maybe a covered topic but do carbon drop bars reduce vibration

[eddief]

I am thinking my FSA compact carbons are more forgiving than their aluminum counterparts on one of my bikes. Are they?

[lhuerta]

Yes

[jghall]

Possibly placebo, but I think so myself.

[Hilltopperny]

They seem to be in my experience as well.

[berserk87]

I switched to carbon bars after a dislocated elbow about 15 years ago. I've never gone back. They seem to work.

[Mark McM]

Two out of three carbon handlebar manufactures so no, carbon handlebars are not more comfortable:

http://www.velonews.com/2005/01/bike...at-ride-2_7391

Of course, the answer is not as simple as the question implies. As with all the other parts of the bike (frame, components, etc.), there are many variables in design and construction that affect the compliance of a frame/component. Material is just one of the variables, so you can't make a blanket statement about carbon handlebars.

[m_sasso]

Dead is a description of the feeling some people communicate after riding a Carbon bike, works for the bikes, bikes have bars, so it makes some sense that it likely afflicts the bars too!

[R3awak3n]

I dunno, I have a bike with carbon ritcheys now, they are great but not sure they are better or more comfortable than the alloy ones.

But I like to think they are, maybe why I am shopping for another pair.

[Kontact]

If there is a difference, I'd be curious if it held true if you compared a 31.8 carbon bar to an alloy 26.0.

[berserk87]

Originally Posted by Kontact

If there is a difference, I'd be curious if it held true if you compared a 31.8 carbon bar to an alloy 26.0.

That's a great question. I'm still riding the 26.0 standard. Never ridden 31.8.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by eddief

I am thinking my FSA compact carbons are more forgiving than their aluminum counterparts on one of my bikes. Are they?

Would you assume the same for frames of different materials? Design not material determines performance. Without data there is only speculation and assumption based on perceived differences. Perception is not reality.

[Steve in SLO]

I know this doesn't answer the OP's question but it's easier to drop front tire pressure by 5 PSI.

[joosttx]

I think so. I went from deda zero 100s to Fizik R1s and I noticed a difference.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by Black Dog

Would you assume the same for frames of different materials? Design not material determines performance. Without data there is only speculation and assumption based on perceived differences. Perception is not reality.

No for your first question. Yes, for your second question but in the way I think you are asking. There is a lot more “tooling” to get materials to behave “ideal” with frames. Basically you have 8 different tubes coming together to make two triangles, right. A handlebar is one tube.
Your last statement is not true either and rather philosophical. Like if a tree falls in the woods and no hears it did it fall or is it different if it cannot be measured? My answer is yes.

[bking]

Yes, for me they absolutely do.