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Images of Thomson’s New Handlebars Surface

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In the realm of quality light weight stems and seatposts, Thomson has long set the benchmark. They’ve been teasing new handlebars and a dropper post for a really long time, and their new handlebar options will finally be available starting Sept 1st.

Updated:

The aluminum and titanium models are still built here in the United States, but the new carbon bits will be produced in  All of the new handlebars will be produced in Taiwan for now, but they plan to bring carbon fiber production in house by 2015.

Hop past the break to ogle.

Road

Carbon Road Bar, 195 – 205 gm, $249.95

Available in 40, 42, 44, and 46 center-to center

Cyclocross Carbon Bar, 200-210 gm, $249.95

Available in 40, 42, and 44 center-to center

Mountain 

Carbon XC flat bar, 185 gm, $149.95

730mm x Flat/8mm drop x 6° backsweep x 31.8

Carbon Riser bar, 210 gm, $149.94

730mm x 12mm Rise x 6° backsweep/4° upsweep x 31.8

Titanium MTB Bar, 295 gm, $249.95

730mm x 6° backsweep x 31.8

Titanium MTB Bar, 295 gm, $249.95

730mm x 12° backsweep x 31.8

DH Bar, 295 gm, $109.95

780mm x 6° backsweep 4° upsweep-12mm rise x 31.8

Why not a carbon fiber downhill bar?

“We could and we may, but downhill riding and racing involves the potential for fairly frequent, big crashes. Every time you crash on a carbon bar you may damage it, but may not know. Aluminum is close in weight and a much safer bet long term” – Thomson

Dropper Post Update

From their facebook:

“It is looking bad like a bag a money. Should be at Eurobike and Interbike. Will have the guts to play with as well. As far as that goes will have bars sawed in half to look at.”

For More Details Visit Thomson

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30 Comments
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Bill C
Bill C
11 years ago

How about a carbon seatpost with a not-creaky head? That would be sweeeet!

Bill C
Bill C
11 years ago

Liking the looks of the 12* ti bars, though.

Sevo
Sevo
11 years ago

Bill-Thomson’s post weights are either the same as or only 20-30 grams heavier than any carbon offering….and much much much cheaper. Bang for the buck, Thomson’s posts/stems are hard to beat even if you have a bigger budget.

Topmounter
Topmounter
11 years ago

I saw that picture and immediately thought “Carbon Helix Road Bar”, which would have been a pretty epic discussion topic, oh well.

fred
fred
11 years ago

I’ve never tried running my bar with the drops pointing straight down. Thomson is onto something.

Will
Will
11 years ago

&fred – The photographer said that he mounted the bars funny to better show the details.

John
John
11 years ago

Thompson has never set the benchmark for lightweight posts or stems.

Quality, I will give you that…

Whatever
Whatever
11 years ago

Thomson’s beauty is machining. I’m not sure how “bending’ compliments their non-cycling skill set. They are a super fine machine shop, but they are far from a cycling knowledge base.

Would rather see them making other bike bits like skewers, hubs, hangers, cages, fd mounts, or brakes. Etc. etc. Where they can be a machine shop, not metal benders or China outsourcers.

Name one thing they currently sell that isn’m made from a block of AL? Can’t do this with handlebars, I’m afraid. And bars are preference shape pieces, unlike all their other stuff that is simply built to standards.

Frank
Frank
11 years ago

what’s the difference between the road and CX bars other than some laser etched graphics?

carl
11 years ago

Two thoughts…… the carbon cross bar is LIGHTER than the road bar (HUH?). And if you’ve never owned a Thompson seatpost you owe it to yourself. Light enough, micro adjustable, and strong. Every year someone comes out with a new seatpost design but Thompson keeps making a tried and true, dependable, affordable post. Excellent!!!! Good engineering and a quality build….

Brad
Brad
11 years ago

Katie Compton signature bars-sweet! I used to ride with her before I got married and got fat. Go Delaware!

yesplease
yesplease
11 years ago

Just surfaced photos? They posted these on their facebook weeks ago. #notfirstyourebikerumor

greg
greg
11 years ago

@ commenters,
THERE IS NO “P” IN THOMSON.
@Whatever,
theyve been bending tubes all the time, every one of their layback posts is bent.

mkrs
mkrs
11 years ago

@carl

Or maybe it’s just lack of true innovation?

@Whatever

What’s so special about Thomson? Can you in any way prove that they are such a great machine shop? Most of their components are such old designs that today many companies make parts both lighter and just as strong. Just because the company is American doesn’t mean that everybody has to praise their products for exceptional quality.

ChadQuest
ChadQuest
11 years ago

Bike Rumor should check their information.

I am 99% positive i knew months ago that all the Aluminum handlebars would be made overseas since Thomson does not have the capability to do butted tubing or bending, along with the carbon, which will eventually come back to America because they need to start fabricating carbon fiber for airline companies anyway and will be then investing in the equipment to do that. But for now NONE of these will be US made.

Also Greg, those setback posts are not bent at all, they are forged and machined in that shape.

Whatever
Whatever
11 years ago

Greg is right, the setback posts get bent. But one, flat, low-double-digit-degree kink does not handlebar capabilities make. And they are not forged, Chad, AL is extruded into a shape they want. These extrusions are then machined and BENT, if setback.

Thomson is a precision shop, their core business is aerospace. They are special. Those of you that don’t that fit right into the Bike Rumor editorial mission or getting a lot wrong. Cycling is far from their core business.

I think their seat clamp head is ugly, but their posts are FINE pieces of engineering and machine work. And are to be lauded.

ChadQuest
ChadQuest
11 years ago

Looks like you are correct , as only parts for the clamp are forged.
“After machining but before anodize the posts are cold bent in a tube bender we built”~Thomson.

MarkV
11 years ago

No denying Thomson makes nice quality seatposts, though the original blueprint for that came from copying a Syncros Hardcore post. These guys are not known for being original, they made their way taking good designs and making them better with “made in USA” credibility.

Chip
Chip
11 years ago

I think I lost a few IQ points after reading these comments………

Sevo
Sevo
11 years ago

Chip-I agree.

plum
11 years ago

For the love of God can we stop saying “carbon bits”. RETIRE THAT WORN OUT SHIT. USE YOUR WORDS.

chadquest
11 years ago

i can’t wait for the Thomson cranks and single speed kit.

Phillip
Phillip
11 years ago

They sponsor Katie f-king Compton??? I feel sorry for Thomson that they have to deal with such high maintenance BS. Will purchase the bars out of sympathy.

Singlespeedroadie
Singlespeedroadie
11 years ago

@chadquest – Now your talking!!!

Dan
Dan
11 years ago

I’ve run Thomson parts on all my bikes since day 1 of their debut. Huge part of the appeal is the “Made in USA” factor, and I’m clearly not alone. Take that for what it is, but there’s no denying it. I think this Asian manufacturing move is a poor business choice that takes them out of the “Chris King” league of components and shifts them into a tier of outsourcers below. Will the quality of the bars be top notch? Absolutely, there is no question of that……BUT, all things considered, why buy one of these Thomson bars when you can buy an Easton or any number of other Asian bars that are just as good? So it can match your post and stem maybe? We’re talking handlebars here, not a super sophisticated component with a ton of market segmentation to be had….like say a fork, or even a dropper post.

slippy
slippy
11 years ago

Its a brand extension, but into a very crowded category, and as their brand (to me) is synonymous with machinists in Georgia cutting aluminum, these new parts don’t really excite me. What might make more sense brand-wise could be a carbon seatpost (Asian-sourced, sure) with their same clamp head design and build quality. I use Thomson posts on all of my bikes and stems on most.

@MarkV you’re right about those Syncros posts, I had a titanium one back in the day and it was light, strong, and super cool with the machining marks still visible.

BikeTart
11 years ago

Any drop or reach measurements?

K
K
11 years ago

Move this stuff to the USA, your fans will pay for the difference you greedy bastards.

Jeff
Jeff
11 years ago

I really like Thomson seatposts as they clamp seat rails with authori’tay’. I also find that their ribbed finish also helps to prevent the seatpost from slipping down into the frame. The price is actually very reasonable after realizing how much better they are than what I have tried inthe past. Having said that, I never would have know what a great seatpost they made if it wasn’t built in the USA. I, like most americans, have been trained by Wal-Mart to buy stuff at the cheapest possible price. The only reason I ever looked at them was because I found the Made in USA to be something unique. Will I pay $140+ for carbon handlebars made overseas when I can buy other carbon handlebars made overseas for 1/3 that cost? The answer is no. Why, you may ask… because I’m American and I dont have any connection with overseas parts or brands. I don’t know if the quality is any better and I dont want to spend the money to find out. Bring production here and I will “splurge” to try them out. If they are good then I will probably be a long time user.

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