billie bars

[Turmoil Toybox]

hello all

i wanted to get some opinions on the billie bars - im debating getting some for a current build with bar-end shifters. i used to ride drop bars, but making the switch ( i have albatross bars currently)

curious to know if ppl here ride them/ favorite bike set up with them? 

thanks,

raf

[Ed Fausto]

Hi Raf,
I have an Albatross on my Toyo Atlantis.

But on the MIT Atlantis with long top tube,  I preferred the Billie bar specially the longer grip area which allows me to have more area to grip on the bend part.

But I use thumb shifters on the Billie :-)

[Jim in Mpls]

Hi Raf

What bike are you thinking of putting Billies on? 

They come back quite a bit, so if your bike wasn't necessarily designed for upright bars with a long front end(like current Rivs), you may run into problems with bar end shifters.

I put a set on my 96 All-Rounder, and kept hitting my knees on the bar end shifters. I switched to thumb shifters,  because I love the extra hand positions with the Billies over the Albatross bars.

Jim

[Glen]

I had the same experience with bar ends as Jim with my Albatross bars and switched to Billies with thumb (L) & trigger (R) shifters. I would not like bar ends on Billies unless I had a very long stem, were talking unobtainable long. I love the extra hand position in front of the grips for heads down riding and the closer hand position when on the grips. 

Spend some time riding with your hands on the shifter pods & levers to get an idea of the Billy Bar relaxed on the grips position. 

[Steve]

Raf, having used Albatross bars - with bar ends - as well as Billies with thumb shifters I have to second Jim's and Glen's suggestions. Here's a pic of the Billies on my Platypus.  The Billies are great for varying your hand position. 

[Wesley]

I'll add one more vote for thumb shifters on Albatross or Billie bars. I love bar-ends on drop bars, but they come back far enough be annoying on Albatross bars (hitting my legs when turning slow/tight, and the shifter cables interfere with the extreme comfort of these excellent handlebars.) Here is where I put my shifters - I don't have them where Steve does because I want to be able to put my hand there. It looks like his Silver-brand thumb shifter mounts don't get in the way of that grip location.
-W

[Turmoil Toybox]

thank you all for the feedback! helps a lot especially w that last photo 

i’m planning on putting the billie bars on a homer hilsen w a tallux stem - i have both thumbies and bar ends. i enjoy the length of the albatross but wish i had a little bit more room for different riding positions 

[Donzaemon]

My Homer started out with Billie Bars, a 110mm stem, and thumbies. The short reach made for a very comfortable upright riding position, but for me, steering felt compromised. I think if I had switched to a 130mm stem, that might have solved the awkward steering, but I decided to convert to drops because I love making situations more difficult. If you do go with Billie Bars, get a very long stem if you want to use bar end shifters (and for better steering).