FSA Plasma

Price Paid:  $340.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Prospect Park

Bike Setup:
09 Immortal Spirit, Look Keo pedals, Fizik seat and bar tape, Fulcrum racing wheels and skewers, Hudz hood covers, xlab wing, FSA Plasma and seat post, Miche seatpost colar.....

Summary:
Beautiful bar. Love the feel. It absorbs road vibes beautifully. Upgraded from Ritchie aluminium bar and stem and the difference is ridiculous. Very strong. Im 6'6" and 250lbs and these bars dont feel wobbly under my weight. Just wish they discribed the handlebar angle in all the ads. I should have gotten the 90 degree bend so the bar looks level with my top bar. Its kinda angled up and it bugs me. Otherwise absolutely beautiful bars.

Strengths:
looks, feel, looks, strength

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
First carbon bar/stem combo

Price Paid:  $220.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
PCH

Bike Setup:
Trek 2.1 frame
Dura ace
Zero G brakes
Easton EC90 SLX fork
Race X-lite wheels

Summary:
Got these guys off of ebay and really have loved them! They look great and feel amazing. The color combo is awesome! I would suggest these to anyone looking to upgrade there ride. Did a review with couple photos here http://bikeandgadget.blogspot.com/ Hope you enjoy!

Strengths:
looks
weight is good
feel on the hands is amazing!

Weaknesses:
nata

Price Paid:  $300.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
anything Italian with 4 wheels ;P

Bike Setup:
Felt F1C, DA, Zipp 404's, SL-K mega-exo cranks

Summary:
After trying to skimp on bars for the longest time on this and other bikes, I finally came to my senses. If bars, saddles, (and pedals) are really the only contact points a rider has with the bike, shouldn't these components be as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. No sense trying to skimp for these parts! This bar has been worth every penny in this respect. (Only my K-Sword has been able to top these bars.)

When I first got them, I couldn't help being impressed by how beautifully sculpted it was. I used to think no other bars could compare to Cinelli's timeless but uber-pricy Rams. It's a pity the press pic that FSA always uses is shot at a bad angle. You have to see this bar in the flesh to really appreciate its beauty. Its design is truly well thought-out, unlike most of FSA's otherwise generic designs.

Overall, they seem to be very well manufactured but when I first got them, I could hear something lodged deep inside the bar when they're rattled, but after installation, the rattling seems non-existent now. Likely some carbon scraps from the manufacturing process but for this price, I expect them to be flawless. Also, the threading for the included computer mount that bolts into the bottom of the stem part got its threading stripped (like every single other FSA part I've ever bought!) and then it came loose within the stem. Now it's just stuck in there and now I only have one good bolt for the mount.

The first ride certainly didn't fail to impress either. This is the first bar that I've used that doesn't flex under power, not even slightly. Yet it's stiff without being uncomfortable; it absorbs all road shock. I can't think of any aluminium bars that can compare. The only thing that annoys me still is the tops ending in a bump near the brake hoods, unlike the Ram or K-Sword where it's smooth in that area. Since I spend most of my time gripping that area of the bars, its design is critical. Others are understandably concerned about their un-adjustability but for me, the integrated bars' angles, lengths and drops are spot on. (I guess I'm just too average size-wise?!) No complaints there! I'd suggest trying them out in person first and not just mail-ordering them.

Strengths:
-incredibly stiff
-carbon!
-wow factor
-ergonomics
-bullet-proof
-internal routing

Weaknesses:
-price
-absolute un-adjustability
-don't like bumps near the brake hoods
-finishing quality can be even better
-soft threading/bolts are too easy to strip

Similar Products Used:
-ITM K-Sword (even better!)
-ITM Carbon
-cheaper Cinelli, ITM, Easton...

Price Paid:  $400.00

Favorite Ride:
ojai loop

Bike Setup:
Madone, FSA K-Force, D/A group and wheels, FSA Plasma bar, King headset, rsx pedals

Summary:
with all the gimmicks and different products coming out, it's hard to know what actually is better, what is a fad, and what just looks good. I think my favorite component is my bar, the flat area is so comfortable, with no pressure points, it grooves under perfect for gripping. light stiff.... i really have no complaints about this bar if you can afford it, it's worth it, being that it's both a bar and stem combo, the price is actually not bad at all

Strengths:
no stem to bar bolt, comfortable grip, style points, weight, stiffness

Weaknesses:
fear of a scratch!

Similar Products Used:
easton carbon, specialized thermoplastic

Price Paid:  $400.00 at CC

Summary:
simple gorgeous and the most comfortable bar i've land my hands on, especially on the hoods. actually helped my climbing + aero on the flats too. countless of other riders compliment how beautiful it looks.

Strengths:
gorgeous
most confortable
aero
stiff
bling machine:)

Weaknesses:
kind of expensive

Similar Products Used:
other cheapies.