【NITTO x Circles】Hanafuda Handlebar Vol. 2🎴

One way or another, I love drop bars.

We are currently in the heyday of flat bars. The reality is that the concepts for modern frames are often designed around shorter stems and handlebars with significant backsweep.

Front bags are also getting bigger, and many are designed primarily for flat bars.

But, I just love drop handlebars.

The "cool bikes" you admired when you were in elementary school had drop handlebars, right? (Bias included.)

Looks aside, in terms of functionality, compared to flat bars:

1. You can use a variety of hand positions.

2. Because you use three points of support (your seat and both arms) in a forward-leaning posture, you can distribute your weight (it's less likely to cause the "sore butt" phenomenon).

3. There is less air resistance.

These are the major advantages. If you're riding long distances, drop bars are great, and bikes that require a forward-leaning posture feel wonderful to ride.

Since it’s not fair to only list the pros, I’ll also mention what makes them most different from flat bars.

It comes down to: are you holding the bar in front of the stem, or behind it?

Many flat bars have backsweep from the center clamp, so the grip area is essentially in front of the stem.

This allows you to ride with an upright torso and straight back. This is comfortable and perfect for cruising around the neighborhood. On the downside, because your upper body is upright, all your weight goes onto the saddle. This is a significant factor in the "sore butt problem."

On the other hand, drop handlebars bend forward (the reach) and then downward (the drop) from the center clamp.

This forces you into a position where you are essentially hugging the bike, compared to flat bars, which pushes the handlebar further away. That shape forces a forward-leaning posture, which distributes your weight between your arms and your seat. Plus, that "hugging" posture creates a sense of unity with the bike, which I personally love.

It’s almost like riding a flat bar means pushing the bike away, while riding a drop bar means embracing it.

Musical instruments are similar; the piano is an instrument you push away from, while the guitar and bass are instruments you embrace. Just a side note.

I personally love the style of riding while embracing the bike, which is why I love drop bars. However, there are also handlebars that feel like a middle ground, and those are deep in their own way. I’ll write about that separately.

In this day and age, the ratio of Circles staff using drop bars has been increasing, and I’ve been feeling like there might be a "drop bar comeback" on the horizon. That led me to have Nitto custom-make the Hanafuda series, and I’d like to introduce the new products that have arrived.

NITTO x Circles B177HT Hanafuda Road Drop

A comfortable road drop bar that takes the classic B177 and adds strength via heat treatment (HT). This is a custom model that changes the regular 26.0mm center clamp to 25.4mm, with Hanafuda engravings on the ferrule.

It has a slight backsweep from the center clamp, drops down with a slightly sloping shoulder, and then features a short reach followed by a deep drop.

It’s complicated to put into words, but I am amazed that such a meticulously designed handlebar could be created in an era before 3D modeling.

In reality, looking at it, it seems almost straight, but when you grab it, the difference is massive.

Especially the way your hands settle when you place them on the hoods. That balance is impossible to describe. It’s the sensation that when you place your hands down naturally, they just land exactly in that position on the handlebar. Also, the extension of the drops beyond the bend is perfect. Everywhere you grip feels completely natural.

Undoubtedly a masterpiece. I want to try approaching a handlebar like this from a different angle.

Also, when I asked Nitto about this shape, they told me, "Actually, it’s not backsweep; we pushed the center clamp out." That contributes to this grip feel, and I really felt the depth of their manufacturing process. It’s hard to explain in text and slightly off-topic, so please ask me if you’re interested.

If you have a classic-style bike with narrow, sharp lines, the B177HT is a foolproof choice.

The wider 500mm variation would also look great on gravel and track bikes.

NITTO x Circles RM013HT Hanafuda Dirt Drop

The other model is a mountain drop bar with a classic look. Right now, it’s a handle that’s perfect for gravel bikes.

It’s a wide handlebar with a fairly straight profile from the center clamp, a short reach, and a gentle flare.

It’s wide with a short reach, but because the drop is quite deep, it pairs perfectly with a short stem. If you match it with a 50–70mm stem, you can get a huge range of variety in your grip positions.

This category (gravel bars) often has modern profiles, so conversely, there are few 25.4mm options. However, for bikes like those from WILDE BIKES that are modern but use a 1-1/8 headtube, or gravel bikes like CRUST BIKES that use threaded stems, these should be a great fit (looks included).

This bike belongs to staff member Yanak, a WILDE Rambler. Doesn't it look pretty good? You can also get a good position by angling it upward slightly.

Also, with a drop bar this wide and a 25.4mm clamp, the bar flexes quite a bit, providing good vibration absorption. The rebound doesn't feel harsh.

NITTO RH013HT Hanafuda Dirt Drop

Reach: 92mm
Drop: 140mm
Clamp Diameter: 25.4mm
Width: 480mm, 520mm
Color: Silver, Black
Price: 12,100 yen (tax included)

These Hanafuda series bars are also available for purchase through CWD dealers nationwide, so please consider them!

Anyway, don't overthink it; you can choose the one that feels good to grab, or base it on width or looks. I hope this becomes one of your drop bar options!