Better handle bar for first timer on a motocross track

[windows8]

I finally took my Stark Varg out to the local track this past Sunday for my very first time, and I had a great experience. I was easily the slowest rider there, but that was okay with me because 40 years old, my only goal was to stay safe and make it to work on Monday.

But I did run into a few issues. For example, I went down towards the end of my session because the track got really slippery as it dried out and I was absolutely exhausted with bad arm pump. My biggest question is about my handlebars. They feel fine on the trails but at the track, I felt like they were wearing me out. I tried adjusting their position but they still felt wrong and the throttle grip side felt like it was sticking too far out. Does anyone have a tip for adjusting old bars for the track, or maybe a suggestion for a better bend that helps with arm pump?

 

[chamberlaynes]

I ride a 2024 Stark Varg 60HP and had the same problem when I started hitting the track more often. Swapping to a lower rise bar with less sweep made a big difference, and pushing them forward gave me better control in ruts.

 

[thatguyrex]

I finally took my Stark Varg out to the local track this past Sunday for my very first time, and I had a great experience. I was easily the slowest rider there, but that was okay with me because 40 years old, my only goal was to stay safe and make it to work on Monday.

But I did run into a few issues. For example, I went down towards the end of my session because the track got really slippery as it dried out and I was absolutely exhausted with bad arm pump. My biggest question is about my handlebars. They feel fine on the trails but at the track, I felt like they were wearing me out. I tried adjusting their position but they still felt wrong and the throttle grip side felt like it was sticking too far out. Does anyone have a tip for adjusting old bars for the track, or maybe a suggestion for a better bend that helps with arm pump?

It sounds like you had a blast, though! Before buying, try rotating your current bars forward more than you think is right. This flattens the cockpit and might fix that feeling. If not, look at popular bends like the ProTaper CR High or a similar Renthal. Bars with less sweep and a bit more rise are frequently recommended to help open up your chest and put your elbows in a better position, which directly fights arm pump!

 

[Roland]

It might be worth checking the alignment of the throttle tube and the length of the grip. If the throttle side feels a bit off, trimming the grip or adjusting the tube position could really help. Plus, think about the width of your bars, narrower bars can help lessen fatigue on those tighter tracks.