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Hi All, I have a chance to grab some original GT cruiser bars, but they are clean cut to 28.25" from 29 1/2" original.....not sure what to offer.
How much does cutting the bars affect the value?

Cheers!

flatland1974 · 2012-09-10 9:08pm

ALOT!!!!! Like the F-in X-wife....About half!..No Really!

TheKoolKids · 2012-09-10 9:23pm

flatland1974 wrote:
ALOT!!!!! Like the F-in X-wife....About half!..No Really!

No less.
Used is half new price.....
Cut worthless. It was not cut to your specs.

greentrashmasher · 2012-09-10 9:26pm

valuevintagebmx wrote:
Hi All, I have a chance to grab some original GT cruiser bars, but they are clean cut to 28.25" from 29 1/2" original.....not sure what to offer.
How much does cutting the bars affect the value?

Cheers!

Well, if they are cut then they're not really original then.

It kills the collector value, but if you just want to use them, offer what you think they are worth.

valuevintagebmx · 2012-09-10 9:28pm

greentrashmasher wrote:
valuevintagebmx wrote:
Hi All, I have a chance to grab some original GT cruiser bars, but they are clean cut to 28.25" from 29 1/2" original.....not sure what to offer.
How much does cutting the bars affect the value?

Cheers!
Well, if they are cut then they're not really original then.

It kills the collector value, but if you just want to use them, offer what you think they are worth.

Great feedback, thanks for the quick replies guys.

bamboostk86 · 2012-09-11 4:51am

Some dork that i bought my kneesavers from cut them an inch on each side, so i just leave the grips out that extra inch you cant even tell, problem solved if ur keepin them for urself:)

flatland1974 · 2012-09-11 6:49am

bamboostk86 wrote:
Some dork that i bought my kneesavers from cut them an inch on each side, so i just leave the grips out that extra inch you cant even tell, problem solved if ur keepin them for urself:)

No..your wrong..The dorks did not cut the bars..REAL riders did!For flatland and BMX..You might want to watch the name calling...It's like the frame standers on Trickstars..GARBAGE from the getgo ...so they went!Am I a DORK for doing that!

butlerglc · 2012-09-11 6:59am

I sold some elf blast bars that were cut. They sold for 45 instead of 80+

flatland1974 · 2012-09-11 8:01am

butlerglc wrote:
I sold some elf blast bars that were cut. They sold for 45 instead of 80+

Yep...about half

mtbwrxwagon · 2012-09-11 8:05am

At least they weren't half cut off

Jon1971 · 2012-09-11 8:37am

Value definitely drops, but you can get them repaired, too. I wouldn't go ramp riding with them, but for a show bike or just riding around the neighborhood, it'll be completely fine.

XJguy · 2012-09-11 8:52am

Jon1971 wrote:
Value definitely drops, but you can get them repaired, too. I wouldn't go ramp riding with them, but for a show bike or just riding around the neighborhood, it'll be completely fine.

Can be repaired to like new strength but it takes work and skill, metal needs to be brought way up in temperature then TIG welded then cooled very slowly, in an oven or in sand over the course of a day or more in order to retain the strength of 4130. It is a strong but brittle steel that if welded without following the proper procedure greatly compromises the weld. In other words fixing it properly is expensive and not worth it.

flatland1974 · 2012-09-11 9:34am

Jon1971 wrote:
Value definitely drops, but you can get them repaired, too. I wouldn't go ramp riding with them, but for a show bike or just riding around the neighborhood, it'll be completely fine.

Why not go ramp riding?...do you hold the bars at there end caps?It's not like a crack in the dropout,or the fork...If anything it will make the bar stronger by bringing all the energy towards the center on the bars....cutting the bar ends only decreases the value to a collector that wants it OG!REALLY..what's stronger,a short bar or a long bar.....think about it.

XJguy · 2012-09-11 9:46am

flatland1974 wrote:
Jon1971 wrote:
Value definitely drops, but you can get them repaired, too. I wouldn't go ramp riding with them, but for a show bike or just riding around the neighborhood, it'll be completely fine.
Why not go ramp riding?...do you hold the bars at there end caps?It's not like a crack in the dropout,or the fork...If anything it will make the bar stronger by bringing all the energy towards the center on the bars....cutting the bar ends only decreases the value to a collector that wants it OG!REALLY..what's stronger,a short bar or a long bar.....think about it.

Not true, a repaired bar can be compromised in strength. I cut bar that is not repaired will most likely be fine.

flatland1974 · 2012-09-11 10:48am

XJguy wrote:
flatland1974 wrote:
Jon1971 wrote:
Value definitely drops, but you can get them repaired, too. I wouldn't go ramp riding with them, but for a show bike or just riding around the neighborhood, it'll be completely fine.
Why not go ramp riding?...do you hold the bars at there end caps?It's not like a crack in the dropout,or the fork...If anything it will make the bar stronger by bringing all the energy towards the center on the bars....cutting the bar ends only decreases the value to a collector that wants it OG!REALLY..what's stronger,a short bar or a long bar.....think about it.
Not true, a repaired bar can be compromised in strength. I cut bar that is not repaired will most likely be fine.

Yes it can be compromised....Crap welds are just that...Crap!Dude..your talking about 1 inch from the end...not in the middle of the grip!I understand were your coming from on welds an heat stress...but if your affraid to do tricks because your bar end caps have a 1inch welded extention at the end.....you should NOT be doing ANYTHING on that bike!(you'll poke your eye out):lol:After 25 years in a welding family you learn.

skaman · 2012-09-11 12:44pm

I looked into this not too long ago. I think the max they would go for is about 1/2 of the uncut price.

If the bars are valuable, then most want them uncut. Some guys will not buy cut bars at all.

The good thing about cut bars that are valuable is that you can usually find someone to buy them.

markmc97225 · 2012-09-11 12:54pm

I cut the top half off a set of bars, couldn't even get half of original. For either half.

So, it really does make them worthless.

Jon1971 · 2012-09-11 3:29pm

flatland1974 wrote:
Why not go ramp riding?...do you hold the bars at there end caps?It's not like a crack in the dropout,or the fork...If anything it will make the bar stronger by bringing all the energy towards the center on the bars....cutting the bar ends only decreases the value to a collector that wants it OG!REALLY..what's stronger,a short bar or a long bar.....think about it.

So, the welded section where 2 bars meet, located directly under my palms when I land is going to be as strong as an uncut piece of tubing? If it's sleeved inside, I might buy that, but otherwise I have to think that welded section where your hands are pushing your weight into as you land is your most likely point of failure.

I also wouldn't ride ramps because I'm old with a bad knee, hurt back, 1/4 of my face is always numb from an accident on flat ground and I weigh around 325 pounds, but all of those reason have nothing to do with the handlebars on the bike.

Jon1971 · 2012-09-11 3:31pm

flatland1974 wrote:
XJguy wrote:
flatland1974 wrote:

Why not go ramp riding?...do you hold the bars at there end caps?It's not like a crack in the dropout,or the fork...If anything it will make the bar stronger by bringing all the energy towards the center on the bars....cutting the bar ends only decreases the value to a collector that wants it OG!REALLY..what's stronger,a short bar or a long bar.....think about it.
Not true, a repaired bar can be compromised in strength. I cut bar that is not repaired will most likely be fine.
Yes it can be compromised....Crap welds are just that...Crap!Dude..your talking about 1 inch from the end...not in the middle of the grip!I understand were your coming from on welds an heat stress...but if your affraid to do tricks because your bar end caps have a 1inch welded extention at the end.....you should NOT be doing ANYTHING on that bike!(you'll poke your eye out):lol:After 25 years in a welding family you learn.

I'm not only talking about an inch long extension,but any extension. If you slam and the weld breaks (and I'm not from a welding family in any way, shape or form) can that piece of metal fly off and present a hazard?

Oh, and I do ride with my hands out at the edges, I've got long arms and most bars aren't wide enough for my tastes, even uncut.

greentrashmasher · 2012-09-11 4:42pm

The greatest stress points on handlebars are at the clamp area and the crossbar connections. It would likely be impossible regardless of how hard you ride or much you weigh to put the same amount of stress on the end of the grip area. I suppose you could try to wall ride something then while up the wall jamm the very end of your bar into a hole or crack in the wall then hang from the bars, but if you try that then you probably have other problems.

It's a leverage thing....

southernflatland · 2012-09-11 5:17pm

Saying cut bars are worthless kinda depends on what one believes handlebars are really worth: a bike part, money, or scrap metal. That depends both on the individual person and the part in question.

I cut about a half inch off my bars to make room for new metal bar caps. I didn't really want to cut them, but the old plastic caps were stuck and the ends were badly mangled, scraped up, and bent over. I measured my cuts by the width of the caps so they came out about the same length I was used to.

So by doing that I figure it probably wouldn't really change the value much in this case since they were already damaged to begin with. If anything it's a quick fix improvement, just not repaired to original specs. Either way they're worth far more as handlebars to me so I cut them to my own specs.

XJguy · 2012-09-12 9:28pm

greentrashmasher wrote:
The greatest stress points on handlebars are at the clamp area and the crossbar connections. It would likely be impossible regardless of how hard you ride or much you weigh to put the same amount of stress on the end of the grip area. I suppose you could try to wall ride something then while up the wall jamm the very end of your bar into a hole or crack in the wall then hang from the bars, but if you try that then you probably have other problems.

It's a leverage thing....

No, no, you are forgetting the damage improper welding procedures have on 4130. 4130 is not any easy metal to work with from a machining and a welding standpoint. In order to get your money's worth a weld to 4130 has to adhere to protocol otherwise you are rendering it to perhaps weaker than hi-ten. The act of welding and not heating and cooling it properly as well as proper penetration can compromise the tubing well into the area that most often cracks, the bend at the grip.

greentrashmasher · 2012-09-15 10:44am

XJguy wrote:
greentrashmasher wrote:
The greatest stress points on handlebars are at the clamp area and the crossbar connections. It would likely be impossible regardless of how hard you ride or much you weigh to put the same amount of stress on the end of the grip area. I suppose you could try to wall ride something then while up the wall jamm the very end of your bar into a hole or crack in the wall then hang from the bars, but if you try that then you probably have other problems.

It's a leverage thing....
No, no, you are forgetting the damage improper welding procedures have on 4130. 4130 is not any easy metal to work with from a machining and a welding standpoint. In order to get your money's worth a weld to 4130 has to adhere to protocol otherwise you are rendering it to perhaps weaker than hi-ten. The act of welding and not heating and cooling it properly as well as proper penetration can compromise the tubing well into the area that most often cracks, the bend at the grip.

No, no, not forgetting. I didn't even mention welding.

bamboostk86 · 2012-09-18 10:11am

flatland1974 wrote:
bamboostk86 wrote:
Some dork that i bought my kneesavers from cut them an inch on each side, so i just leave the grips out that extra inch you cant even tell, problem solved if ur keepin them for urself:)
No..your wrong..The dorks did not cut the bars..REAL riders did!For flatland and BMX..You might want to watch the name calling...It's like the frame standers on Trickstars..GARBAGE from the getgo ...so they went!Am I a DORK for doing that!

you dont even know the dork todd keep it original and yes it depreciates the value!

ncmalko1 · 2012-10-26 7:41pm

Sting bars are hard to find and relatively expensive ($250 to $375). I see no price difference with Sting bars when they're cut. The price difference seems to be how nice they look and not if the ends are cut off a half inch. Still it is annoying how many people cut there bars. Its easy to add on a 1/2 inch and have them rechromed.

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Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#2 2012-09-10 9:08pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#3 2012-09-10 9:23pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

flatland1974 wrote:

#4 2012-09-10 9:26pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

valuevintagebmx wrote:

#5 2012-09-10 9:28pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

greentrashmasher wrote:

valuevintagebmx wrote:

#6 2012-09-11 4:51am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#7 2012-09-11 6:49am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

bamboostk86 wrote:

#8 2012-09-11 6:59am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#9 2012-09-11 8:01am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

butlerglc wrote:

#10 2012-09-11 8:05am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#11 2012-09-11 8:37am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#12 2012-09-11 8:52am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

Jon1971 wrote:

#13 2012-09-11 9:34am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

Jon1971 wrote:

#14 2012-09-11 9:46am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

flatland1974 wrote:

Jon1971 wrote:

#15 2012-09-11 10:48am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

XJguy wrote:

flatland1974 wrote:

Jon1971 wrote:

#16 2012-09-11 12:44pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#17 2012-09-11 12:54pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#18 2012-09-11 3:29pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

flatland1974 wrote:

#19 2012-09-11 3:31pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

flatland1974 wrote:

XJguy wrote:

flatland1974 wrote:

#20 2012-09-11 4:42pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#21 2012-09-11 5:17pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

#22 2012-09-12 9:28pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

greentrashmasher wrote:

#23 2012-09-15 10:44am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

XJguy wrote:

greentrashmasher wrote:

#24 2012-09-18 10:11am

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

flatland1974 wrote:

bamboostk86 wrote:

#25 2012-10-26 7:41pm

Re: Cut bars, dramatic decrease in value?

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