The Atlas handlebar has long been Race Face’s gravity-oriented alloy option, and now, they’ve given it a complete overhaul. Claimed to be the “strongest handlebar of all” in the Race Face lineup, the updated Atlas joins the rest of the Race Face handlebar family with a new Goldilocks Tune (GL Tune), three rise options, and a rainbow of anodized color options. It’s still the burly alloy mountain bike handlebar that so many riders know and trust, but now, it’s claimed to be more comfortable while offering more fit options than ever before.
Race Face Atlas Handlebar Details
Race Face’s component lineup is divided into several categories aimed at different riding styles. Atlas caters to the gravity crowd, with burly components made to withstand the rigors of downhill and enduro riding. As such, the Atlas handlebar is made from 7000-series Aluminum, is specifically designed for gravity riding on longer-travel bikes, and has a category 5 rating. At the same time, the Race Face team has given it the Goldilocks Tune to give it a similar ride feel to the rest of its MTB handlebars. Let’s check it out.
Atlas Handlebar Dimensions
Unlike the previous version, which came in both 31.8mm and 35mm clamp diameters, the new Atlas handlebar is available only in 35mm clamp diameter. And unlike the previous version, which came in a too-wide-for-most-people 820mm width, the new version maxes out at a more reasonable 800mm. Race Face says the Atlas bar is trimmable down to 760mm without impacting the Goldilocks Tune.
The Atlas handlebar has fairly standard angles, with 8 degrees of back sweep and 5 degrees of upward sweep. While the previous version only came in 20mm and 35mm rise options, the new Atlas is offered with 20mm, 40mm, or 55mm rise to keep up with the modern higher-rise trends. The maximum stem clamp width is stated at 94mm, which should make it compatible with most direct-mount gravity stems. According to Race Face, an untrimmed 40mm rise Atlas handlebar weighs 318 grams.
Goldilocks Tune
The Goldilocks, or GL Tune, is Race Face’s name for the balance between comfort-oriented compliance and precision-oriented stiffness. Just like the classic fairy tale, the designers and engineers at Race Face are seeking to create a bar that’s not too soft, not too stiff, but instead, offers the “just right” balance of stiffness and compliance to work well for the majority of riders.
This GL Tune is something Race Face has implemented across its handlebar lineup, aiming to provide a consistent, “just right” ride feel across all disciplines. Race Face claims it settled on this compliance sweet spot based on rider feedback. And since mountain biking is such a dynamic activity, its design allows compliance in every plane, not just vertically.
Race Face Atlas Handlebar Specs
- Material: 7000-series Aluminum
- Clamp diameter: 35mm
- Max. clamp width: 94mm (compatible with most direct mount stems)
- Width: 800mm (trimmable to 760mm)
- Rise Options: 20mm, 40mm, 55mm
- Back sweep: 8 degrees
- Up sweep: 5 degrees
- Weight: 318g (40mm rise)
- Use: All-mountain, enduro, gravity, and eMTB
Race Face Atlas Handlebars: Pricing, Options, Availability
Race Face offers the Atlas handlebars in a whopping 7 anodized color options, so you can choose the one that best suits your bike’s color scheme or personal aesthetic. The options are: Black, Silver, Kashmoney, Stealth, Orange, Blue, and Purple. The Atlas retails for $100 USD or $110 CAD. You can learn more or buy it on the Race Face website. Or, better yet, find a dealer near you and support your local bike shop.
raceface.com
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