Since the early days of mountain biking, the Nukeproof brand has been associated with tough, high-performance components, and this year has seen the introduction of new frames and improved components built on that reputation. For 2011 the iconic Nukeproof Warhead Stem & Bar has seen a few changes, and when these turned up the other day I was keen to get these built up on to my DH bike ready for a weekends uplift action. Nukeproof Warhead Riser Bar (800mm, 20mm Rise) RRP £49.99 In recent years the demand for wider bars in the downhill scene has grown and until now I had been a big fan of my 711mm width bars for my local tight and twisty DH trails. So when I unpacked and fitted the Nukeproof Warhead 800mm wide bars they certainly got my attention. First impressions of the Warhead Bars felt very comfortable, aided by the 9 degrees back sweep and 6 degrees up sweep. The extra leverage gained from the 800mm bars was instantly noticeable and I found myself attacting sections with a lot more confidence. The quality of the bars are excellent thanks to the shot-peened finish to maximize fatigue resistance and laser-etched graphics with incremental markings for cutting down the bars to your preferred width. The Warhead bars feature a 31.8mm diameter clamping area for stiffness and strength at a remarkably light weight. Available in three finishes, Black Anodized, Silver Anodized or Nukeproof Yellow and with a bargain price of £49.99 these bars offer great value. Nukeproof Warhead Stem (50mm) RRP £49.99 The Warhead stem is designed around a 31.8mm handlebar clamp diameter with a four-bolt faceplate system providing maximum security against bar slippage and is manufactured in 50, 60 and 70mm lengths to cater to your cockpit needs and matched up nicely with Warhead bars. Custom-manufactured from high-grade 6061 aluminium and featuring a cold-forged construction for optimum strength produces a clean anodized black finish. This stem is built to take a lot punishment and yet weighs in light enough (170g) for you downhill 'weight watchers' out there! A nice feature of the stem are the opposing bolts on the steerer clamp which not only help to evenly distribute the clamping forces on the steerer but also provide a knee-friendly design which eliminates any protruding edges. Available in three finishes, Black Anodized, Silver Anodized or Nukeproof Yellow to match up with your Nukeproof Warhead bars. Nuke Proof is distributed by Hotlines UK. For more information on Nuke Proof and their great range of components and frames visit: www.nukeproof.com Words & Photos: Carl Billinghurst