Race Face’s Aeffect R is a bargain-priced beefy handlebar that’s so popular it comes as original equipment on tons of complete trail and enduro bikes. Being 780mm across, it isn’t quite full-on DH width (800mm), and you’ll need to look elsewhere if you need the extra 20mm to swerve through the tree trunks.
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The triple butted shape is drawn out of less common 2000 series alloy and uses an oversized 35mm clamp area to keep strength high without adding too much weight. At 355g, it’s still at the chunkier end of wider aluminium bars though.
5-degree up and 8-degree back is stamped on the bar, but the Aeffect R actually feels slightly curvier. The shape is natural enough while riding though and it’s easy to alter the roll angle to get a different feel and hand position. In terms of steering response, feedback from the ground and connection to the bike, the Aeffect is solid and stiff.
It’s noticeably less damped than Race Face’s excellent carbon bars, but this is something you’d reasonably expect given the huge price difference, and compared to aluminium bars in the same price bracket, it’s actually really comfortable. The Aeffect never feels too wooden or harsh on the arms down the roughest trails and has good control and quietening of trail buzz and chatter vibrations.
If this Race Face bar is wide enough for you, the quality shot peened finish looks great and there’s a solid precise feel (without ever being too jarring), making it a great deal at just over 40 quid.
