BTCHN’ Bikes has been making their titanium drop bar for a while. The Chico, CA based brand is updating the bar, yet again. The fourth generation titanium drop bar has a host of small, yet meaningful updates.
BTCHN’ Bikes makes a ton of different handlebars: titanium riser bars, 4130 chromoly handlebars, bull moose bars, weird ass bars, flat bars, and drop bars. The drop bar is the most intense to manufacture, requiring 3d-printing, bending, and welding. The titanium drop bar is a work of art, and the fourth generation is no different. Read along for all of the small details that add up to make a BTCHN, made in California, handlebar.
BTCHN’ Bikes Ti Drop Bar Quick Hits
- Bent, Welded and Anodized in Chico, California, USA
- Titanium with 3D printed parts
- 31.8mm Clamp Diameter
- 73mm Reach
- 107mm Drop
- Custom Width: 34cm – 50cm (Hood to hood width)
- Custom Flare: 8°, 15°, or 25°
- Weights range from 370g for 40cm bars and 405g for 50cm bars
- Starting at $620 USD
Gen. 4 Refinements
There are a host of small changes between this generation and the last that cumulatively, should make for a noticed difference. The fourth generation handlebar has a more fit and feel, most notably, in the design of the 3d-printed corners. The redesign makes them easier to wrap and maximizes the usable bar width on the handlebar tops. Additionally, the center section of the handlebar has been made smaller which improves aerodynamics, but more importantly, makes it more ergonomic for smaller hands to grip the bar more naturally. Conversely, those with larger hands can use thicker bar tape without sacrificing control.
Gen. 4 Construction and Geometry
The whole point of drop bars is to offer the rider many hand positions. BTHCN’ Bikes wants to give riders the greatest feeling and riding handlebar possible. To do so, the 3d printed corner pieces feature a very tight radius. This increases the amount of real estate on the tops of the handlebar. Most handlebar tops can feel significantly more narrow than they appear because it is difficult to tuck your hands into these corners. The tight radius of the BTCHN’s bars should make that width more similar to the width of the brake levers.
The drops themselves feature a short reach and shallow drop that’s inline with modern gravel bike fitments. This geometry keeps your fit compact and controlled instead of stretched and overextended. The titanium tubes feature a small diameter to provide compliance that helps reduce washboard chatter and trail buzz.
Customers can choose their handlebar width and flare to suit their preferences. Widths are available in 2cm increments between 40cm and 50cm with either 8°, 15°, or 25° flare.
You can order the fourth generation titanium drop bar direct from BTCHN’ Bikes.