handle bar lenght?

[ToNYC]

....how wide is your handle bar and why? 'just got a 28" raceface riser and i wanna consider b4 hacking. The current riser on my bike is 25"....will appreciate any input....

[jimbo]

Ride it for a while before hacking.  I've got a 27" wide and 2" rise Answer bar.  I like the wide bar because it gives me better control on sketchy descents and better control for pulling the bar up.  I've been able to ride my normal trails without hooking the bars.  If I had ride clearance problems on the trail, then I would definite hack.  I like the bar so much, I got the same bar on my hardtail.  The bottom line is whether you are comfortable with the width.

[slowride]

Definitely try it first. I've got some 28" Azonics on my ride, and I love them. I run GripShift, and I always found those Gripshift-specific grips too small, so I'd end up riding with my hands on the shifters. Makes for a bit of trouble if you happen to shift your hands.

On the Azonic, I have enough room for Gripshift and full size grips. I love it!

[RoentgenRanger]

I'd agree.  Give it a few rides.  Basic rule, narrow is quicker handling, wider is more stable(a bit slower steering) with more leverage.  I run wide stuff.  25" flat bar on the Razorback and 27" 1.5" rise on the Evo.

[Autoduel]

I like the quick response of narrow bars.
On my FS I run a 21" and 23" on my hard tail.
I like the better control on the wider 23" on the HT, because I bomb the same rock gardens w/ 63mm travel and run a 1x9 gearing and need the extra leverage.  Otherwise 21' is fine for my FS.
I also have narrow shoulders and going too wide feels like having too long a stem.  Need to much body english to get it to turn.

[ToNYC]

.....got the bar down to 26.5".....feels perfect.....thanks for all the input!....