REVIEW: Truvativ Jerome Clementz Blackbox Carbon Bars

Truvativ Jerome Clementz Blackbox Riser Bars

Last year, the Enduro World Series was owned by Frenchman, Jerome Clementz. He could seemingly do no wrong. Early on during the 2014 campaign, he suffered a serious injury and has been sidelined ever since.

During his 2013 Enduro World Series campaign, Clementz used his signature Truvativ Blackbox riser bars. The 750mm width and custom-tailored rise/backsweep were just what he ordered to dominate every course.

Truvativ Jerome Clementz Blackbox Bars Features:

  • Carbon fiber
  • Width: 750mm
  • Rise: 20mm
  • 7˚ back-sweep, 5˚ up-sweep
  • Weight: 240g
  • MSRP: $198

Ibis Ripley in American Fork Canyon - Truvativ Jerome Clementz Blackbox Bars

Jerome Clementz Blackbox Bars Offer Perfect Width

It’s pretty funny how much bar widths and shapes have changed in the past 5 years. 700mm used to be really wide — scary wide for some people who claimed they would knock their hands on every tree in sight. Then, bars started getting crazy wide, with many DH riders going 800mm or wider.

For aggressive trail riding (that’s what enduro is, right?), I’ve found the Jerome Clementz 750mm riser bars to be wide enough to make a difference, but not so wide as to limit their use. The extra width really does help add leverage and makes every turn that much easier to initiate.

I’ve ridden these bars on several 29ers (Ellsworth Evolve Carbon, Niner RIP 9 Al, Ibis Ripley and Santa Cruz Tallboy C) and each one benefitted from the extra width and lightning-crisp handling this bar provides.

I always ride my 29ers with reverse-rise stems and even more-so when running a riser bar like these. I feel like slamming and reversing the stem, evens out the extra height of these bars, but still provides all the upside that comes with comfortable upsweep, backsweep and rise — something flat bars decidedly lack.

What we love:

  • The “just right” width for all-day trail riding
  • Lightweight, but still burly enough for abuse
  • Reduces trail chatter
  • Provides stiff leverage for enhanced handling

What we don’t love:

  • A 10mm rise option would be great

Final Word: Truvativ Jerome Clementz Bars

As you can see, these bars have ended up on a variety of bikes over the course of the past year. The consensus is they offer a fantastic feel with a perfect 750mm width. Rock like Jerome on your next ride and get these bars.

Buy: CompetitiveCyclist.com