Now in its fourth iteration, the DMR Wingbar MK4 is aimed at those who want lightweight, strong bars in a sleek and comfortable package. The reasonably low price-to-performance ratio is just the icing on the cake, making this one of the best MTB handlebars you can buy.
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DMR Wingbar MK4 – Technical details
Even though the Wingbar is in its fourth incarnation not much has changed apart from its rather classy new graphics. As before, it’s a heat treated and double-butted 7075 alloy bar.
It also gets the five-degree upsweep and eight-degree backsweep we saw on the MK3 bar. There are then options of 20, or 25mm rises and 31.8 or 35mm clamp diameters. The 31.8mm is 780mm wide and the 35mm clamped bar (pictured here) is 800mm.
DMR states that the Wingbar MK4 tips the scales at 326g but mine read 323g, which is a little bit heavier with the claimed weights of similarly specced bars of this price.
DMR Wingbar MK4 – Performance
The DMR Wingbar MK4 has seen around three months of testing and during that time I’ve yet to find fault. The new graphics package is rather beautiful, sporting subtle glittery panels and a black-chrome finish elsewhere. As far as handlebars go, this one is certainly a looker.
Included with those new graphics, there are markings and references on the bar that’ll help the user line up their stem, the bar’s roll, and the brake levers. It’s a subtle but incredibly useful touch.
And the bar’s top aesthetic translates very well into its ride character. Firstly, its shape is excellent for all manners of riding. The upsweep gives a supportive feel and stops the bar from feeling as if it’s sagging at either end. While the back sweep isn’t as angled as some others, it’s well within that goldilocks zone, where it’s not too much, and not too little, but just enough.
This model of the Wingbar, as mentioned before, dons that 35mm clamp diameter, adding a heft of stiffness to the front end, making the steering feel super direct. While it helps the front wheel track in rough sections, there’s not a whole lot of flex to help dampen vibration. On bigger-travel bikes, where a 35mm clamp bar is expected, this isn’t much of an issue but I’ve noticed a smidge of hand fatigue after extended descents. If this might be an issue, there’s always that 31.8mm, which should introduce a little more flex.
DMR Wingbar MK4 – Verdict
The Wingbar MK4’s stiffness and very slick looks come at a friendly price point. For a bar of this aesthetic, £65 isn’t too much of an investment and one I would be very happy to make, personally.
There are a bunch of handlebars around the £50-£70 mark, including the Race Face Turbine R 35 Riser Handlebar and while it’s a solid performer, it could be argued that it’s not quite as blingy as the Wingbar. However, it claims to be 23g lighter and has more rise options.
Also, there’s the Burgtech RideWide Enduro Alloy handlebar at £75. Again, it’s a bit lighter, or so it’s claimed, and it gets an extra degree of backsweep. But at a tenner cheaper, the Wingbar is very competitive.
Nukeproof’s Horizon V2 Alloy Riser Handlebar is £60, it gets more ride options again but doesn’t carry the high-end look of the Wingbar.
If you want to add a bit of bling and stiffness to your cockpit without spending a lot of money, the DMR Wingbar MK4 is the handlebar for you. That’s thanks to its cool black chrome finish and the range of useful reference points. While it’s a smidgeon heavier than competing bars, it’s fairly stiff and performs well on mots terrain.
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