Carbon Bar Question.

[Collette]

I was told that the glossy finish on my Raceface Carbon Bars is strictly cosmetic.

Is this true?

I'm asking cus it's starting to come off in a small area.

[Neccros]

Thats more to protect the carbon underneath... watch if the carbon starts to delaminate.... then you need to worry...

[Lor]

I used to work in the carbon industry making MX parts. The clear finish is about 85-90% cosmetic. It is true, if the fiber starts to delaminate replace it before you are sorry. If the clear coat is just wearing, don't worry too much just keep an eye on it. If it is wear from cable just put some clear vinyl or a sticker in that area to act as a guard or buffer. Have fun.

Lor

[Collette]

Thanks guys. The wear is right where I used to hairspray on grips, I've since switched to lock-ons.

[Neccros]

hmmm Im no carbon expert, but I dont know if lock on grips are wise to use with carbon bars...

I could be wrong....

[tkblazer]

wildcat.... you plan on gettin an intense bike ?

[26'er Zen Master]

Lock ons are fine on carbon and LOR is right but it does add an extra layer you have to get thru before hitting the carbon and epoxy. I have those bars with lock ons and so does everyone in my shop with no problems.

[Johnny Dirt]

Originally Posted by Neccros

hmmm Im no carbon expert, but I dont know if lock on grips are wise to use with carbon bars...

I could be wrong....

I've been runnin' Lock-ons for more than 2 yrs on my Carbon Bars with nary a problem.

[Geronimo]

If lock ons are a bad idea, then no matter what you do, DON'T use a stem!

[Kid A]

me too. two sets of carbon bars (RF and easton) with lock-ons no issues. not a chemist nor material science engineer but i would keep away from hairspray to keep grips on carbon as maybe cause cosmetic or structural damage? i have use that "trick" (works well) for metal bars but not carbon

[guero]

Originally Posted by Kid A

me too. two sets of carbon bars (RF and easton) with lock-ons no issues. not a chemist nor material science engineer but i would keep away from hairspray to keep grips on carbon. i have use that "trick" (works well) for metal bars but not carbon

i tried using hairspray for the grips i put on purple haze, (had raceface carbon bar) but it came loose. i ended up using some 3M SUPER 77 and that did the trick.

i had lizard skin lock-ons on the huckler with an easton carbon riser bar and didnt have any problems. i'm kinda iffy though bout throwing a carbon bar on the coiler.

[Neccros]

Originally Posted by El Borracho

If lock ons are a bad idea, then no matter what you do, DON'T use a stem!

I was referring to clamping onto the END of the bar where you have a possibility of crushing the end....

[Geronimo]

Originally Posted by Neccros

I was referring to clamping onto the END of the bar where you have a possibility of crushing the end....

I was referring to clamping onto the MIDDLE of the bar where you have the possibility of crushing the center.

[Collette]

Originally Posted by El Borracho

I was referring to clamping onto the MIDDLE of the bar where you have the possibility of crushing the center.

The RaceFace bar I use apparently has this Ti webbing at the stem clamp area for crush protection.

The bar's still functional, so no complaints from me. Plus I think the RF bars look better anyway.

[Pain Freak]

Hairspray shouldn't of had any effect on the epoxy coating of your bars. Epoxy is what holds the carbon fiber in place. Carbon fiber by itself is just like a linen or other soft material like fiberglass, and doesn't have it's strength until it is combined into a plastic resin of varying types. Epoxy has excellent chemical resistance. I have the same bars and I don't have any issues.

The strength of the bars will support lock on grips now days, but a while back some of the Easton Monkey Lites were real thin on the ends and a few people over tightened the lock ons and caused the bar to collapse. This has happened a number of times with aluminum bars too though.

[Lor]

Pain freak is right too. Hair spray shouldn't have had no effect on the clear coat of the bars. However who knows if they used the epoxy resin or another, the choices are endless. The clear coat could be a paint type that is put on for aesthetic purposes??? The bottom line is if you see cracks growing or the area keeps getting larger you need to replace the bars yesterday rather than tomorrow after your endo and a stem to your groin or chin?? Lock on grips shouldn't be enough ft./lbs. to crush the carbon as they are very small allen head screws. Keep ridin. Just watch.

Lor

[Jordansrealm]

I went and looked at some Carbon bars today actually. The new RF and Azonic ones that I looked at both had a metal sleeve on the center section and at both ends to aid in strength. Both seemed nice but the RF def had more bling to it

[Collette]

Originally Posted by Jordansrealm

I went and looked at some Carbon bars today actually. The new RF and Azonic ones that I looked at both had a metal sleeve on the center section and at both ends to aid in strength. Both seemed nice but the RF def had more bling to it

Yea the weave pattern on the RF bars, and the glossy finish, made the decision easy.

[SAR_boats]

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Yea the weave pattern on the RF bars, and the glossy finish, made the decision easy.

What a girl.