Track Tested | ODI Podium Flight RC4 Handlebars
Share
Price: $99.95
Instagram @odigrips
ODI is a brand that because famous for grips, but for several years now the Riverside, California-based company has offered three different styles of handlebars: traditional 7/8″ aluminum, oversized 1 1/8″ crossbar-free Podium Flight, and 1 1/8″ crossbar-equipped Podium CFT, which have a patented crossbar system that utilizes a two-piece crossbar with an elastomer spacer in the middle to provide flex in addition to structural support. Both oversized bars are constructed of 2014-T6 alloy for optimum strength. Of the three styles, we’ve been huge fans of the 1 1/8″ Podium Flight Handlebars thanks to their feel on the track and quality of construction. The crossbar-free design of the Podium Flight bar allows the oversized, tapered aluminum to provide a precise feel with excellent vibration and impact dampening qualities. Podium Flight bars have also proved to be quite resilient in a crash, as they resist bending in all but the most horrific spills.
Ricky Carmichael played a massive role in the development of his signature RC4 bend.
In mid-2019, we met with Ricky Carmichael and Jeff Emig at the ODI headquarters to learn about a couple of new and exciting products from the ODI team: the Emig Pro V2 Lock-On Grip, and the RC4 Ricky Carmichael signature Podium Flight and CFT Podium handlebars. Though RC was famous during his racing career for running low bars with lots of sweep, and rotated rearward, his new signature bar is straighter and flatter than any other “RC Replica” bend we’ve ever ridden with.
We mounted RC4 Podium Flight handlebars on several of our test bikes: the 2020 Honda CRF450R, KTM 450 SX-F, and Kawasaki KX450, and the bar suits all of the machines just fine. We especially like the straighter bend of the bar, as it makes it easy to keep weight on the front end of the bike for ideal front-end cornering traction. We run the bar in the neutral, centered position in the clamps and test riders of varying heights and riding styles all agreed that the RC4 bar bend is quite comfortable.
The left side of the handlebar is knurled for traction when using glue-on grips, but the knurling is not so aggressive that an ODI Lock-On style grip cannot easily slip on like other brands of bars. We must make mention of the excellent ODI Emig Pro V2 Lock-On Grip, too! The new Emig grip is much slimmer than the original, and it has quickly become our favorite grip to ride with. The underside of the grip has a unique rib pattern that offers a ton of traction and control, while a JE pattern on the top of the grip offers extra cushion. The ends of the grips include an alloy cap, which guards against damage in a crash.
Handlebars and grips are the most important component when it comes to maintaining control of your motorcycle and equipping your machine with the most comfortable cockpit possible is the first step to gelling with your bike. Do yourself a favor when it’s time to upgrade your bike and take a look at the RC4 Podium bars and Emig Pro V2 Grip.
