LOW RISE Handlebars on Terrain domination and other 2015 SnowCheck sleds: Advantages?
- Thread starter dexter
- Start date
Lots of advantages to those under 6' and think the normal Pro-Tapers are too tall.
The advantage is you have a choice to get bars that fit you. It has nothing to do with height. People will give you a ficticious height and tell you what bar you need. Don't buy into it. I am 3 inches taller than my wife and my arms hang 2 inches below hers. So I can go with shorter bars than her.
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xc6rider
Well-known member
Right on the $! I'm 6'4" and want shorter bars cause my dang arms are so long.
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xc6rider
Well-known member
But aren't your legs and torso longer too?
I've been stretching my arms on power toys with handlebars my whole life.
I think the key is to find a height that allows you to stand comfortably when riding and boondocking. I am 6'1" and added an inch. My dad is two inches taller and he added a two inch riser. Nice to have a choice to go lower and not just taller.
The trend these days among top backcountry riders is to migrate towards lower bars. With today's chassis it's not jut not necessary to run a taller bar for leverage. So now it's more towards riding something that's comfortable and more natural. Stand on your sled, hold your hands just below waist level and extend your hands straight out. That's about where your bars should be - regardless of whether they are Pro Taper, Burandt, Dan Adams, whatever. From there you might still want to make some adjustments for personal preference. I'm 5'11' and feel like my Pro Tapers are just a bit too tall, my son is 5'7'' and loves his.
I think the back country riders are going lower cause its easier to hang farther off the machine, if they are too high you are not able to throw the leg or butt off to the side as far specially if you are pushing with one leg!
lower bars
If you are sidehilling and the sled starts to tip away from the hill, lower bars will make it easier to tip back into the hill. with taller bars, the sled has more leverage pulling you down the hill with it, making it harder to regain your edge on the hill, if that makes any sense. Rasmussen explains it in the first schooled i think.
If you are sidehilling and the sled starts to tip away from the hill, lower bars will make it easier to tip back into the hill. with taller bars, the sled has more leverage pulling you down the hill with it, making it harder to regain your edge on the hill, if that makes any sense. Rasmussen explains it in the first schooled i think.
DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER! This is exactly why I have ran 3" lower bars on my pros. There really is no comparison in how much easier it is to control the sled with lower bars.
Everyone we ride with that has stock pro tapers watches my riding partner and I ride with low bars and started swapping to lower bars themselves. Yes I can ride a stock pro just fine but having swapped back to one for an entire day I am definitely sold on the lows. So much easier on your shoulders and arms being able to ride with arms near straight rather than up & bent.
How long can you hang on a pullup bar with your arms at a 90 degree angle vs how long can you hang there with your arms straight?
I would say my bars are a little extreme for most people but the 1" lower pro tapers are going to be better all around for everyone under 6' and also many over.
For the record... The "Low Rise" handlebars that are optional, from the factory during SnowCheck, on the 2015 RMK/Pro/Assault are 1" (one inch) shorter than the "High Rise" Handlebars on the 2015's.
The High-Rise handlebars on the 2015 RMK/PRO/Assault are identical to the Pro-Taper bars on the 2011-2014 PRO-RMK/Assaults.
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The High-Rise handlebars on the 2015 RMK/PRO/Assault are identical to the Pro-Taper bars on the 2011-2014 PRO-RMK/Assaults.
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trackvs2wheels
Well-known member
That is why the "Pro's" in the industry run the lower bars, you are correct. However, to say that the lower bars will better suit a majority of today's Polaris Pro riders may be stretching it. Reason I say that is of the riders I've seen on brand new stock Pro's only about 10% of them actually use the sled as it's intended to be used (i.e. on it's edge dangling through tight trees). It is in those situations where I agree lower handlebars will be a benefit...but for those using their purpose built mountain machine to shred meadows and 5 degree sidehills the stock height bars may very well work better for them!
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Jaynelson
Well-known member
Also of note....how many of the pro riders are 6' ++? Don't think many at all.
If you are looking on the internet for what bar height you need....you are doing it wrong. Find what works and is comfortable for you.
Only a couple years ago, the pros were all telling you that you needed taller seats and bars. Now it's lower seats and bars. There was never and will never be any wrong answer....just go with what feels good. If you are comfortable on the sled, you will ride better. If some guy on the net says lower bars are the ****, you slap some on and are bent over like a monkey....how good are you going to ride?
FWIW, I am 6'2" and feel I use the sled as it was intended (although I'm not Burandt), and the stock (high) bars are great for me. Your mileage may vary.
If you are looking on the internet for what bar height you need....you are doing it wrong. Find what works and is comfortable for you.
Only a couple years ago, the pros were all telling you that you needed taller seats and bars. Now it's lower seats and bars. There was never and will never be any wrong answer....just go with what feels good. If you are comfortable on the sled, you will ride better. If some guy on the net says lower bars are the ****, you slap some on and are bent over like a monkey....how good are you going to ride?
FWIW, I am 6'2" and feel I use the sled as it was intended (although I'm not Burandt), and the stock (high) bars are great for me. Your mileage may vary.
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polarcat39
Member
But I look pretty cool on those 5 degree side-hills. The GoPro video proves it...
