The Spank Spike 800 Vibrocore bar has made my ride better. I spend a lot of time riding really rough trails on my Norco Optic, and if I’m being honest, I know that I’m pushing my bike past what it was designed for. A 140mm travel fork isn’t quite enough to soak up all the bumps, but Spank’s Vibrocore bar makes up for a lot of that.
Proportions: The Spike Vibrocore has the angles that I look for in a bar: specifically lots of upsweep. I’ve never been able to ride bars with low upsweep- they always feel to me like they’ve been bent downwards, and bars with a healthy amount of upsweep always make me feel more in control. At 4 degrees of upsweep, the Spike 800 Vibrocore is ideal for my hands. The 8 degrees of backsweep is easy on my (previously broken) wrists, even when I’m hunkering down for a high-speed descent.
800mm is wide. Really wide. If, like me, you have the proportions of an albatross, you’ll appreciate the extra control that a wide bar can give you. The wider your bar, the more engaged the muscles in your upper back are, meaning that you have more muscle power behind every turn, and more muscle power holding the bike where you want it. I have yet to trim down my Spike 800, though you can take the bar down to 740mm if you have a hacksaw handy.
Weight: At 330 grams, the Spike 800 Vibrocore is not a svelte bar. After all, there’s a bunch of extra material in the middle of the bar. I’d trade the extra control and comfort for the extra weight any day.
Vibrocore: If you overhear a rider talking about ‘bear claw’, there are a few things they could be referring to, depending on location. If they’re in Deep Cove, BC, they’re probably referring to a life-altering confection from Honeys Donuts, or perhaps to freeride legend Darren Berrecloth. If they’re anywhere near a bike park, however, they’re most likely referring to the uncomfortable hand cramps that a rider develops after a few runs down the local bike park trails. This symptom of hand fatigue is the result of trying to hold on to a really stiff handlebar for dear life, as you pilot your bike down kilometer after kilometer of bumpy bike trails. Spanks Vibrocore technology is a tidy remedy to this- absorbing the crippling vibrations before they make it to your hands. Less fatigue equals longer rides, and that’s always a good thing.
Since putting Spank’s Spike 800 Vibrocore bar on my bike, I’ve been nothing but impressed. The proportions seem perfect, the Vibrocore material itself is a clear win, and the overall presentation of the bar is top-notch. I’d recommend one to just about anyone riding All-mountain or Enduro, as it will improve your ride experience.
SPIKE 800 VIBROCORE BAR
• Super-6 alloy construction
• Unique blend of alloy material provides added
stiffness and dampening while at the same time
reduces fatigue for longer bar life
• VIBROCORE vibration dampening technology
• Dual extreme gradual taper bar with impact
protection ends
• Proprietary 3D CND bar shaping for optimal
precision and material consistency
• 4 degree upsweep / 8 degree backsweep
• 800mm long (cutable down to 740mm)
LTP part number: 252333-01 / 04
MSRP: $149.99
