Help with getting a stem

[xxmimixx]

Hi all, help needed with getting a carbon stem 90mm long at 6 degrees ??

Would you advice a particular brand over another? OR the cheapest I can find??
How much is the going cost if I were to get a second hand one?
Thanks

 

[tigger]

Do you mean 90mm?

 

[xxmimixx]

yes sorry, post edited

 

[black'n'yellow]

Hi all, help needed with getting a carbon stem 90mm long at 6 degrees ??

Would you advice a particular brand over another? OR the cheapest I can find??
How much is the going cost if I were to get a second hand one?
Thanks

'carbon' and 'cheap' do not really mix very well where stems are concerned. Why does it need to be carbon?

 

[Kestevan]

I'd have a look at the Planet X site.
I'd also not bother with carbon - the Planet X forged alloy are lighter than most carbon, and a damned site cheaper.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I use on my Venge the Zipp SL145 which is the stiffest, strongest all-carbon stem available and Zipp have got the EFBe test results to prove it.
Each stem is wrapped by hand from more than 50 pieces of precision-cut carbon cloth with machined aluminium yokes at the steerer and stem clamp areas.
The forged aluminium faceplate features a very thin stainless steel insert to ensure maximum stiffness and durability. The M4 titanium bolts are sourced from the same Italian facility that produces the ones used by Ducati's MotoGP racing program.

For the amount of time consuming labour which goes into producing this hand wrapped stem, it could be considered relatively cost effective or cheap,
however when compared to a high quality alloy stem you could neither consider it to be cost effective or cheap at a touch under 200 quid

As stated by others there is little gain from a full carbon stem, why do you want one?
Due to the unique stresses a stem goes through, you generally find that full carbon stems to be over engineered and heavy or hand made and expensive.
Most so called cheaper carbon stems are alloy stems with a cosmetic wrap.
A good alloy stem offers better value for money and characteristics still desired by the Pro's... Sprinters such as Mark Cavendish still use alloy stems.

 

[Zakalwe]

Ritchey stems are good and stiff, they do a carbon wrapped alloy one for the bling, or a full alloy for sensible people. Really, there's nothing to be gained going carbon stem apart from bragging rights, even that Zipp one needs alloy yokes and faceplates to stand up the rigours of a stems lot. Wet black paint is a happy compromise.

 

[Rob3rt]

I wouldn't bother with a carbon stem unless you are going to throw a lot of money at it.

I use on my Venge the Zipp SL145 which is the stiffest, strongest all-carbon stem available and Zipp have got the EFBe test results to prove it.
Each stem is wrapped by hand from more than 50 pieces of precision-cut carbon cloth with machined aluminium yokes at the steerer and stem clamp areas.
The forged aluminium faceplate features a very thin stainless steel insert to ensure maximum stiffness and durability. The M4 titanium bolts are sourced from the same Italian facility that produces the ones used by Ducati's MotoGP racing program.

For the amount of time consuming labour which goes into producing this hand wrapped stem, it could be considered relatively cost effective or cheap,
however when compared to a high quality alloy stem you could neither consider it to be cost effective or cheap at a touch under 200 quid

As stated by others there is little gain from a full carbon stem, why do you want one?
Due to the unique stresses a stem goes through, you generally find that full carbon stems to be over engineered and heavy or hand made and expensive.
Most so called cheaper carbon stems are alloy stems with a cosmetic wrap.
A good alloy stem offers better value for money and characteristics still desired by the Pro's... Sprinters such as Mark Cavendish still use alloy stems.

Cav uses (or should be using) a custom fat **********er of a carbon stem made by Pro.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Cav uses (or should be using) a custom fat motherf***er of a carbon stem made by Pro.

You do appear to be correct, which means I'm wrong Cav is using a carbon stem these days but continues to use alloy bars.

Pro state it has a special front cap to reduce stress. (I hate it when they just use the word special, what's so special about it.. details damn it)

http://www.pro-bikegear.com/publish...ies/Mark_Cavedish.-productCode-PRSSVISMC.html

 

[Rob3rt]

You do appear to be correct, which means I'm wrong Cav is using a carbon stem these days but continues to use alloy bars.

Pro state it has a special front cap to reduce stress. (I hate it when they just use the word special, what's so special about it.. details damn it)

http://www.pro-bikegear.com/publish...ies/Mark_Cavedish.-productCode-PRSSVISMC.html

Aye, in fact he uses a reinforced alloy bar based on the Vibe 7S even, lol. Most pro's choose alloy bars. Most of the pro's using Zipp bars and stems use the alloy versions too (just mentioned as you like the Zipp carbon offerings).

 

[xxmimixx]

The stem is not for me (hubby) but thank you all for the very helpful and informative replies.

I personally would only spend £200 on a stem if I won the lottery. ... Or would I? ?

 

[Rob3rt]

If you or your husband want a carbon stem, then you should buy one. But if you want light and stiff, you will be looking at £150+. IMO, if it looks good, serves the purpose you require, it is worth it.

I have a carbon/alloy stem on one bike, looks sweet but offers no benefit over the other stems I had the choice of. If I had the cash I would buy a Zipp SL142 in a heartbeat!

I chose Zipp Service Course SL stem, seatpost and bar combo on my latest build, looks very nice, good specs, "reasonable" price.

 

[xxmimixx]

It's not for me I have more than 100gr of weight to loose in many places before i can look like Ennis Personally i believe unless you can justify with performance then the top of the market accessory is not fit for purpose.
Thankfully not everyone thinks like me and there is a market for those who can afford it just because they like the look of it rather than because they truly feel the difference and appreciate the benefits.

If it s a compromise between a poor quality affordable carbon vs a very good quality alloy then the latter always win.
A very good quality and expensive full carbon is not in the equation from what i gather

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

It appears that Cav has a Zipp SL145 on his Omega Pharma Venge in the report below, hope he keeps it for the season, great stem imho -- all the cool kids have Venge's with SL145 Stems

http://roadcyclinguk.com/news/racing-news/cavendish-omega-pharma-quickstep-jersey-2013.html