Bar Ends
Used MTB bar ends and bar plugs from UK sellers, new and second-hand. Ergonomic extensions for climbing, bar-end plugs for safety, and stubby bar ends for extra hand positions on long rides.
What do bar ends actually do?
Bar ends fell out of fashion when handlebars got wider and trails got rougher, but they still serve a genuine purpose for XC riders and anyone doing long days in the saddle. A short bar end gives you an alternative hand position that opens up your chest for climbing and relieves pressure on your palms.
Full-length or stubby bar ends?
Full-length bar ends (100mm+) are the classic style — they extend forward from the bar and provide a powerful climbing position. Stubby bar ends (50–60mm) like the Ergon GP series sit closer to the bar and give a subtle position change without catching on trees or flipping you over the bars in a crash. Integrated barend-grip combos — Ergon GP1, GP3 and GP5 — combine the grip and bar end into one unit with an ergonomic wing that supports the heel of your hand.
Are bar ends worth it on a trail bike?
They make sense for XC racing, marathon rides and bikepacking — anywhere you're spending hours in the saddle and climbing is a significant part of the ride. On technical trail and enduro bikes they're a liability: they snag on branches, complicate crashes, and wide MTB handlebars already give enough leverage for climbing. If you do run bar ends, always fit bar-end plugs to the open ends of your handlebars — an open bar end is a coring tool aimed at your body in a crash.
Do I need bar plugs?
Even if you don't run bar ends, bar plugs are essential safety kit, because open handlebar ends can cause serious puncture injuries in crashes. Any plug that stays in place works — push-in rubber plugs, expanding alloy plugs, or bar tape plugs if you're running thin grips. UCI rules require them in racing, and they're one of the cheapest things you'll buy alongside the rest of your MTB components.