Hi folks - I currently run a Crux and my handlebar of choice is the Enve SES Aero 39/44. I like the flat tops and the flar in the drops. Unfortuantely, there is some chipping / potential damage occurring and after emailing Enve they will send me a new one under warranty after I (literally) chop in half and send of pic of proof of destruction. Anyway, while waiting for this process I was thinking about taking this opportunity to try either the new Zipp SL80 race or the new carbon Zipp Xplr bar. Does anyone have any thoughts on which to try? Anyone tired either yet? Anyone looking for feedback on one or the other and prefer I test one over the other? Part of my wants to go with the XPLR but the watt weenie in my worries about loosing those 2 watts I gain from running flat top bars lol
Can’t help on the other suggestions, but am interested to learn more and maybe some pics on the SES aeros! I just had them installed (37/42) on my new build.
That aside, the Zipp handlebars look awesome and I would definitely consider them.
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It’s probably worth considering if you want to go wider, keep the same width, or go narrower… Unless you want to go wider, you can eliminate the SL70 XPLR bars, which start at 40cm hoods. It’s also worth noting that they are also 10mm shorter in reach than your existing Enve bars, and the Zipp SL80 Race bars. I haven’t seen actual measurements of the drop width on the SL80’s in comparison to the hoods sizing, only that they are flared 5d. I’d imagine they end up somewhere close to the Enve SES bars in terms of widths, obviously starting with even numbered centimeters versus Enve’s odd numbers.
FYI: Zipp says the SL-80 is not to be used on gravel:
I have the SL80 bars on my gravel bike and have ridden some really rocky and rough roads with them. No problems with the bars so far. That said, I haven’t heard anything from Zipp. Also, their website doesn’t list any limitations.
Idk why you can’t use it on gravel lol my guess is cuz they also have the XPLR bar they wanna push that for gravel
Is there actually a difference in testing handlebars for gravel and road though?
Or is it just that they want to sell the XPLR range instead?
I mean, before gravel was a thing, no one has talked about gravel specific use etc.
What did you end up getting? 
Neither lol. Still just have the Enves on. I have just been on the trainer so haven’t needed to switch anything out yet. Although I should probably decide soon!
Haha, I am really interested in the SL80 since I saw how nice the flare looks with the new SRAM shifters:
The only downside is that you either have to tape the whole way in, or use their heat shrink.
I just fitted my SL80 bars. I didn’t realize how steeply the tops were angled downward. Now I can’t use about 60mm of my bars. It’s like these were made for the dude on the vintage Colnago running Campy
The heat shrink/cable retention is also f-ing stupid.
hmm might need a pic. can’t you rotate them up? I don’t have a set but rode a bike with them and they felt very similar to my Enve SES Aero. Didn’t think it had a downward angle but maybe I am wrong.
Look at the Zipp pic on the top right. The section behind the shifter has a severe downward slope. This basically drops your effective stack about 30mm and you need to adjust your reach in about 60mm because you need to rest your hands on the shifters only. If you tilt them up, they’ll be anti aero bars.
The reason vintage bikes have the shifters like that is because you couldn’t easily adjust the steerer/stem.
If anyone in this thread is looking for a deal on some 40cm Zipp XPLR carbon bars, I have a pair that have been ridden for <30 miles outside (plus a little time on the trainer)…
I thought the 70mm reach would be good for me, turns out I just needed to level my trainer bike better. I also learned I vastly prefer the ergo-style drops like on the Enve SES AR bars vs. the curved drops on the XPLR bars.
I have a set of the SL80 and I don’t feel like they rotate down, and the drops are in a normal position. Hoods (red E1) are set toward the upper part of the scale printed on them but pretty much level.
But I’m not a huge fan of them to be honest. Not sure if I dislike them enough to swap them out yet. I have the SES AR as well and prefer that.
The shape of the bar, stiffness etc is good. Not a fan of that heat shrink, it’s quite a bit thicker than the kind of heat shrink I’ve used before and really only tightened up on the front and back edges of the bar leaving it feeling loose and cheap. I cut it off after a ride and wrapped them fully. I have extra sets of the shrink wrap but I’m not putting any more heat than I did before into it.
Also not a fan of the little plastic piece that goes on the back of the bar, seems like the result of poor design.
Do you have any photos of the bar installed?
Same question for you @GT7
Would be great to have some images, just ordered this bar and getting a bit worried haha.
I plan on wrapping in the whole way though, and prefer non-internal cables. For 220 euros that I paid for it its pretty much the only bar that was 36cm with flare, on the market.
I haven’t taken any pictures yet.
I do like it better wrapped all the way, feels much better.
Like the Enve bars now, this one is pretty easy with the brake lines, they just tuck up underneath into the channel there.
