The Spoon 35 from Spank offers the steering precision of a 35mm clamp at an attractive price, but don’t don't go thinking this stiff, comfortable bar is 'cheap'. Other than some finicky bar graphics, there’s very little to complain about.
- RaceFace Atlas 35 Handlebar review
- Spank Spike 35 Vibrocore handlebar review
- The best mountain bike handlebars you can buy - tried and tested trail bars
The alloy Spank Spoon comes in a range of options, including a choice of a 25mm, 40mm, or 60mm rises, 31.8 or 35mm clamp diameters, and a 5° or 8° backsweep. We closed our eyes, waved our hands a bit and chose a 25mm rise and 8° backsweep in the 35mm clamp. The upsweep is 5° on all models, so relax, the agony of choice is over.
Or not. It also comes in a selection of shot-peened, anodized finishes: black-red, black-black, black-green, or black-blue. It's 800mm wide, too, but can be cut all the way down to 740mm.
One fun but nerdy (and reassuring) fact is that this bar complies with ASTM International's highest riding conditions classification, so it's built strong enough for super rough DH tracks.
The Spoon 35 is a basic bar without any weird offsets unusual technologies. But because of that, it works really well – and the price is good.
The stiffness and steering precision are instantly noticeable, and that little bit of extra solidity around the clamp puts you more in tune with what the front wheel is up to. Against a 31.8mm bar, steering feels much more direct and it’s easier to keep the front wheel where you want it. If you like a solid, burly feeling front end, a 35mm bar clamp will help.
The angles are perfectly comfortable, and I bonded quite well with the 8° back sweep, despite usually prefering a 9°.
One niggle is that the details are printed right in the middle, so when paired with an open-faced stem, you can see all the techy details in a list. I’d rather have a logo or nothing at all, but obviously that's simply personal taste.
The rest of the markings are helpful enough, and I didn't find it too difficult to line up my angles properly.
It would be easy to say that the Spank Spoon 35 is great for those wanting to try 35mm without spending loads, but it’s a great bar for anyone – especially given all its options. While basic, it's stiff, gives a comfortable shape and it's well priced. There's very little to dislike.
