Easton EC70 AX Flare

Easton’s new EC70 AX Flare handlebar gives drop bar adventure bikes and gravel rigs a confidence boost. The new carbon bar flares 16-degrees at the drops for a wider stance that provides extra control when taming high-speed gravel descents or navigating twisty trails.

Highlights:

• Added leverage and better handling due to wider stance in the drops
• Compliant carbon composite
• Flattened tops for comfortable climbing or cruising on the tops

Lowlights:

• Funky look with shift levers angled slightly out

The new adventure bar is based on Easton’s EC70 road bar design. It has the same ergonomic shape with an 80-millimeters reach and 120-millimeter drop. Instead of a 4 degrees flare at the drops, the AX Flare sweeps outwards 16 degrees, increasing the width at the drops to 48.6 centimeters – 6.6 centimeters wider than the EC70.

This wider stance is noticeably more stable on steep descents and feels kind of like you’re riding a mini mountain bike setup. Of course the drop bar position places you lower and more forward on the bike than a mountain bike but the added leverage gave us the confidence to push the speed on sketchy back canyon descents.

With an extreme 16-degree flare, it’s necessary to rotate the shift and brake levers outboard to make shifting and braking possible from both the hoods and the drops. This makes for an awkward look but it keeps the wrist and hands in a relaxed position and provides a secure grip on the levers and the bar.

Easton’s second tier EC70 carbon fiber isn’t as stiff as its top of the line option but we never wanted these bars to be stiffer. They offer compliance over bumpy dirt and gravel roads, muting road chatter for a comfortable ride. We paired our test bar with Easton’s microfiber tape that cushions and also kills some of the road buzz. This made for an excellent feel and secure grip for rowdy adventures.

Handlebar Spec:

Width: 42cm center to center at the tops (48.6cm end of the drops)
Reach: 80mm
Drop: 120mm
Material: Easton EC70 carbon