Tumbleweed Persuader 20 Review: Haptic Feedback

I just counted, and I officially own 26 pairs of handlebars. I’m a little obsessed, I suppose, and I also get some bike industry fringe benefits when it comes to bike parts. Even so, I think handlebarmania™ is a pretty common condition. I know a few other people who have a similar obsession, and they don’t work in the bike industry. The truth is in the numbers; new handlebar announcements are some of the more popular posts we publish on this website. I often catch myself saying, “There can’t be too many handlebars on the market.” And today, I’m happy to welcome another set into the ever-growing list of alt bars, one that I’m at least partially responsible for. The all-new Tumbleweed Persuader 20 is a version of the popular Persuader bar with a less-dramatic 20° backsweep. Read on for my review after riding with them for the better part of a year.

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I like to think that brands listen to our reviews, suggestions, and criticisms and ultimately improve products because of them. I’ve seen some evidence of tweaks and upgrades here and there. However, today, I can claim at least partial credit for inspiring an entirely new version of a product. At a recent Eurobike afterparty, I was chatting with a group of folks that included Tumbleweed founder Daniel Molloy. Daniel was showing folks the new bars that were mounted to a demo bike he brought to the show, and he explained, “I pretty much made these because this guy asked for them [pointing at me].” I’m flattered, and fortunately, I’m positive that I’m not the only one who will appreciate a new version of the Persuader.

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Long story short, I’ve written about how I think the sweet spot for alt bar backsweep resides in the 16-24° range. I find these moderate angles to be extremely comfortable and still maintain enough leverage to provide optimal control when riding more technical terrain—think alt-MTB bar. Actually, my partner Virginia figured this out long before I did. Her physical therapist (who’s also a bike fitter) suggested that she use bars within this backsweep range after recovering from carpal tunnel surgery, which was likely due to poor bike fit and hand stress during our long tours earlier this decade. She’s had bars in the 16-ish degree range on both her mountain bike and bikepacking rig ever since. Fit is part of it, but the wrist angle is also a key consideration for her.

Bike fit also plays a role in my preference for bars with a moderate backsweep. I like bikes with a long reach, and to maintain the desired fit without resorting to an excessively long stem, I often use bars with a less dramatic sweep than that of the 45° Jones bars or even the 31° Tumbleweed Persuader.

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I’ve written about all of this in a couple of gear essays and roundups. I even stated in the original Persuader review that, “My only wish is that T’weed would make a variation with a 16-20° backsweep.” Daniel noticed my ramblings, and I later told him he should consider offering one or two other variants of the Persuader; it’s a great bar and having an option with less backsweep could fill more of an “alt trail mountain bike bar” niche. Fast forward a couple of years, and here we are. The new Tumbleweed Persuader 20 essentially adds more options to the lineup, incorporating all the excellent refinements made during the three design iterations of the original 31° Persuader into a model with 20° of backsweep. The Persuader 20 comes in two widths: 800 and 840mm. Both are made of the same 7000 series aluminum alloy as the original and have 50mm of rise from the center of the clamp area to the end of the bar with 4° of upsweep. They also both come in matte black or polished silver, although the latter won’t go on sale until August.

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It’s worth comparing the Persuader to the Stooge Moto Bar, another bar I’ve been using for a while riding trail bikes, bikepacking, and everything in between. The Moto Bar has a slightly more moderate 17° backsweep and a shorter 38mm rise. Otherwise, the two are fairly similar. Both have a wide clamp area that’s ideal for bag straps and accessories; the Moto is 180mm wide, and the Persuader has a 200mm of clamp area. They weigh about the same, too. Note that the Persuader shown on the scale above is uncut at 840mm, and the Stooge comes in only an 800mm width. In summary, if you prefer a more shallow backsweep, 800mm bars, and a slightly shorter rise, opt for the Stooge. If you want wider bars, a slightly taller rise, or polished silver, the Persuader 20 might be your huckleberry. Availability is also something to consider. Stooge is based in the UK, and Tumbleweed is in the US.

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• Model/Size Tested: Tumbleweed Persuader 20, 840mm (cut to 820)
• Actual Weight: 400 grams (uncut)
• Place of Manufacture: Taiwan
• Price: $125 ($115 for matte black)
• Manufacturer’s Details: Tumbleweed

Further Reading

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