ENVE Composites M9 Mountain Handlebar

With seventy-five World Cup podiums over the past eight years, Enve's M9 Mountain handlebar has set the bar high for carbon downhill bars. The M9 is available in 30mm and 50mm rises, to cater to versatile riding positions and cockpit preferences. With a max bar width of 810mm, and a minimum of 780mm, this handlebar caters to the aggressive crowd looking for a wide stance.

Enve chose to stay with a 31.8mm clamp diameter for this bar, instead of increasing to 35mm. The reason for this is that appropriate safety and strength numbers could be achieved with this spec, as well as the proper flex tune needed for riding such wide bars.

The 8 degree sweep and 4 degree tip angles stray from the norm, but again, there is a method to this madness. Since the M9 is 10mm wider than most other bars on the market, the 8°/4° suits the extra width, the shorter stems they’ll be paired with, and the longer-travel bikes they’ll be piloting. It may seem like a minute difference, but the flatter profile affords increased control and comfort. And when racing downhill at breakneck speeds, those attributes should not be compromised.