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ITM X-One Carbon Handlebar

9
£189.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Absolutely awesome carbon race bar with stunning looks, stiffness and comfort at a competitive price
Weight: 
230g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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While reviewing bikes and products on a daily basis, I've unconsciously created a bit of a 'best of' list for each and every different bit of kit, something to judge others against. This ITM X-One Carbon bar is now sitting atop the handlebar group, the one that all other race bars will be compared to, with simply awesome comfort, stiffness and looks. I only wish I could afford it.

X-One isn't ITM's first foray into a semi-integrated handlebar and stem combination – anyone remember the K-Sword? The X-One uses a very similar design but it's been tweaked for even better stiffness and ergonomics.

> Order this from your nearest dealer – find yours here

I'm guessing the price is going to be the main stumbling block for most, that and the simple question of how this can be ten times better than an entry-level aluminium bar.

Well, in reality it isn't, value versus performance doesn't work like that, but it goes a long way to justifying that £189.99 price tag.

It's designed to work as a system with the X-One Carbon stem, reviewed here, with the stem taking on the stiffness role and the bar the comfort. The X-One is stiffer than most carbon bars I've used, though, especially with your hands on the wing-shaped tops. The larger cross-sectional area adds material and therefore rigidity, even when you include the hollowed out sections for the internal cable routing.

ITM X-One Carbon Handlebar - profile from front.jpg

This means the bar brings a very direct feel to the steering input, even as you start to find more flex at the hoods and drops. My Kinesis Aithein test bed became very much more a 'point and shoot' machine with this bar (and stem). And this bike has been using Deda's Superleggera setup, so it's no stranger to top end components.

The bar is comfortable to ride on the tops, even without bar tape (you wouldn't want to cover those graphics) and padded gloves. The flat tops make a perfect place for your hands and with the bar sweeping back towards you, your arms feel in a very relaxed position.

ITM X-One Carbon bar.jpg

The flattened section continues to the base of your shifter hoods, again giving a larger platform for your hands to rest on. Riding on the hoods you notice a tiny bit of give in the bar, just enough to take the buzz out, but if you really yank on it for acceleration or climbing it still feels as efficient and stiff as you'd want it to be.

Like a lot of bars on the market, the X-One uses a compact drop, just 138mm centre to centre, and 68mm from the tops to the furthest forward part of the bend. This means to get into an aero tuck doesn't require a large level of flexibility and also makes reaching the brakes with smaller hands easier.

> Find more handlebar reviews on road.cc here

At 230g the ITM isn't in the super-light category but it is on par with others we've tested with a larger aero topped design such as the FSA K-Force and 3T Aerotundo Team, both of which are considerably more expensive though.

In conclusion, the X-One works as an entire package, offering enough compliance to make what is in essence a full-on super-stiff race handlebar a comfortable enough platform for a few hours on unforgiving roads, while adding to the already direct handling of a race bike.

It just feels stunningly good: responsive, especially at speed when cutting through the bends, with just enough flex to offer control when you are right on the rivet. Compare the performance and weight against the competition and the X-One doesn't look overly expensive; it's pricey, but you're getting what you pay for.

Verdict

Absolutely awesome carbon race bar with stunning looks, stiffness and comfort at a competitive price

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: ITM X-One Carbon Handlebar

Size tested: 420mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

ITM says: "X-ONE the new road set of ITM.

"Curvy and elegant shape, combined with solidity, strength and safety to give form to a unique product of its kind."

The X-One handlebar isn't just all about looking good, its shape provides excellent ergonomics, and the material stiffness.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

X-ONE: Integrated design

HM carbon UD matte finishing.

Widths:-400, 420 & 440cm

Measured:- Centre - Centre

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The bar looks and feels very well made. Clean, smooth edges to the cable routing cutouts.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Stiff where it needs to be and less stiff where it doesn't, an excellent setup.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

No unnerving creaking noises but crashing is probably never going to end well.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

A decent weight for a carbon aero bar.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

The hand positions are excellent.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Compared with others we've had in on test mentioned in the main review, the X-One is competitively priced.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A beautiful carbon race bar with excellent stiffness and comfort.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The shape.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I can't afford it.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The ITM is wonderful. The shape is absolutely spot on for fast riding and the carbon layup allows just the right amount of flex and comfort in the places it's required. The value for money quota can be argued, but against the competition it's well priced.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Mason Definition

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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