I have between 6 and 10 bikes that I ride on occasion. They have Cinelli, 3TTT, Nitto or OT Ritchey bars, some new, some used.
I ride on the hoods a lot so I'm sensitive to slight variances in the angles of the brake levers. I've found that most of the bars are slightly asymmetrical, even several of the new ones.
At first I suspected that some of the used bars had been bent in a wreck but then I found brand new bars with the same condition.
The variances are usually in the angle of the flare where the tops of the bars start dropping down into the bend. That's where I place my brake levers.
Some folks might not notice the difference but I do because I set up the position of my brake levers using a straight edge, digital calipers and a dial protractor - OC disorder. ;-)
I like all of my bikes to have close to the same feel as far as bars, levers and seat go. I've changed out some bars that I couldn't correct the feel by angling the brake levers in or out.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Mike Larsen wrote:
> List;
> Sorry for the confusion to much going on at a senior moment. I meant are aluminum bars bent the same on both sides, or were they bent the best they could be, or are all my used bars tweeked from riding. The bars are not all that close to being the same bend side to side either. Does one just use the ones he likes best and live with this or is all my stuff just junk. I have Brittish, Japan, and French. A few different makes of each. My new bars are not much better either.
>
> Mike Larsen
> St. Paul, MN
> USA