Chocomoose Versions

[j.schwartz]

Greetings, 

hope everyone is staying safe and sane out there.

Question about the Chocomoose bars.

Were there multiple versions of this integrated stem/bar handlebar?  Was there an initial version that was improved later on?

thanks

JS

[Joe Bernard]

I have what I'm fairly certain is the only iteration of the bar/stem, as I recall it didn't last long. It came in the 'flipped down' style and I think most people prefer them upright.

[David B]

I do think there was an early version with a different rise/reach than what went out with the completes. No idea what the actual rise/reach differences. I bought one from the 'garage sale' section at some point to try out and I think it was the higher rise version.

[Bill Lindsay]

What's the context of your question?  If there were two versions, it only matters in three ways 

A. if you have the opportunity to buy both and it will give you something to help you decide between them.

B. If you have the opportunity to buy one and neither you nor the seller knows for sure if there were two versions and what the difference was, so you don't know whether you want it or not

C. you're just curious and aren't going to buy anything right away

Which is it?  

I got a chocomoose on an Appaloosa complete.  I liked it a lot, but decided I did not like the TCO on my Appaloosa.  I sold the bike semi-complete and replaced it with a 650B Atlantis with drop bars.  

I learned that Blue Lug sold chocomooses for really cheap, under $100.  I bought one knowing I'd get a chance to use it eventually.  I held it in my hands.  I'd call it equivalent to what I remember having come on my Appaloosa complete.  If it was different at all, it was not obvious to me.  My friend Doug bought a Clem L complete and he did not like how upright the boscos were, and did not like the flex of boscos with a quill stem.  I put my Chocomooses on his Clem L for him, and he loves those.  They are rock solid and not so upright.  He has them slammed.  

That's the info I have on Choco Moose bars

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA  

[Joe Bernard]

For visual reference (and an excuse to show off my new-to-me Riv Frank Jones Señor again), this is a ChocoMoose in the only iteration I've ever seen. It's on a 51.5cm frame at almost full extension (I don't run stems quite to the Max Height mark on Rivs because of the tall threaded portion of the steerer).

[Paul M]

Hi, I'm certain there was only one version of the Chocomoose.  Rivendell put them up for sale on the 'garage sale' around the time the Butternut squash Appaloosa complete ended. Unlike the Rivendell Bullmoose bar which will always sweep upwards unless it's on a bike with a very slack headtube angle (69/70 degrees) the Chocomoose has a slight downward positioning similar to a Albatross bar flipped over and offers  excellent positioning. My favorite bar for all around riding. Thanks, Paul

[Erik Wright]

Based on everyone else's responses it sounds like there's only been one chocomoose, but I do seem to recall at least 2 versions of the boscomoose. Something like the first batch came in with the wrong/miscommunicated grip angle, so Riv sold them at a discount and reordered with the correct angle?

Not totally relevant to the OP's question, but it was the first thing I thought of. Maybe it's what JS is thinking of too.

Erik, Philly

[Joe Bernard]

Correctamundo on Boscos. There were several versions (reach, TIG v. fillet) of the original Bullmoose, too. Only one ChocoMoose that I'm aware of.

[ted]

I think there was only one batch of 200mm bullmoose bars, with all the others being 150mm. I suspect they are rare and am glad to have one. Similarly I’m glad I snagged a chocomoose before they were all gone (apparently for good).
As others have observed elsewhere, if rbw has something you want buy it directly. Do not assume it’ll be there in the future.

[j.schwartz]

Thanks all

Maybe I am thinking of the BoscoMooses.

The context with which I'm asking the question is really just about knowing as I'm interested in potentially getting a set and when looking at photos of other bikes online with this bar, some look slightly different to my eye than others.  Really it's that sometimes, when viewing a photo of the chocomoose, it looks like it would work well for me (I like the downward/flipped drop of the bars) and sometimes it doesn't .

Only one way to find out. 

I didn't know blue lug sold those bars new.  Very interesting. 

[Bones]

I've got the chocomoose on my Appaloosa. I love them. The integrated stem gets them up nice and high and makes them super sturdy, which is great for carrying loads. I have a regular choco bar too, and I definitely prefer them inverted (down). The forward position is awesome, and they still have a good amount of sweep. I used bar end shifters to maximize space. I didn't buy my bike complete, and ordered the bars from Bluelug pretty cheap, shipped quickly too. I have noticed that they do seem to photograph differently every time I take a picture of the bike, so maybe its all optical illusion. Hope this helps!

[Joe Bernard]

I did an 'eyeing it' measurement on my ChocoMoose from top of my headset to the theoretical top of the stem if it went up parallel to the top of the bar like a 7-shaped stem would. I got about 17.5cm with it buried a couple mm below the Max Height line. Stem reach is 12cm.

Hopefully this gives you a rough idea of height and reach when deciding if your bike can use a ChocoMoose.

[Joe Bernard]

Forgot the pic.

[j.schwartz]

Thanks Joe

I think the optical illusion with this bar and photos is based on how much ppl slam the stem or not.

To my eye, and knowing what I know about how I like to set up my bikes, a bike with this bar set up high doesn't seem that it would be comfortable to me, however on some of the photos I've seen where it's pretty low or even slammed, it looks like it would sync up with my riding style.  Also my bikes have pretty long head tubes, (first gen SH, Apppaloosa, 2019 Clem)

Do you have a sense on what the vertical extension would be if the moose were slammed?

Thanks for the reach number.

Jason 

[j.schwartz]

One more question about this bar...for anyone..

Could someone who is currently using the bar give me a sense of the forward reach for the hand position that is the curved & dropped area ....when the stem is moderately low to slammed?

I know this would change depending on head tube angle ,, etc but we all ride similar bikes.

I'm currently riding a 55 Appa and I'm on the lower end of the sizing spectrum for that bike.

It's got 29x2.1 tires and it's both tall and long , for me.  Not too tall or long but I wouldn't put a long stem on this bike unless I was bars that swept back generously.

Currently, I'm running flared drops with one of those Analog 30mm quill stems.

I'd like to know if the hand position on the bars where the curves that drop down would be too stretched out for me.  

thank you

[Joe Bernard]

I'll try clearer language to see if it helps your thinking. Let's say the stem is slammed and you lay a tape measure flat across the top of it..it will end underneath the center of the bar at 12 cm. So if you wanted the ChocoMoose reach on a regular Choco you would use a 12cm Technomic or Tallux stem. Make sense?

I don't have a way to guarantee the swap would work out for you, but I'm fairly certain - having ridden both setups, I had that flared-bar/stem combo on a bike Analog built - that this bar would bring the curves as close or closer than Flared drops on a 3cm stem.

In short, if you think a ChocoMoose will work I recommend finding one and trying it. It's a neat design that looks great, and I have serious doubts it's coming around again.

[Roberta]

"Let's say the stem is slammed and you lay a tape measure flat across the top of it..it will end underneath the center of the bar at 12 cm. So if you wanted the ChocoMoose reach on a regular Choco you would use a 12cm Technomic or Tallux stem."

Joe - what's the difference between those two stems?

[Joe Bernard]

Roberta,

It can be a little confusing because once upon a time there was a Technomic and a Technomic Deluxe which were different quill lengths, then Riv starting selling a tall one called Tallux which is some variation on Technomic. All cleared up, right? 😂

[Joe Bernard]

Then there's the one on Leah's Clem which is even taller and I'd never heard of until she found it somewhere. Will @ Riv didn't know about it, either.

[Clayton Scott]

There have been some deemed "bad angle", where the bar angle was angled downwards more. They were sold upon request. I have a pair and prefer them to the regular version.

Clayton Scott
HBG, CA

[Joe Bernard]

Choco or Bosco? My recollection is the 'bad angle' bars were BoscoMoose.