Hack Job!

I wanna change the bar setup on my Langster but I am a little hesitant to take the saw to the bars.

I heard some guys turn the bars over and chop the ends off? Did I hear right and if I did, would this work on the Langster.

I never drop down, its never comfortable. So its either buying some sort of bull horn type bars or a hack job.

Anybody done it? Cut there bars I mean.

Loads of people do it - "chop and flop"

I've got me a cheapo pair of drops off wiggle winging their way to me as I type, just to do this, because it's cheaper than buying 'proper' bullhorns.

It will work on a langster - it'll work on any bike. You'll obviously have to move the brake levers.

Great! I did think about the brake levers. Is it just basic to flip and slide them on?

Great! I did think about the brake levers. Is it just basic to flip and slide them on?

No need to flip them, they are on a round section tube that is the same either way up.

I think I know what you mean......
I'll get the bike out and take a look. I really don't wanna fork up theses bars....
(stead hand....stead hand.....)

Has the stem got a removable front plate on it ?

Are the brake levers hinged ?

Are they positioned on the top of the handle bars ?

Get a pipe cutter

yes, yes, yes

Pipe cutter! I'll ask the plumber across the road to sort it for me!!! Fantastic! I might not wreck them after all.

yes, yes, yes

Then undo the bolt on each lever and let them hang loose. Then undo the bolts on the front plate of the stem. Remove the bars, cut them to whatever shape or size you are comfortable with and then mount them back on whatever way up you want. Put the face plate back on, nice and tight, then put the levers back on.

I did this very thing for a friend around two weeks ago, took 10 minutes including cutting the bars and sanding down the freshly cut edges so they are not sharp.

Are the standard Specialized bars considered to be expensive or inexpensive. I wouldn't wanna hack an expensive set of bars.

What sort of langster?

Hell in my day that was the only way to get a pair of bullhorns. go for it.

Are the standard Specialized bars considered to be expensive or inexpensive. I wouldn't wanna hack an expensive set of bars.

Why not ?

07 Langster

I am just procrastenating! I'm gonna hack me some bars!!!

(It may be too late ...)

Noelpt, I have an old tatty pair of hacked bars that are about to become surplus (new bars and stem arrive tuesday). If you want to use them for a while to make sure this IS how you want to ride, before hacking your bars, you're welcome to try them.

playswellwithotters! I will defo take you up on the offer! I hope you get this, not sure how to send a private message on this forum.

Many thanks mate!

playswellwithotters! I will defo take you up on the offer! I hope you get this, not sure how to send a private message on this forum.

Many thanks mate!

Click on the name of the person you want to PM (to the left of their post) - menu pops up.

Thank Tynan, I only realized afterwards.

if you can never comfortably use the drops, perhaps you should try a shorter stem?

I used to never understand drops till I built up my current bike where I can reach them properly.

You can get an immense boost of power by using the drops, especially good for steep climbs or rapid accelleration on a highly geared fixie.

Your spoilt for choice with short reach ahead stems, Id reccommend giving them a try first. As it'd be a shame to never experience the "joys" of the drop.

a lot of people use too low/long a stem to get on the drops comfortably.

all stretched out like a monkey.

you need to have arms bent at the elbows

I'm gonna give "playswellwithotters" bars a try and if they don't do the trick, I will be straight to the lbs for a new stem and I will add a few spacers.

Thanks guys,

Thanks again Iain, really awesome of you to lend your bars to a complete stranger.

let me know how this goes, i tried to fit bullhorns to my langster but the stem clamp is 31mm so they didnt fit.

gonna chop and flop the bars on a racing bike soon tho.

The stock bars on the langster are cheapos - get experimenting

I found they are very short, and I needed a little more room for my hands. But my missus bought me a set of profile's and they are great! Just gotta fit a different stem. If you like a snug fit, then the Langsters bars will do just fine!