Fifty NOS DirtDrop bars Found August 13

August 13, 2009

Nitto DirtDrop handlebars

SOLD OUT.

This was designed (I designed it) for the 1987 Bridgestone MB-1, the only production bike of its time to not have indexed shifting, and probably--I'm guessing here, not declaring facts--the only production mountain bike ever to come with drop bars.

The bike in that form lasted a year, before its quirks killed it in the market (which specializes in killing good things and not accepting others, which is why we don't sell much through dealers and are not, in industry talk, market-driven). But the bar itself gained a following, and was a staple here at Rivendell until we sold our last one, in 2004.

The Noodle bar took its place, and I think the Noodle bar is the better bar--or else I'd have kept the DirtDrop. But I wanted a bar with a flatter ramp (23 degrees became 15 degrees) and less flare at the ends (7 degrees became 4 degrees), while keeping the same reach and drop (92mm and 140mm). Plus, more widths, (45cm grew to 41, 44, 46, and then later, 48cm).

All in all, the Noodle was, for most riders, even more usable and comfortable than the DirtDrop.

But as always happens, when a thing becomes decommissioned, used ones sold on eBay for double what new ones cost. We started to get calls and emails about when we were going to get more DirtDrops in. Almost cults were nearly formed around the dreaded DirtDrop.

Today, August 13, Emil found a box containing 50 brand spanking-new DirtDrops. We could sell them for $90 each, but they're going for $75, and this will be the last of them. Nitto doesn't stock them, so no distributor can just up and order them. They're my design (even though I was a Bstone employee at the time, technically making them a Bstone design)but basically, Nitto probably won't make them for anybody else without my approval, and the minimums are high and so here and now is where and when to get them.

It is too bad that you're not reading this now. Playing the 'net is like gambling. Click to our site and see what comes up. Today it was DirtDrop handlebars, and we expect them to last a week. It could be a day. Think of the future eBay possibilities! Not to mention, it is quite nice to ride, not just sell. The rugged, flared, drop bar remains a favorite with hoarders, collectors, speculators, and riders alike.

I still prefer the Noodle, but unfortunately for it (in light of this recent find of DirtDrops), it is still being manufactured!

8/17/2009 Update - SOLD OUT SORRY