Quick fix tips Cut your handlebar down

1

Before you cut, you need to work out your ideal bar width. If you have lock-on grips with open ends, you can do this by gradually moving them closer to the stem until you’re happy with the hand position. Then mark the bar at the outer edge of the grips.

2

If your bike has an alloy bar, the best tool to cut it with is a pipe cutter. Slide the cutter onto the bar, with the blade on the mark made in step 1. Tighten the cutter and then rotate it. Repeat until you’re through to the other side, then skip to step 6.

3

To use a saw, first remove the bar from the bike. Loosen the grips and controls, then slide them o . Remove the bar from the stem by loosening the faceplate bolts and sliding it out. For a carbon fibre bar go to step 4, or for an alloy bar skip straight to step 5.

4

If you have a carbon bar, wrap the section of bar that you’re cutting with a layer of masking tape before you start sawing. This will stop the carbon fibres splintering. You’ll also need to use a carbon fibre hacksaw blade.

5

Clamp a saw guide in a vice and fix the bar into the guide, positioned so that the saw blade will cut exactly through the mark you made earlier. Carefully cut through the bar, then repeat on the other end.

6

Now to remove the burrs left by the cutting/sawing. If you don’t do this, these bits of carbon or metal could cause injury or make it di cult to slide your grips on later. File the end of the bar lightly, keeping the file at a slight angle to the bar.

7

Refit the bar in the stem, making sure that the faceplate bolts are tightened to the manufacturer’s recommended torque setting. Reinstall the controls and grips; you’ll probably want your brake levers and shifter(s) to sit further inboard now the bar is narrower.