York 32122 and Ivanko OB-72 - 6' Oly Barbell Match-up and Observations
So, I have a couple 6' Oly bars hanging out the AttyGuy Gym, and I thought I'd share with you some details about them and my observations.
[b]32122[/b] - The York 6’ bar I have is an International Black Oxide Bar that I bought through Allison Foreman in January 2011. "International" is York's designation for products made overseas, versus those made in the Great White North (Canada, eh?). Some retailers are advertising this bar as a "North American" (i.e. Canadian made) bar. It is possible that York had a shift in production.
The shaft is finished with a stylish and modern-looking black oxide coating and the sleevs are hard chromed and split -- split sleeves being a common feature on York bars for decades. The bars are heat tempered with a 30 mm grip and weight is 30 pounds.
[b]OB-72[/b] - Ivanko's 6' bar is, sadly, a discontinued item, though there may be one or two left in the Ivanko warehouse, possibly at a discount. The bar is a beautifully chromed work of art, with the sleeves bolted on at the ends. It is 80,000 psi rated, with an advertised weight of 40 lbs. (mine weighed 35 pounds) and a grip of 1 1/16" (30 mm). The bar is/was an economy line bar, with a retail price comparable to the York 6' Oly bars. The sleeve ends on the Ivanko bar are massive and solid looking.
[b]Observations[/b] - With both bars, I found that website descriptions of the bars (e.g., "International" vs. "North American") sometimes varied with the bars in my possession. This may be because of sloppiness on the part of retailers. It probably is because of changes that the manufacturers make over time as they perfect their products (speculation on my part).
Apart from the chrome/black oxide distinction, the most obvious difference is the sleeves. The Ivanko has 11 15/16" of useable space per side and the York has 8 7/8" of useable space. The Ivanko has 45 1/2" between sleeves; the York as 52 1/16". One loads more plates, the other is easier to re-rack in the cage. It's a trade-off with each addressing a market different from the other.
The knurling, in my hands, seems more aggressive on the Ivanko than on the York. Neither is outside the range of acceptable. The knurled sections on both are approximately 16 3/8" wide per side, with witness marks on the York. Neither has center knurling. The space in the middle between knurling is 12 7/8" on the York and 19" on the Ivanko. The sleeves on both spin easily. Finally, on overall length, the Ivanko is approximately 1/4" to 1/2" longer.
Both are/were around the same retail price and both are great bars for someone with a need for an Olympic bar shorter than standard length. I alternate these bars when using them for curls (outside the rack, of course) or standing presses and I confess that I do not favor one over the other. They are both awesome. I confess as well that I'm very excited about the possible new 6' Oly bar from Ivanko in 2013. . . .
[b]Images[/b]
The two bars in the rack. Note the 1980's era York 7' Oly bar loaded up with York plates, the Rogue Beater bar standing up on the back left and the 85 and 90-lb roundheads on the back right side of the image. That's just how we roll at AttyGuy's gym. . . .
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_002.JPG[/img]
The Ivanko sleeves have much more useable space, which is good for adding plates, but it makes for a tight fit when returning to the j-hooks after a grueling set of rack curls.
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_004.JPG[/img]
A comparison of the ends of the bars:
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_008.JPG[/img]
A close-up of the knurling on the York bar:
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_010.JPG[/img]
A close-up of the knurling on the Ivanko bar:
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_009.JPG[/img]
Note the brass bushing on the Ivanko bar between the shaft and the sleeve. Nice!
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/2013-01-03_001_013.JPG[/img]
