Rep Fitness new bar - Excalibur - coming out this month

[Jason2459]

Is that Rogue Westside Power Bar or TPB? Mine looks more like your Jessup.

Its the Rouge Westside Powerbar which should be just like the Texas power bar knurling wise except being 29mm compared to 28mm on the Texas. The westside also has higher tensile strength and a lifetime warranty. Both should be sharp knurling. I don't know if the econ westside Ia the same but I would imagine the just use different sleeves same bar.

[Andrew_WOT]

Its the Rouge Westside Powerbar which should be just like the Texas power bar knurling wise except being 29mm compared to 28mm on the Texas. The westside also has higher tensile strength and a lifetime warranty. Both should be sharp knurling. I don't know if the econ westside Ia the same but I would imagine the just use different sleeves same bar.

Interesting, how old is your bar? Mine has tips of the knurls rolled down and looks exactly like what posted on Rogue site.
http://www.roguefitness.com/westside-power-bar.php


Forbidden also compared it to TPB, the knurling is certainly different.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...light=westside

Here is good close up of mine, click on the image for bigger size

[Jason2459]

Interesting, how old is your bar? Mine has tips of the knurls rolled down and looks exactly like what posted on Rogue site.
http://www.roguefitness.com/westside-power-bar.php


Forbidden also compared it to TPB, the knurling is certainly different.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...light=westside

Here is good close up of mine, click on the image for bigger size

I got two of them just a few months ago. First one I got had a few flaws and they sent me the second one. Both had exactly the same sharp knurling just like a Texas power bar.

[Andrew_WOT]

I got two of them just a few months ago. First one I got had a few flaws and they sent me the second one. Both had exactly the same sharp knurling just like a Texas power bar.

Wow, the must have changed the knurling, the only reason I got it over TPB.

[Jason2459]

Wow, the must have changed the knurling, the only reason I got it over TPB.

I shot them an email to see what its supposed to be and if its changed. Both of the ones I got are very sharp.

[Jason2459]

Got a reply back from them:

Jason,

The Westside power bar will have the most aggressive knurling of all the bars we offer, the tips are not rolled off.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Thanks,

AJ

They didn't answer if it changed at all so I asked if it's changed at all in the past year or so. Their answer

Jason,

That knurling design for the Westside bar as not changed.

That bar was designed by/for heavy lifters, and they prefer that deeper knurl so that bar has no chance of slipping under a heavy load.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Thanks,

AJ

The sharp knurling like the TPB was one of the reasons why I got it.

[Andrew_WOT]

Got a reply back from them:



They didn't answer if it changed at all so I asked if it's changed at all in the past year or so. Their answer



The sharp knurling like the TPB was one of the reasons why I got it.

Wondering why the pictured on their web site knurling as well as on mine (I've had 3 of them) and forbidden's (he had 2) have rolled off tips. Most likely they went for different sub contractor.

Guess I got lucky then, TPB style knurling would be brutal for volume work.

You may ask AJ why the knurling on yours is different from what they have on web site.

[Andrew_WOT]

Finally heard back from Rogue rep:

Andrew,

We apologize for the delay in getting back.

The Westside bar has recently been updated to have a sharper knurling on the bar, to give it a more authentic strictly power bar feel.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

Chris

Guess that explains everything, too bad as I really like the original knurling.

[Jason2459]

Finally heard back from Rogue rep:



Guess that explains everything, too bad as I really like the original knurling.

I like the sharp but then again I do have other bars to choose from too that aren't sharp but still aggressive.

Still loving this rep elite bar for the rep work. Definitely need just a little chalk though. I was doing some high rep fast dimel deads and hands get pretty sweaty.

[RealAdvice]

I posted here a bit back about how I purchased the Excalibur barbell too.

I love it. The whip is really nice on the bar for my Olympic lifts, and compares nicely to bars $350-$500. The knurling is a shade light, but for some of my higher rep workouts, I like it. For my lower rep oly/power movements, it still works fine, and I haven't missed a lift because of it. I also have bear hands, and it is 28mm, so I'm sure that helps. Some of the bars with lesser grade steel use 29mm, 30mm etc. to make up for the lack of strength in the steel.

The knurling is very accurate. No choppy finishes. The bar bends a bit on my heavier deadlifts, but that is to be expected for a 28mm mixed use bar.

Finally, my bar arrived perfectly in the packaging. After Duke wrote that they are beefing it up, I was really happy, and it did arrive with a lot more tape around the cardboard. That heavy duty packaging tape with lines in it.

Overall, I'd rate this bar a 9.5/10 - because everything can be rated out of 10. Test it yourself, let me know what you guys think.

[jdforsy]

Hey guys I went up to rep fitness today to pick up some floor mats and got a chance to checkout their other stuff. The power racks and bumper plates look great and the feel of the Excalibur was pretty nice. They told me that hey are probably going to make a few changes to the bar which I think are going to be awesome. They're making the knurl a little deeper and adding ridges to the sleeve. I felt a sample of the new knurl and am really looking forward to he updated bar (if they do indeed make the change). If they go with these changes I will def be getting one of these bars.

[Jason2459]

It's an awesome bar but if they made the knurling just a bit more aggressive I couldn't imagine a more perfect bar.

[dukenukem7777]

Thanks again for all of the feedback guys. Here is what we're doing with the next batch of bars, due in mid/late July:

1) Deeper knurl. We've tweaked it so that it's still light enough not to destroy your hands doing higher rep workouts, but it will be significantly deeper than current knurl.
2) Grooved sleeves. This is more minor, but we've had feedback from the Oly lifters out there that they don't like using collars much, so the grooves will help the bumper plates stay on the bar without them.
3) Maybe changing the endcap design. This may or may not make it for this next batch, but we hear you that you would prefer a simpler/cleaner endcap design and so this will get done eventually. If not this batch, then the next.

We want this bar to be perfect and I believe with these changes it will be as close to perfect as possible for a mixed-use bar. Thanks again for all of your feedback guys and we're looking forward to hearing more from you all once the next round is in.

[jackbravo]

Thanks again for all of the feedback guys. Here is what we're doing with the next batch of bars, due in mid/late July:

1) Deeper knurl. We've tweaked it so that it's still light enough not to destroy your hands doing higher rep workouts, but it will be significantly deeper than current knurl.
2) Grooved sleeves. This is more minor, but we've had feedback from the Oly lifters out there that they don't like using collars much, so the grooves will help the bumper plates stay on the bar without them.
3) Maybe changing the endcap design. This may or may not make it for this next batch, but we hear you that you would prefer a simpler/cleaner endcap design and so this will get done eventually. If not this batch, then the next.

We want this bar to be perfect and I believe with these changes it will be as close to perfect as possible for a mixed-use bar. Thanks again for all of your feedback guys and we're looking forward to hearing more from you all once the next round is in.

I might just have to get it depending how much deeper that knurling is. I think it'd be closer to perfection if you offered it in black oxide, imho.

[swimmer32]

Thanks again for all of the feedback guys. Here is what we're doing with the next batch of bars, due in mid/late July:

1) Deeper knurl. We've tweaked it so that it's still light enough not to destroy your hands doing higher rep workouts, but it will be significantly deeper than current knurl.
2) Grooved sleeves. This is more minor, but we've had feedback from the Oly lifters out there that they don't like using collars much, so the grooves will help the bumper plates stay on the bar without them.
3) Maybe changing the endcap design. This may or may not make it for this next batch, but we hear you that you would prefer a simpler/cleaner endcap design and so this will get done eventually. If not this batch, then the next.

We want this bar to be perfect and I believe with these changes it will be as close to perfect as possible for a mixed-use bar. Thanks again for all of your feedback guys and we're looking forward to hearing more from you all once the next round is in.

I think it's pretty awesome that you're listening to the end users and making changes accordingly. Can't wait to see the updated bar. And I agree with the black oxide suggestions above.

[dukenukem7777]

We're changing the endcap for this batch of bars to something simpler/cleaner as people here have requested. Thoughts?

[KalleA]

We're changing the endcap for this batch of bars to something simpler/cleaner as people here have requested. Thoughts?

simpler/cleaner




vBlMORQ.jpg

[KalleA]

Even simpler/cleaner:




Rep Excalibur


Rogue has pretty well cornered the "R", otherwise that would be my suggestion.


Cheers


vBlMORQ1.jpg

[judgecrandall]

I like KalleA's suggestions. Simpler with less text is better. It will also look better if the height and width of the logo/design are similar so it will be centered on the endcap, unlike the updated design you posted, which is very long relative to how tall it is. Also, it might be cool to incorporate a sword into the design, to incorporate the Excalibur theme without having to write it out. Thanks for putting out a great bar and being so responsive to feedback. I'll definitely be getting one of the updated bars when they are available.

[JB426]

For the end cap the above suggestions are good. I think it would be good to be able to identify the bar as from Rep but also as the Excalibur bar. Really cool that you guys are listening to customer feedback.

[matrix563]

what about rep and something like this below?

[dukenukem7777]

Great input so far guys, thanks. Updated design below:



or this?


another

[matrix563]

the first one isn't the right sword

the second one is sweet. go with it! .

[Jason2459]

Great input so far guys, thanks. Updated design below:



or this?

Laughed hard at that first one. Likeing all the ideas but I still liked the circle around everything just didnt care for the kettlebell guy. Love that a little deeper knurling is in the works.

[matrix563]

you all should really do a tv commercial of someone working out with the bar, and a close up of that sword logo, then have some medieval baddies riding up on horses, and the guy picks up the barbell, slides the sleeve off, and slides out a scimitar from the inside of the barbell and uses a chrome ivanko plate that becomes a shield. that would be cool .

[swimmer32]

I have to admit, I'm digging the sword design.

[Jason2459]

Great input so far guys, thanks. Updated design below:



or this?


another

Just saw the edit. Liking the circle one. Just wondering what it would look like with the words a touch smaller and 20KG under it. For some reason I think that's missing don't know why. Maybe it'll ness it up. Either way I'm liking the circle one.

[jackbravo]

now this right here is good looking - reminiscent of the steelers.


other idea;
take this one and have the sword up and down through the letter E
then take out the blue word Excalibur and add 20kg in blue on each side of the sword/handle, on top of the word REP

something like this, but better

[matrix563]

what about the 20kg below the rep and sword, I mean rep and sword in the E centered over the faded out 20kg, where its covered but enough of the 20kg is still showing as to know what it is?, and have the word fitness below, and the other side the rep and sword with blue circle (latest posted by rep?)

I mean the sword in the stone did come out. showing on 2 different sides would be pretty cool .

[thejosef]

..
another

very nice improvement /\ ..man, great job listening to the feedback! maybe add "20KG" under excalibur and you're golden.