The Renthal Fatbar is a well respected handlebar with our testers and has been a regular pick in the Dirt 100 for many years. With the recent launch of the Version 2 with a black anodised colour option, we run you through the details.

Words: Sean White and Renthal  Images: Renthal

Renthal is a brand steeped with pedigree of a two-wheeled nature, both pedal and motor powered and has always been a favourite with us at Dirt. This UK based brand has a true understanding of what’s needed for hardcore use and has been producing components since 1969. Although there is now a carbon bar in its range, Renthal’s reputation in the mountainbike world has been built on the aluminium Fatbar – it has become a benchmark component and a relatively affordable upgrade. Read what we had to say about it in the 2017 Dirt 100 HERE. You can go to this brand for the full matching cockpit, with grips and standard or direct mount stems available. Pair the standard Fatbar with a Renthal Apex stem and you can go as short as 31mm in length…

‘Tried and tested, DH proven and yet not overkill on a trail bike, Renthal get it right yet again’

It’s been easy to spot an aluminium Renthal Fatbar on a bike. The distinctive gold anodised colour has been the only option if you’ve stuck with the more affordable aluminium bar rather than the lighterweight carbon Fatbar. For 2018, Renthal has given the range an overhaul, not long after offering a 35mm bar clamp option (and a wider width) back in the summer of 2016. With the updated 35mm clamp handlebar line, the Renthal design team saw the ride quality and flex characteristics as the most important design consideration. Renthal’s aim was to match their flex characteristics of this wider 35mm clamp size to be comparable to their current 31.8mm equivalent. The Fatbar 35 grew in width to a useful 800mm and the Fatbar Lite – a popular trail bike upgrade – now measured 760mm. The 31.8mm clamp bars remained at the previous narrower widths of 780mm and 740mm respectively. Until now…

With the new V2 Fatbar models we now see wider 31.8mm clamp bars as well as a black anodised colour option across the range.