DEITY Holeshot Handlebars

(discontinued)

Choosing the right handlebar is a very personal thing, and when going a bit more in depth on materials and angles it can get more complex than it seems at first. The Deity Holeshot ticked all the boxes, and I was able to find it at a very good price online since it has been discontinued for 2020. It is till available in a few popular online shops (on sale), and it seems to share the same shape, material, weight and flex as their new Racepoint handlebar, which was also based on their previous Blacklabel's ride quality so I think that this review could still be relevant for potential buyers.

Some specs

The Holeshot is made of butted 7075 T73 aluminium with a 35mm diameter, which makes for a really stiff and durable bar. I didn’t want to go 35mm, but the stem that I had chosen (Bontrager Line 35) was only offered in 35mm diameter and I didn't want anything else, so I had to find a suitable handlebar. My previous Truvativ Boobar did not have much backsweep (7 degrees) and another one of my criteria was to have 9-10 degrees of backsweep to see if I’d prefer that feel. Deity made the Holeshot 825mm wide, and even if I have trimmed mine to 765mm, it’s nice to have the option to keep it wider for taller riders. They have printed cut marks on each end to help with choosing the right width and center alignment marks to help centering the bar in the stem. Visually it is really nice, with a two tone bead blast and polish anodized finish and a choice of 7 colorways to match most bikes. I chose the grey/stealth one as it fits with everything and I’m not much into loud colors. Uncut it weights 327g, and mine ended up being 300g at 765mm in the 25mm rise version.

How does it ride ?

I upgraded my bike right before the beginning of the season with a new fork, a new stem and a new 35mm handlebar, so it’s hard to say exactly how stiffer it is compared to my previous 31.8mm setup. But judging by how stiff it felt, I would say that it is pretty damn stiff! Maybe it’s the 35mm diameter, or the fact that the handlebar’s compliance was calculated for 825mm width, but at 765mm I found it a bit unforgiving.

I liked the added control that it gave and the nice confidence-inspiring view from the rider's perspective, but I decided to try to dampen the feel with thicker grips. The thin lock-on Race Face Half Nelson that I was running felt nice on the 31.8mm handlebar, but they were really thin and didn’t dampen much vibrations on the Holeshot. Installing some Deity Knuckedusters gave me back the more muted feel that I was looking for and made holding the bars more comfortable. I didn’t know it yet, but it seems that I prefer thicker grips.

Conclusion

The two things that I would have liked to see improved are the graphics (they’re not bad though and fit with most bikes) and a bit more forgiveness to dampen vibrations and trail chatter (I am average weight for my size). From what I've read, they seem to have re-tuned the flex and the new graphics look a bit nicer in my opinion. Deity definitely have their manufacturing on point as the finish is awesome and I had complete confidence in the product’s strength. You see many pros riding their products, and they back their handlebars with a lifetime crash replacement warranty. After a season mine still looks and feels like new so I’d say it’s a very good choice, especially for people who ride thick grips or who like a stiff, precise handlebar feel.