What weight can a standard bar take?

[Happy82]

Still continuing with the weight lifting and getting towards 100kg lifts, but just wanted to check what weight they can take before bending? It is a standard weight bar and not Olympic. I know I will have to upgrade at some point but just wanted to know the limits of my current setup

[LordGrover]

AFAIK Olympic bar is standard. Anything else is non-standard so can't help much.
An oly bar will take 100 kgs in its stride, likely 350+ kgs too. Stiffer bars are used for HEAVY lifting but you and I shan't be needing one of those anytime soon.

[ikarl]

LordGrover said:

AFAIK Olympic bar is standard. Anything else is non-standard so can't help much.
An oly bar will take 100 kgs in its stride, likely 350+ kgs too. Stiffer bars are used for HEAVY lifting but you and I shan't be needing one of those anytime soon.

Yup, what he said ^^

Olympic bar normally weighs c.20kg and is used in most gyms. These can take 140 a side no probs

[topjay]

Most are rated at 320kg but they vary in gauge and quality up to massive weight. Can be same size but rated higher, no way of telling the difference unless someone knows what was ordered. More expensive normal stuff is rated up to 700kg but generally 25kg bar & thicker diameter. Can go a lot more than that though but becomes special order. Olympic just refers to the size of plates it fits.

If its not a specialist gym they are probably 320 rated as they are the cheapest. For your bar it is anyone's guess as not Olympic but probably about 150-180 guessing.

Edited by topjay on Tuesday 22 January 15:24

[didelydoo]

Very few 20kg oly bars will bend with less than 200kg, even the crap ones. I've squatted over 200kg on crappy 10kg bar with plastic sleeve ends, and it held up, bit wibbly though.

[LordGrover]

You or the bar?

[Happy82]

Thanks, should be ok for a while then!

[Pablo Escobar]

The Olympic bars in the gym I go to have ratings on them to 450kg/1000lb I have seen some of the el cheapo ones start flexing badly at 200kg though.

[Haggleburyfinius]

The benching bar I use at the gym visibly bends when I load it with over 130kg. Olympic and a decent make.

They probably need new bars!

[balders118]

The impression I get is that you're using a standard bar with spin locks, home gym kind of stuff?

Not sure what the rating is like on these, but it won't be anything like an oly bar. Check with the manufacturer or the shop you bought it from if you're worried.

[pilchardthecat]

It's no fun unless the bar bends a little....