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Aerozine XB1.2 Black Compact Road Bars

7
£43.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Well priced multi position handlebar, a bit of padded tape might be required for long trips.
Weight: 
296g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Component company Aerozine have only the one set of road bars in their catalogue but the XB1.2 bars are a good quality compact option for those not wanting a full drop.

They are made from 7050-T6 grade alloy which is used a lot in the bike industry for its high strength, ideal then for a pair of bars that are likely to see plenty of stresses past through them on every ride.

The central section is oversized with a diameter of 31.8mm and some room to fit lights and computers before it tapers down for the bar tape. The tops have a slightly wider wing type profile to give a bit more surface area to rest your hands on which does make them much more comfortable over longer rides. The come in width options of 42 or 44cm with ours weighing 294g, not superlight but pretty good for the price.

Traditional bars have a perfect curve for the drop but the Aerozines have a more defined 'anatomic' flat section in the middle of the drops, often referred to as a pistol grip. I find it works best on compact bars like these as there is less chance of catching your wrist on the tops when you're tucked down in the drops.

So what's a compact bar then? Well basically the reach and drop dimensions are less than a more traditional drop so the reach to the hoods and down to the drops isn't as great. The XB1.2's have a drop of 125mm (about 15mm less than normal) but a very short reach of just 65mm though this is mostly caused by that pistol grip shape. All this means that the change in position from tops to drops is very small but its enough to get your head down a bit to sprint or get out of the wind.

The black version we've been testing has a hard-wearing finish and the brake levers gripped well with no slippage whatsoever. The cables run neatly in the channel underneath to.

The XB1.2's spent most of the time attached to my fixed, so saw plenty of pulling and pushing from climbing and starting efforts but there was barely any noticeable flex. The downside of that is they can be a little on the harsh side especially if you are riding an already stiff frameset.

Overall the XB1.2's perform well with a decent enough compromise of stiffness and comfort. They offer plenty of hand positions as well and thanks to the compact dimensions they are all accessible to pretty much every rider.

Verdict

Well priced multi position handlebar, a bit of padded tape might be required for long trips.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Aerozine XB1.2 Black Compact Road Bars

Size tested: Black 42mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A compact road bar that offers plenty of hand positions allowing you to make more use of the drops.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

*Wider Tops for comfort while climbing

*Designed for Road Racing

*Groove underneath for smooth cable routing

*Compact bend

Material AL-7050T6

Barbore 31.8mm

Width 420mm, 440mm

Weight 278g (420mm)

Finish Black, White

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Aerozine's are a good quality bar for the money which provide plenty of hand positions and a back friendly drop.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The drop shape.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Slightly stiff on long rides.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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