York 32123 5' Olympic Bar - 60 Inches of Good News, Bad News

[AttyGuy]

The black oxide 5' Oly bar from York came in today and I have mixed feelings.

This is an "International" bar, which used to mean it was manufactured outside of North America, though I hear from GarageIron that the bar is made in Canada. It is finished with a black Oxide coating and has hard chrome sleeves with an aggressive grip. It's heat tempered too and 30mm thick.

I don't mind that it's not rackable, though only by an inch or so. I don't mind that it has about 6 3/4" or so of space on the sleeves. Not at all. And a five foot-long bar is handy for curling (outside of the rack, please).


What I don't like is the lack of a true split sleeve. That and the finish is not as nice as the 32122, but with a larger and more aggressive knurling. Will I keep it? But if Ivanko comes out with a sexy 5' Oly bar to match the upcoming 6' bar, I'll have to re-evaluate. Am I disappointed? Sure. Of course York has changed patterns over the years, but moving away from the split sleeve while running a groove on the inner collar of the sleeve is cheesy. One thumb sideways. . . .




The 32123 will hold a few plates:




From top to bottom: Rogue Beater bar; 1980's-90's York Stainless Steel Oly bar; 1980's York Oly bar; 6' York Oly, 32122; and 5' York Oly bar, 32123.




From left to right: York 32123; York 32122; 1980's York Oly bar; 1980's/90's stainless York Oly bar; Rogue Beater bar.




The 32123 has the model number stamped on the end cap. The 32122 from two years ago does not.






A view of the end caps. From left to right: Rogue Beater bar; 1980's/90's York stainless Oly bar; 1980's York Oly bar; 6' York Oly, 32122; and 5' York Oly bar, 32123.




Aggressive knurling:




The other bars, for comparison purposes:

[Vmango]

Now you know what I meant by the fake "split sleeve." I have to figure that it must pain a York purist like you.

Your 5' probably has the same knurl as my 32121, eh?

[GarageIron]

running a groove on the inner collar of the sleeve is cheesy.

I have to agree there. They have that mock look on all of the international bars and I don't like it. Seems like a waste even machining it. The Elites have a flat surface sleeve. I don't have an American made York Split sleeve to compare (I've never actually seen one in person), but from what I've seen the tolerances and spin are better on the current Canadian bars than the Chinese ones.

This is my wife's 32003 (Basically a chromed women's B&R with no centre knurl) and a stainless comp bar with flat surface flanges.

[AttyGuy]

I'd much prefer this sleeve and inner collar set-up to the fake split sleeve of the 32123 and 32122.

[BloodType3R]

Atty, I kinda hate you..
That stainless bar is prety much.. well, exactly what I'm looking for right now. . .

EDIT: Or is it? 28mm Olympic marked without center knurl? Bushing?If yes.. Where in the World do I find one?

[GarageIron]

Atty, I kinda hate you..
That stainless bar is prety much.. well, exactly what I'm looking for right now. . .

EDIT: Or is it? 28mm Olympic marked without center knurl? Bushing?If yes.. Where in the World do I find one?

York 32011. Bushing bar, no centre (center) knurl, 28mm, stainless steel, unplated.

It's another York phantom bar like its bearing and centre knurled 32010 comp legal brother.

[hulked]

I'd much prefer this sleeve and inner collar set-up to the fake split sleeve of the 32123 and 32122.

That fake split doesn't look good. That's a York trademark and they should never compromise on that. Its something very unique. I am able to understand how you would feel. When did they start doing it? I recently let some CL bars pass thinking that they were some cheap York imitations. I have seen both 5' and curl bars with fake sleeves.

[BloodType3R]

York 32011. Bushing bar, no centre (center) knurl, 28mm, stainless steel, unplated.

It's another York phantom bar like its bearing and centre knurled 32010 comp legal brother.

I see what you did there.
Now, how can I talk Atty out of his desire to keep that bar? . . .


brb practicing mind control techniques

[AttyGuy]

That is not the bar you are looking for!

[BloodType3R]

This is not the bar I'm loo.. Hold on! Nice try.

Help me, Atty Wan Kenobi.. you're my only hope.
Are the sleeves stainless too or are they chromed?


Sorry to thread-jack. I certainly agree with everyone that the fake split-sleeve is unfortunate.

[AttyGuy]

Stainless. The bar is from the 1980's-90's.

[AttyGuy]

Now you know what I meant by the fake "split sleeve." I have to figure that it must pain a York purist like you.

Your 5' probably has the same knurl as my 32121, eh?

I've spent some time with the bar and thought about the issue of split sleeves and current York construction. I am extremely disappointed that York Fitness has dropped the split sleeve from many, if not all, of their Oly barbells. Sure, the end cap is still on the bars, but the two-piece sleeve -- the "split sleeve" -- is no more. Second, I find the knurling on the bar 32123 unacceptable and not close to my older "international" 6' York Oly bar or the original York split sleeve bars.

[ProtienandIron]

SOme nice bar pron in this thread. I understand your anguish Atty.

[AttyGuy]

SOme nice bar pron in this thread. . .

And there are some other bars that didn't make the pictures!

[ProtienandIron]

Anytime you want to swap one of those bars let me know. Up for grabs is a genuine 7ft Chinese made 15kg oly bar with custom 'flakey grip' chrome. I'll even pay the shipping both ways. Just let me know.

[AttyGuy]

Anytime you want to swap one of those bars let me know. Up for grabs is a genuine 7ft Chinese made 15kg oly bar with custom 'flakey grip' chrome. I'll even pay the shipping both ways. Just let me know.

Hahahaha. [breathes] Hahahahahahaha. No.

[AttyGuy]

Bumping for the guy looking at 6' bars.

[Synthetickiller]

Idk how I missed this thread. Going to read this one through & the other that just popped up.

I'd rep, but on spread.


1" off to rack? I curl outside of the cage, but use the j-cups on the outside, lol. That really kills it for me!

[urbanlifter]

I felt cheated, but now that I have used my York North American 32121 bar for a while I have no regrets. The fake split sleeve design pissed me off, and I honestly think its a bit of deceptive marketing on their part to promote it as a "Split Sleeve" design. I didnt even look at it close enough to notice until someone said something on here that it was just a groove, LOL. Oh well, it has held up to my abuse so I'm a happy York owner anyway.

[Skidmarx]

Fake sleeve or not, it looks way better than the OB60 bar I have.

[AttyGuy]

Fake sleeve or not, it looks way better than the OB60 bar I have.

The Ivanko OB60?

[Greybird2]

Bumped. Just in case I need to read it again. Very detailed review.

[RemainDieHard]

Atty how come you didn't mention the lack of knurling toward the center of this bar?

I noticed 2 of 4 people on wayfair complained about it.

[AttyGuy]

Atty how come you didn't mention the lack of knurling toward the center of this bar?

I noticed 2 of 4 people on wayfair complained about it.

They are p---ies and don't know s---.

[marilia05]

The black oxide 5' Oly bar from York came in today and I have mixed feelings.

This is an "International" bar, which used to mean it was manufactured outside of North America, though I hear from GarageIron that the bar is made in Canada. It is finished with a black Oxide coating and has hard chrome sleeves with an aggressive grip. It's heat tempered too and 30mm thick.

I don't mind that it's not rackable, though only by an inch or so. I don't mind that it has about 6 3/4" or so of space on the sleeves. Not at all. And a five foot-long bar is handy for curling (outside of the rack, please).


What I don't like is the lack of a true split sleeve. That and the finish is not as nice as the 32122, but with a larger and more aggressive knurling. Will I keep it? But if Ivanko comes out with a sexy 5' Oly bar to match the upcoming 6' bar, I'll have to re-evaluate. Am I disappointed? Sure. Of course York has changed patterns over the years, but moving away from the split sleeve while running a groove on the inner collar of the sleeve is cheesy. One thumb sideways. . . .




The 32123 will hold a few plates:




From top to bottom: Rogue Beater bar; 1980's-90's York Stainless Steel Oly bar; 1980's York Oly bar; 6' York Oly, 32122; and 5' York Oly bar, 32123.




From left to right: York 32123; York 32122; 1980's York Oly bar; 1980's/90's stainless York Oly bar; Rogue Beater bar.




The 32123 has the model number stamped on the end cap. The 32122 from two years ago does not.






A view of the end caps. From left to right: Rogue Beater bar; 1980's/90's York stainless Oly bar; 1980's York Oly bar; 6' York Oly, 32122; and 5' York Oly bar, 32123.




Aggressive knurling:




The other bars, for comparison purposes:

Hi AttyGuy, I sent you a PM asking your permission to use your images in a publication. With credit, of course. Check your PM, please!

[AttyGuy]

Como no, Marilia. Escribame por favor.