Albatross bars: 25.4mm vs 31.8mm???

[John Phillips]

   Albatross handlebars, has anyone compared the shape of the 25.4mm clamp version to the shape of the 31.8mm clamp bar?

   I have a set of the old 56cm wide 25.4mm clamp version of the Albatross bars, which I like very much and are significantly wider up to the curves, and I wondered if the 31.8mm version had a similar curve? Soma Fabrication website lists the 31.8mm bars as 56cm wide, but I can't find any more info on the 31.8mm version.

Does anyone know anything about the 31.8mm version of the Albatross bar?

Thanks much,

John

[Garth]

   John, I would certainly think the curve of a 31.8/56 Albatross would be the same as the 25.4 version. I have the 25.4/56 also which I too love, whereas the 55 was a real downer as the curve radius was indeed notably smaller in-hand. Nitto should have never stopped making the 56 steel Alba. 

  Alternatively, someone here on the list mention Doom custom Bars, who advertises on Instagram. He can make a bar with the same shape as the Alba, or tweak it any way you want in widths and angles. They are all 22.2 cr-mo bars, requiring shims for larger stems.  $100 for the bars in black, + $50 for a nickel plated version. 

https://www.instagram.com/doom.bars/?hl=en

[John Phillips]

Thanks Garth,  I agree, the older 56cm Alba's are perfect, especially for me with wider shoulders for my height. The 56cm bars are much wider up near the curves than the 55cm bars and so much more comfortable, at least for me.

     The 31.8mm Albatross bars are listed as 56cm's wide in both online stores where they're listed. I couldn't find them in a Nitto catalog, so I was hoping someone on the list here might have actually seen them "in the flesh' and could verify they're shape & width. I really would like to put another set of 56cm bars on my Homer Hilsen, and I'm hoping the 31.8mm version would fit the bill.

John

[Garth]

    You could always email any vendor John, or even Nitto. Unless someone has experience with both bars they may not be able to tell the difference. Other than Nitto, I'd try the Southerndistributors.uk as I've "heard" Soma isn't so the best at return emails.

[John Phillips]

Hi Garth,

     I had thought about writing the vendors, but I have a bit more confidence in the opinions and feedback of the members of the RBW Bunch. After following the group for several years, one gets a good feeling about where everyone is coming from when they give their take on something.  ;-)

John