THIS IS THE DREAM
Looks like something Batman would have on his gravel bike.
how do we know he doesn't...
Great idea for people that run drops for the drop position. I run drops mainly for the hood position. Looks like the equivalent to a hood on the bars wouldn’t be comfortable.
you have to set it up higher like dirt drops so the drops is the primary position.
Yeah, it seems great for some. I’m personally looking to change my commuter/ cyclocross bike back to drops and am looking at the PNW drop bars. I still have my brifters to put back on though.
I like the bullhorn style or flat + bar ends /or one peace like that. They give you more positions , the bars are narrower (560-580) and more comfy for universal use /road, gravel, light offroad/
thanks for the review, definitely something to think about for a mountain bike.
Love the idea, a few concerns 1) it's so heavy, an alloy or carbon version would be great. 2) 25.4 is the wrong clamp size. If your stem requires 25.4 then just get a new stem. I'm wondering how old-school bar end's would work connected to the hoods for a 3rd hand position.
Funny, seems all you guys are getting the bars at the same time! My concern is the bad cable management options. Personally, I'd rather convert my gravel bike to a mountain bike than vice-versa. I'd like to see your take on the ProTaper 20/20 bars... Thanks!
Rode the 20/20 bars on my gravel bike for the last two years. It's not hard to find cheap Shimano brake levers and separate Sora shifter pods. Had to change to 9spd though. Super comfy and fun but the upright position makes it tough to ride into the wind. Switched them out last month for Ritchey's Venturemax bars and some Ultegra controls. Back to 11spd! Now I can ride farther in the wind with the same energy output.
this is the handlebars that i didn't know i needed
Cant wait to get a set to try out on my monstercross
Looks great! Nice review Russ.
I have an old 26er with those brake/shifter combo Deore LX. Might be perfect for this!
John Tomac raced MTBs with drop bars back in the 80s, so the idea itself isn't new. Pretty cool idea by Surly to make theirs compatible with the current MTB shifters & brakes, though. Tomac used shifters/brake levers from a Shimano road group in his setup.
Love all the interesting products you review
Love this idea! Kinda like a tweaked-out Woodchipper.
these are rad, good luck finding them in stock!
they come out in September 2021
I use a Alt-bar Porteur 180 in bullhorn configuration and have all MTB shifters and breák levers fine: its a drop bars position w/o drop bars ;)
Interesting but if I can’t put my tent in the front it’s pointless for me. Will just keep the RF bars I have now . Thx for the review
That's a cool handle bar. I consider it for my commuter. Looks like the conversion can be done rather quickly and suits to many bikes.
Interesting - Shimano actually do a set of mini brake levers that are designed for fitting in between drop bar levers and the calliper. this is so you can brake with drop bars when you are riding on the tops of the bars. They might work well with these and allow you to tidy up the lines a bit, especially if it was possible to fit a banjo bolt to them (Not sure if you can!).
Only on cable brakes would that work. Not hydro.
@@grahamramsay3402 they also have to be short pull (cantis or road disc)
@@grahamramsay3402 Nope - these ones are just for hydraulic disk brakes and are made for gravel bikes. There must be some sort of non return valve in there but they are real!
@@donnyo65 good to know.
Not sure about these, but we both love Surly bikes. Stay Safe!!
Very interesting bars - thanks for making a video on them.
I like that. A combo shifter will be good for that.
Just what I need expensive but will save me a lot of hassle changing components 👍👍👍
$100 seems high for a set of steel bars. And I don’t know many people that would spend that for bars to save money on a real drop bar conversion. If you wanted to do this setup on the cheap you can achieve the same setup by flipping over a set of old cruiser riser bars and adding bar ends to the middle to mount your levers and shifters.
Russ I think if you want hoods that below position is better as you stated
I have an unusual old USS recumbent bike that those would do perfect on. Might have to look into getting them for that.
Moustache Cycles had a similar bar some time back featured at the Radavist site (bike is labeled Kristin's Emerald Mine) with a different flare up front.
Might look in to putting these on my old Gary Fisher Utopia.
That is cool. I might get one for my hardtail for adventure.
2:57 theres a hole in the shop wall, just above the desk, from a wayward grip that FINALLY flew off after a lot (and I mean A LOT) of compressor work.
I gave these bars a try but couldn't make it work for me since I spend the vast majority of my time in the hoods. I tried various layouts to try to mimic my preferred position but simply was not happy. Worth a try, but I'll stick with my current lineup of albatross, moloko & venturemax cockpits (all of which I love :)
Nice idea if you want to do a few ultra's on an mtb and want a bit more handpositions and still easy to change back.
This might be the only "dirt drop" bar that I'd consider running. Pretty cool.
Love it, about time for a product like this.
Never too weird bro. Love those bars.
This'll solve a lot of issues for people curious about going from flats to drops. I wish there was a 3rd hand position though, that's the biggest advantage to drop bars in my opinion.
You COULD clip on some aero extensions :)
@@PathLessPedaledTV there we go! I actually think that could be really popular for long distance routes to get the mtb gear range without going with something electronic.
Surly in there blog talks about a way to use the hoods
This looks easier than full dropbar conversion and saves frustration over getting a full brifter.
This video convinced me to buy one and try it out for myself. 😆 Now I need to know is what rear rack is he using. 🤔
This couldn’t have come at a better time when I’m contemplating building a drop bar trail bike….
how about a shoot out between these and 22" flat bar plus bar ends proper 90s style
Crap... I usually thinks your odd projects odd but this bar, love it. Maybe have to get one for my Diverge Evo :D Thanks for showing the different and cool small stuff for gravel :)
Bar end shifter on these bars gets my vote!