Alternative Bars for the Clem

[Vincent Tamer]

Hello, I am proud Clem owner! It's truly a great bike for me and I am so glad Riv made an "affordable" bike :D

I am curious if anyone has tried a different bar setup on a Clem, specifically an inverted albatross. I am wondering if they are as close to the Boscos in comfort. 

Boscos are super comfy, but aren't the coolest lookin bars. I know that Clem was designed for the Boscos, I don't want to throw a wrench in the design just for aesthetics!

Here is my Mustard Clem in the Mustard Field:

[Joe Bernard]

My first Clem (H) was slightly too small for me so I swapped the Boscos for not-inverted Albas, which worked great. I wouldn't recommend it if you're already happy with the reach on your bike, though. And I don't agree that Boscos look uncool, your Clem looks killer!

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

Hi Vincent,
Nothing uncool IMO about Bosco but Boscomoose may be cooler. I’ve never used Albatross but eventually went with a Chocomoose on my Clem which Is somewhere in the realm between a flipped Albatross and Albastache but with the built in stem and fixed angle. Assuming you have a 55cm cromo Bosco if you picked up a stock Clemplete (Clem Complete) and if the 55 width works for you the 54cm Chocomoose is almost the same width but gives you those moustache or flipped Alba hooks grip area as opposed to Boscos hoods type in front of the lever grip area.

I still have a Jones SG2.5 loop bar to try on the Clem as well but haven’t made the change yet.

If I go back to Bosco it’ll be with the wider 58cm moose variety but some might prefer the adjustability of the non moose models. I’d personally prefer the stiffness of the moose for such big backswept bars despite the fixed angle.

Brian Cole
Lawrenceville NJ

[Deacon Patrick]

Hello Vincent,

Great Clem! It’s right at home on the storm-kissed rolling hills. Of corse you realize the rack and basket, the long stays, and oh so much more are utterly uncool too right? Grin.

I don’t know cool from hot or not when it comes to trends, but if the Boscos are comfortable and working, it’s maybe time to redefine cool? Ask yourself, “Why do I ride?” Whatever your answer, I’m betting “to be a slave to the whims and notions and percieved perceptions of others” isn’t on the list. Grin. The best cool in the world is the one that doesn’t care its cool. Grin.

A few folks invert Albatross bars, but they weren’t designed to be either up or down, which means the curves aren’t very comfortable. For that, you’ll want an Albastache (new moustache) bar, but that is a road diameter bar which means a change in brakes and stem and a lot more reach for you vs. the Boscos. Anything short of frequent go-fast club rides and racing and the Boscos are brilliant for you. They offer a lot of hand positions, from upright to tuck and crank up a hill in a headwind, and lots inbetween. My advice is to practice contentment with those, learn them well, and should you want to change bars after a year, you’ll know a lot more about what works and doesn’t for you.

Whyever you ride, ride with abandon!

With abandon,
Patrick

[Jacob]

Vincent-

Congratulations on the Clem!  I have "flipped" Albatross on mine and they work great.  I went from the 55 Boscos to the 55 'Tross (can we call them that now to avoid confusion?) so the width wasn't an issue. However, my main goal was get the position next to the stem higher than the ends to relieve tuck when moving forward. They are comfortable, but you'll need to get that stem way up there if you want to keep your flares around saddle height. Might negate the "cool".

Here's the link to my post if you want photographic evidence: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rbw-owners-bunch/nyc/rbw-owners-bunch/-m-oQxuUh80/ny6IPWX0AAAJ

The Bosco is still the most versatile bar when it comes down to it. If you're riding where it looks like your riding, I'd stick with them.  If you've just gotta try something else, then the Choco would be a great contender as Coal Bee mentioned. Not trying to push you away from the 'Tross, but keep those Boscos around just in case...

Let us know what you come up with. Happy riding!

-Jacob

[Vincent Tamer]

Jacob! Your Clem was the one that made me think "Albas are so good looking"! You've got a nice color scheme that you've maintained as well! I saw your bike on IG and loved it.

Glad to know the option is there should I swap bars, I've been with the Boscos since late 2015 and really cannot complain so I'm gonna stick with them for now.

I'm also wondering about your tires, do you ever take them on trails? Any issues with the close clearance with the fenders?

Thanks!

[Vincent Tamer]

Some very good points Deacon! Hahah. Cool is in the heart :D

I think I'm going to hang on to the Boscos, It does feel like it's part of the spirit of the Clem.

Thanks!

[Tom Horton]

vincent, I am in the process of putting a jones loop bar on a 64 clem L  will try to post pix and assessment when done.

[Ash]

You have a nice looking bike there Vincent.  I missed out on Butternut Appa.  I have a green.

I echo Jacob's points.  Boscos are one of the most versatile bars out there.  Experimenting is fun if/when you have the budget.  But if I were you, I would hold on to those Boscos.  You are likely going back to it, especially if you enjoy riding upright.

I have tried about 8 kinds of alt bars in one year of owning Appaloosa, which is quite similar to Clem in geometry.  I kept avoiding Bosco thinking they don't look cool.  After using them for 2 months, now I think they are the coolest of all.  Also the most comfy.  It also gives you a lot more real estate than other bars (Jones loop might be the only one with more room to mount stuff).  Just because I liked the 55cm Bosco, I didn't want to stop my experiments.  During Riv's appeal last week, I went ahead and bought the 58cm version :)   That's how much I like Boscos.  

I'm still holding on to other bars, including Alba and Choco.  Every once in a while, I might swap for a little while for a change.  But I think I'll always come back to Boscos.   For rides lasting more than an hour or two, I would ONLY ride with Boscos.

[Jacob]

What kind words! I haven’t had the tires on trails yet. I know Riv says for “roadish” bikes, but Roman’s Rosco MTBubbe has is rocking them on the staff page. So worth a shot for sure. Probably get them on dirt in the next few months, weather permitting.

The fenders fit fine for roads (90% of where I ride). There is very little clearance, but the metal doesn’t sway like plastic. Glass is my nemesis rather than sticks and rocks, however I did take advice from a friend and install quick release ends on the front fender.

I frequently looked at Zed Martinez for inspiration on setup. His review of the Clem is very thorough. Dia-Compe knobs never looked so good.

[masmojo]

I ran Boscos on my Clementine initially & they were OK. I've also ridden a Clem with Albatross bars & like that better. I'm a sucker for Albastaches on anything! So that's not out of the question, but what I wound up with on mine is some 80's anodized alloy cruiser bars. Impossible to get now & crazy expensive if you do find them. BUT, Velo Orange came out with their "Klunker" bar which is very similar and would probably work well & look good too! Although they are currently shown as " sold out"

[Drw]

lovely bike and one of my favorite riv colors. For me it comes down to positioning. We have a household clem and with boscos i was always wanting to lean forward and extend my arms past the regular handle section, which i never found ideal. Albatross bars relieved this on the clem since they don't come back so much. Ive had other bikes where albatross bars had the same issue- my body wanting to extend past the handles. When i had a hunq, i went from albatross, to map/ahearne, to albastache. Each kind of stretched me out a bit more, but were still upright. I suppose some people work the opposite way to solve the inverse problem. 

I'd second that if you're comfortable with a set up, changing for aesthetics can end up being a big pain...

[phil k]

Albatrosses might be a good change up. I love Bosco bars and how they look

[tc]

Nice picture!  I'm using an inverted albatross on my SimpleOne.  But since I really liked the Jones loop bar on my old MTB, I installed a Jones on my Clem and really love it.  You would not believe how it changes the feel of the bike.  

See https://photos.app.goo.gl/toG73SUOZ0HMe1tw1  (I need to shorten cables now, and install grips...)

Tom

[Vincent Tamer]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! Happy Riding!

[masmojo]

WOW! I really like the look of the Jones bar on that Clem! I think that might just be the swap that keeps the Clementine in my stable! VO stem?

[tc]

Thanks, masmojo.  It's a Nitto UI-12 quill stem with a 60mm reach.  I ordered mine on ebay from a Japanese seller called "hobby_japan".  Took about 10-14 days to get it after placing the order (I'm in NC).

This link will hopefully take you to an ebay page with the different sizes they have in stock:

[Lester Lammers]

*I* prefer a seat post with a lot of setback on an 'upright' frame. That finally made the Cheviot work for me.

[Jonathan]

Just to add a slightly different perspective, sometimes the "right" things happen for the "wrong" reasons. I bought an Appaloosa last fall and was very comfortable with the Chocomoose bars I had on it, but I thought they looked a little goofy. I love the looks of the Bullmoose bar, and decided to try it. I love those bars. I only had them on my Appaloosa for a week before it started snowing, and then I put the bars on my old Schwinn mountain bike that I use for a winter commuter. I've been using it all winter, and I like it so much that I bought another set last weekend (the last ones Riv had!) to put on my Appaloosa. So, while I had a silly reason for changing the bars on an already comfortable bike, I ended up with something I like even better.

[tc]

After more rides on my 62 SimpleOne with inverted albatross bars, I can say I definitely like them on -that- bike for sure.

My grips are just a smidge above seat level; but riding with them at seat level feels good, too.  I'm still dialing it in.  Though the grips are low, there's no strain because the grips come back so far.  Almost too far; but, it's not like I'm doing an obstacle course with this bike.

I experience a more 'planted' feeling having the grips below the stem clamp, as compared to an upright albatross bar.

With the inverted bars, it feels more like I'm steering the bike along with a natural lean (rather than 'pushing' it into a turn, which is what it feels like to me with most handlebars that have straight-back grips).

The most surprising thing is how great it feels when you move up into the curves, which is still natural for me when really stoking it or going up hills.  The downward angle of the curves is more natural for the wrist, as opposed to the upward angled curves on an upright-mounted albatross.

So, inverted Albatrosses are certainly worth a try. 

But, having said all that, I really, really like the Jones Loop on my Clem!  

Tom

[Wayne Naha]

Those Jones bars on the Clem are the bees knees, for sure. TC, can you compare the reach between the Bosco and the Jones bars. As in, how far does each come back? I've got the stock Bosco-moose bar on my Clem now. I'm trying to figure out what stem length to use with a Jones bar. The current Clem cockpit has me very upright, even with the bars "slammed," as it were.

[tc]

Wayne, thanks.  Boscos definitely come back closer to the saddle, and are obviously higher, no matter how slammed.  

As for the Jones, I measured 16-1/4" between a straight edge held between the tips of the bar and the saddle tip.  Jones bars have long grips; 7-1/2" from bar tip up to the brake clamp.  Between saddle tip and quill bolt center is 19".  Stem has a 60mm reach.  (My Clem is a 59.)

Tom

[Ron Mc]

Hobby Japan is a good ebay vendor - I ordered my Nitto 2-70 bar extender from them.  

[Wayne Naha]

Thank you for the measurements, Tom!  That will be a big help in figuring out a good setup.  Maybe one of those Wright 'zero stems' from AnalogCycles would be useful here.  Though they are a bit pricy.  I just don't think that the Nitto UI-12 stem is gonna put a Jones bar high enough, and even the minimum 60mm extension may put the bars too far forward.

After you installed the Jones loop, what changes did you notice from the Bosco bar?

[tc]

Wayne, the changes I experienced moving from the Bosco to the Jones on my Clem include what I described earlier regarding a more natural leaning turn (with Jones) rather than a feeling of pushing the bar to turn, as with the Bosco and more upright bars that have grips that come straight back.

The Jones is wider, so you can get into a more athletic position with more leverage -- which to me is more important off-roading.  Your elbows are pointed more outward, and it allows you to engage your lat's and feel really locked in if you need that for stability, esp. on bumpy downhills.  However, the Jones also gives you like 5 different hand positions (similar to Bosco, but different ones) so you're not limited to the wider grip.  And with the new Gnarwal attachment Jones offers, you can even get into an aero position -- so sign up for a tri :)

The Boscos that come standard on the complete Clem's are 55s, which are too narrow for my comfort anyway.  My elbows are tucked in; just doesn't feel quite right to me.

Don't let the limited height of the stem scare you.  The grips end on your side of the stem with the 60cm reach UI-12, so even though you're lower, unless you have extremely tight hams, glutes, and lower back, it shouldn't be a problem.  I'd say try it; you can always sell it if it doesn't work out, and you won't have wondered "what if....".

Hope that helps,

Tom

[Jim Bronson]

What stem is that?  31.8?

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[tc]

Jim, yes 31.8 clamp.  It's a Nitto UI-12 with a 60mm reach (they go up to 120mm reach).  Got it from seller hobby_japan on ebay.

On Friday, March 9, 2018 at 10:15:23 PM UTC-5, Jim Bronson wrote:

What stem is that?  31.8?

On Mar 2, 2018 5:36 PM, "tc" <tdc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Nice picture!  I'm using an inverted albatross on my SimpleOne.  But since I really liked the Jones loop bar on my old MTB, I installed a Jones on my Clem and really love it.  You would not believe how it changes the feel of the bike.  

See https://photos.app.goo.gl/toG73SUOZ0HMe1tw1  (I need to shorten cables now, and install grips...)

Tom

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[David Baldi]

Tom,

What is your height and PBH? Clem looks great!

Best,

David

On Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 8:46:03 AM UTC-5, tc wrote:

[tc]

David, thanks.  I'm 6'-1" with a 90.5 PBH.  I set my saddle height lower than the usual PBH-11.  On the Clem my saddle is at 31" / 78.7cm.

I shortened 1 cable yesterday and put the Jones Kraton grips, which are really nice (previously I've only used the Jones EVA grips).