•      ProTaper, founded in 1991 in Southern California, has made it its mission to help riders get faster through its innovative product list.
•     Due to the strain dirt bike riders endure, tools like handlebars and grips play a vital role in winning the race and going the distance.
•     Famous athletes like Haiden Deegan, Jordon Smith, Cooper Webb, and many others grew up using the ProTaper brand, making it a trustworthy name within powersports.
•     Due to ProTaper’s stance on inclusivity, seasoned vets and novice riders all use the same products like SE bars, titanium footpegs, EVO bars, and clamp-on grips.

Few brands can honestly say they have helped build champions; even claiming that Nike and Michael Jordan or Fender Guitars and Jimi Hendrix have a direct connection to their notoriety might be a stretch. But for Powersports, that connection is a bit deeper. For those new to the scene the list of brands helping mold the future of the sport is short—there are really only two big players in this space—which makes it more significant that most of the segment’s top-tier riders choose one brand: ProTaper.

GOING FAST

ProTaper has been around since 1991, and since its inception, the company’s driving motivation has been to help people go fast. To achieve this mission, ProTaper partnered with professionals, like Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham, to help iterate products that would circumvent previous limitations while also improving measurables that pro riders value: comfort, better riding position, and more. As a byproduct of this research, ProTaper quickly became a top powersports manufacturer by creating the first-ever oversized handlebars. For anyone wondering how handlebars can make riders go fast, let me explain. While racing at speed, it becomes apparent how much control matters—especially on a dirt track. One tweak, bump, or slip can either land you on the ground, or over a barrier. ProTaper’s oversized 1.125” handlebars afford riders more flex and shock absorption (and therefore more confidence) over conventional 0.875” bars. The size bump also helped create a more robust bar. While other manufacturer designs were prone to bending/breaking from extreme impacts after jumps or falls, ProTaper was becoming synonymous with crossing the finish line.

In addition to size, the bar’s bend can help a rider lock-in. Depending on their height, weight, and preferred riding positions, a specific bend makes the ride more comfortable, leading to smoother transitions and faster runs. ProTaper’s range offers something for everyone’s preferences.

FULL SEND

To better understand ProTaper’s role in the dirt bike world, you first have to know what it takes to ride; the constant movement, undulating surfaces, and competitive stress affect the bike and the rider equally. It’s a game of endurance too: operating a 200lb speed machine over the course of 30-minute motos requires a lot of body control and quick reaction time. As a result, ProTaper products like the SE, EVO, and ACF handlebars have become the standard for many professionals because of their durability and lightweight construction.

But don’t just think ProTaper is exclusive for the pros. Go to any amateur race, and you will also find ProTaper products. Whether ripping around the track as a seasoned weekend warrior or starting young and taking a few spills, the brand’s beauty is that you can purchase the same bar your favorite athlete uses right off the digital shelf and trust it to last for years. Deegan’s ACF (aluminum carbon fiber) Carmichael bend handlebars is just one example that is readily available for every level of rider. Its Titanium Footpegs and Clamp-On Grips—in addition to the handlebars—can be found on beloved dirt bikes worldwide.

HOUSEHOLD NAMES

Some of the biggest names in the business—Haiden Deegan, Jordon Smith, RJ Hampshire, and Cooper Webb—all ride ProTaper. These are the riders who have all won multiple championship titles in AMA Supercross, Motocross, and Enduro Racing and continue to push the boundaries of the sport. In order to do this, they also have to explore the limits of their equipment—there is a delicate balance between saving weight and maintaining the durability required to finish a race strong.

During the 2024 AMA Supercross Competition stop in Detroit, Haiden Deegan got hung on his handlebars going into the first turn due to a rider piling up at the start of the race. The impact was so extreme that Deegan managed to bend the right handle but kept riding, finishing P16 out of 22 in his class. Although his Detroit result wasn’t ideal, the takeaway echoes ProTaper’s robust build quality and the eventual 2024 Pro Motocross 250cc Champion’s determination.

LATEST AND GREATEST

Despite ProTaper’s achievements, the company is constantly pushing to create the latest and greatest product for its current and future riders. Although we’ve focused a lot of our attention on the handlebar lineup, ProTaper’s manufacturing prowess extends much further. Its newest product is a titanium foot peg set—a reinterpretation of its ever-popular pieces in an ultra-lightweight material and finish. Whereas the 2.3 Platform Footpeg is a modular design, the titanium equivalent is a robust, race-ready, one-piece unit that pros are raving about. “The Titanium Footpeg is the style the professionals are moving towards which has optimal grip and lightweight design,” affirms Paul O’Brien, the Brand Manager for ProTaper.

To that end, one thing is clear: ProTaper keeps its hand on the pulse of the sport and an ear to the ground, listening for the next opportunity to help build the next dirt bike champion.

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