While attending the 2023 Arnold Classic held in Columbus, Ohio, I came across this at the Rogue equipment display. There are several reasons in which I purchased this. First, this bar offers several squat set ups I can do that I typically would shy away from due to injury or mobility issues. I.e. front squats (wrists) and goblet squats (knees) Due to wrist issues, it is difficult for me to hold an Olympic Bar in place while doing front squats with a heavier weight. I can perform front squats with the Kabuki Transfer Bar without the concern of the bar rolling forward off my shoulders or straining my wrists. The Kabuki Transformer Bar centers on the traps and shoulders. By doing so the weight used is transfered straight down to the quads and glutes. I feel the work stress is more directly in the muscles than with a Olympic Bar. The pad is comfortable and durable. The Kabuki Transformer Bar is a time saver due to the ability to switch up the squat movements by simply pulling the spring pins and selecting the movement desired. However, one thing I have noticed is that when I am doing low back squats, with the "2" selected in difficulty, and weight is added to the transformer bar, the bar pivots forward and up. After each use, I feel a "pump" in my lats. This is from pulling the handles down and holding in place as I squat. Heavier the weight used, more difficult it is to hold in place. This is magnified even more when "3" or "4" is selected. I believe this is due to the sleeves being off set (slightly tilted). I would rate this a five star otherwise. I don’t think much of it and consider this as a bonus in my leg workout. I use the long handles and have yet to try the short handles. Will this make a difference? I don't think so. The bar is strong and durable. Reading through others reviews, comments were made about the sleeves scuffing. This happens. All my equipment in which plates are added and removed do this. It is expected. Would I purchase the Kabuki Transformer Bar knowing then what I know now? Yes, without question. The bar is expensive but the versatility it offers along with comfort can't be beat. The direct muscle stress can not be beat. This offers convenient options that should be used to further progress in one's squat performance, strength and muscle gains.

Great piece to add to a home gym. Almost perfect, just needs a better pad. Luckily the one from another company fit perfect, so I ordered a replacement for my ssb and threw it on the transformer bar. And now it's perfect.

I own the other version from kabuki I’ve been watching this before it was available at rogue this is a must for serious lifters taking all the stress off of shoulders that a regular bar has great job rogue on another note if you’re worried about some paint chips or scratches on a bar maybe you should take up knitting or sowing leave the weight lifting alone 😉😉

I'm in my 50s and this bar saves my shoulders, elbows and wrists. I still do standard barbell low back squats once per week. For the other weekly squat work I use the Transformer bar, using the front squat and low back squat settings. The front squat setting places the weight in the exact position as a barbell, but without the shoulder and wrist strain.

Went with the rogue bar because of the laser cut markings. Its really high quality. Everyone at the gym is super impressed with it. As for function it does what it says. I agree with other commentors that they should have forgone the adjustable sleeves and simply locked them in at the lowest level since weight is a better adjustment. The different angles are sweet. The short grips are nearly universally perfect and not sure why anyone might use the long grips. I bought this for my personal use in a small commercial gym but I left it there and everyone loves it. I think if you can afford it and want to add squats back in but have limited shoulder mobility this is the way to go. Dudes talking about scuffs on the finish I guess don't ever go off road with their jeeps either, it looks fine.

The bar is excellent, although now having tried the one manufactured by Kabuki I prefer it to the rogue. Aesthetically the Rogue bar looks sharper (all black finish, metal accents), but the black paint wears quickly. More importantly, the way you adjust the difficulty is a lot more awkward on the Rogue - first removing a set pin then pulling the bar through towards the rack (inevitably colliding with it, meaning you need to lift the bar off the rack). The latest Kabuki made bar, by comparison, can be adjusted by simply twisting the bar and pulling them out, a much simpler process. Once Rogue picks up that design they'd go back to 5 stars.

First, great idea.. I like this concept I like using it. But for pretty much $1000.00 delivered I would expect the build quality to be better. The sleeves scratch immediately.. I’m not one for complaining about scratches and cosmetics, but this is a big ticket item for what it is and with the kabuki name.. the sleeves and the selector pivot have so much play that if you don’t put clamps on your plates will fall off. It would have been so easy to make tighter tolerances. I have read on here where people complain about this.. it’s absolutely a fact. This should be $350 and say fitness gear on it. Once again… great idea.. very functional but the fitment of the parts and the finishes are poor quality So to add a video to show you how much play there is apparently I have to upload the video to you tube to be able to post it on here 👊🏻

I love it it’s amazing how moving the weights a little makes a big difference