Nitto rb-021 horns - comfortable?

been thinking about getting the nitto RB-021 horns to replace my drop bars but have read reviews that they are uncomfortable

any one using them who could share what they are like to ride with?

also, excuse being a novice but it comes in two sizes, 26cm and 40 cm, what do these measurements represent as i would like to check if they would fit on my genesis flyer frame.....

thanks

26 would be the stem diameter, 40 would be the width. i've not used them, though, sorry.

i think the comfort factor really depends on the whole setup and your preference. for me i think i can almost use any kind of bar and set it up to feel comfortable on them.

they have quite a bit of drop and point quite far forwards so would be good if you prefer a low position (well, they're pursuit bars) or if your frame is short. i would team it up with a shorter stem since handling would feel sluggish with a long stem if u're holding it at the ends. but if you tend to grab on the "flat bit"/around the clamp sleeve of the bars then forget about these as there's not much to grab onto.

plus the nitto RB-021 looks cool, where are you buying them? I only found them on e-bay so far.

i have heard those Nitto horns are really purdy, might get me some - though of course i prefer real bullhorns - you catch my drift pardner ;)

Stoopsombitch!

plus the nitto RB-021 looks cool, where are you buying them? I only found them on e-bay so far.

http://hubjub.co.uk/nitto/nitto.htm

So while on the subject, I managed to buy myself a bike without any prior knowledge about fixed bikes (and bikes in general). So my stem is for 31.8 MM while most bars seems to be 26 MM, do I need to buy myself a new stem, or can I do some magic and make a 26MM fit on a 31.8 MM stem?

new stem.

I found these very uncomfortable. I sold mine to someone on here and he found them very uncomfortable too. They're probably still doing the rounds somewhere!

I guess it depends where you like your hands to be.. I ride with mine on the top rather than on the drops and I found the sloping part annoying... it felt like I was trying to stop my hands sliding down

ben sold me those and i sold them to you i think. funny it's still doing the rounds :)

Well, I'm bucking the trend and liked mine! Not enough not to be selling them to 50x14 this evening, but they suited the bike they were on. I did chop mine down a bit.

but they look so cool, and that is what matters

?

nah, they suited the bike, just not the 120 stem I had on 'em.

I found that there was an alarming amount of flex in the bars when I first put them on the bike. I'm often wrong, though, and this was no different. It turned out that the flex was in the stem rather than the bars. The RB-021s are long, so you get a lot of leverage on the stem with your hands at the end of the bars. I swapped my 100mm Nitto stem for a 70mm version from the same manufacturer and the flex disappeared.

I'd try and pair the bars with a short-ish stem. Get out your measuring tape and decide where your hands need to be. The ends of the bars are about 18cm from the part that clamps in the stem.

I have the rb-018 on mine, i have loads of hills so didnt want the drop to be too severe. They are prob a little stiffer than the 021s. They are well comfy and really handy in the hills.

So while on the subject, I managed to buy myself a bike without any prior knowledge about fixed bikes (and bikes in general). So my stem is for 31.8 MM while most bars seems to be 26 MM, do I need to buy myself a new stem, or can I do some magic and make a 26MM fit on a 31.8 MM stem?

You can get alloy shims to insert for standard size bars. 26 to 31.8.

Profile Airwings for flatter top section but still bit of a drop and good looks.

EDIT: Why did i reply so late? How did I even end upon this thread? Why is my life a fail?

whay do you have snot coloured bar tape?

syntace stratos are the best bullhorns i have use, come in varying drops.

i like them as they have a little backsweep to the flat section which is quite unusual but works really well.

whay do you have snot coloured bar tape?

Says the 'man' with the distinctly snot coloured bike! Alright there Hammond?

Army green motherfucker.

the colour of real men.

it's at least 7 times more manly than your bartape colour.

And my bartape unrolled is at least 7 times bigger than you.

pretty much everything is 7 times bigger than me.

tell me something i dont know.

The shape of the earth is actually an oblate spheroid, ie, not completely round.