I've been able to use the bar now for a few weeks. Bushings in bar are fantastic. Very smooth. Knurling is as close to perfect as I can ask for. The smoother knurl in the center is just right to give enough bite on your shirt for squats. My gripe: The finish of the bar. The collars are finished great. The bar not so much. The coating is not even and came and looks scratched. I know the finishing on all bars will eventually where but I was pretty disappointed in the matte zinc finish to be honest. I expected better uniform unscratched bar after dropping close to $400. But the finish doesn't detract from the finish of the bar.