Handle Bars - Cutting Edge Custom Bar

These bars aren't for everybody, but that's the point!

There are a few companies out there running cables internally through the bars, but after we saw a bike built by Cutting Edge Cycles with a set of their custom bars installed, we wanted to see how they were made and how they worked.

Convincing people to get over their fear of losing their levers is not an easy task. The switch to this custom setup does bring some inconveniences, such as re-routing your front brake to work off the pedal, and losing or relocating your switches. But if you're looking for something to set your ride apart from the crowd, these bars are for you.

The setup we are showing is pretty much a universal fit for the majority of bikes out there. There are different approaches and components for applications such as left-side drive, right-side drive, Sportster, and hydraulic clutches. For an even cleaner look, all cables and the pulley can be completely hidden. The application we are showing is the easiest to perform and view.

Cutting Edge Cycles decided to use radius-bent tubing on all their bars. With gentle sweeping curves instead of hard 90-degree bends, it gives their style a unique look. All bars are made with 1-3/8 O.D. DOM tubing, making them beefy, but not too fat. Since all of Cutting Edge bars are handmade in-house, they can and do make custom bars to your specs, whether it's 26-inch apes or 36-inch wide beach bars, or even a one-off idea in the back of your mind.

Your biggest question will probably be "What about the front brakes?" Well, you have two choices: Go old school and lose the front brake, or run both front and rear off of the pedal. There are several ways to accomplish this, and it would take another article to explain the methods we use.