Has anyone seen and handled any of these yet? Looking for some feedback.
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Are they available yet?
I had my hands on them at Interbike. Nice ergonomic shaped brake area with some non slip texture in there. They are ungodly expensive like a lot of the “high end” aerobars out there now.
Kevin
They are available. I know R&A Cycles is already shipping them. I’m sure other big retailers already have them and the smaller ones will soon.
In terms of all carbon bars they are not expensive at all
Retail is in the $900’s
Compare that to the vuka @1300
Remember, these bars do include the carbon brake levers with return spring and the flip-lite extensions are incredibly adjustable and comfortable
They come in 2 versions:
- Flat basebar…think Hed Vantage 8
- Pursuit drop base bar (my personal favorite)
HED has done a really nice job in terms of product development and these bars are no exception
Really very very nice, lightweight functional and aerodynamic
The guy/girl on the street looking at a bar of this caliber will be looking at it alonsgide the competitors product at $1300 and see the real value
For someone looking for a $300 cockpit, there are many choices out there so I believe were looking at two completely different target customers
The one demographic the Blackdog is aimed at will actually see this bar as atforable or inexpensive compared to other comparable choices
Yeow, I guess a $900 aerobar is now “affordable”. They are really nice bars, I thought about a set for the Slice, but just put my order in for some Vantage 8 bars today. 
I will spend the extra on some swim coaching!
Kevin
Affordable is such a relevant term in this sport
I have the Vantage 8
Love them… Am sure you will too!!
What justifies the $300 price increase over the Vantage 8s? They have the same extensions - is a bent basebar really worth that much? The flat version is the same price - where is the extra value there?
The difference is the integrated brake lever and the ergo grip shaped grips. Worth $300, well thats up to you.
Kevin
The difference is the integrated brake lever and the ergo grip shaped grips. Worth $300, well thats up to you.
Kevin
And I believe there is a slight weight difference.
Thanks for all the info, going to go with the drop bars as soon as my LBS can get them. Thanks again for the feedback.
Have not used them, but I think the best change from the Vantage 8, is that they have a 31.8mm clamp. I would suspect this should solve some of the “slipping” issues many (including myself) have experienced with the V8’s.
sorry i fail to see how clamp diameter impacts on slipping, unless you were using an oversized stem with shims?
Have the one piece Hed aerobars now with 26.0 diameter, never had a problem slipping, hope I won’t with the new Black Dog.
More surface area to clamp. I wouldn’t have had issues with mine slipping, if my I didn’t hit potholes.
ok i have to ask. Since the Vantage 8 is a 2 piece bar, Was it the clip-ons that slipped or the basebar? it just seems odd that the basebar would slip before the clip-ons. My experience has been that the clip-ons would slip first, whether it’s a surface area issue or not i don’t know.
The clip ons. I just applied some carbon paste to fix the problem. Hopefully that’ll work.
According to Hed we’re supposed to have a set next week…
Anybody try these bars out yet?