Carbon bars, stem & seatpost set advice pls

xand_xand

Ok birthday and Xmas fast approaching and have a bit of money to chuck at Mtb:
I want to upgrade bars, stem and seat post to a nice light carbon set up for my xc hardtail.
Want to keep this all the same group set and in carbon.

Had been looking at Easton ec70 and ec90 sets just as they seem to be the big boys out there when it comes to carbon bits however would love to consider some alternatives pls.

Just for info am replacing Easton aluminium set and want to stay similar measurements:
Bars os 685 low to mid rise
Stem os 90mm

So are there any other makes of carbon sets I should be looking at?

VWsurfbum

http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&t=2
Just an idea?

monkey_man_1

i have fsa k-force light carbon riser bars. very light and look simply amazing! fsa do lots of carbon bits but arnt cheap!

xand_xand

tnx for headsup on carboncycles website - some of there stuff looks sexy.

However the price is soo cheap compared to leading manufacturers carbon products...am i missing something?

Anyone have experience with carbo bars, stems etc from these guys?

DCR00

i have a K-Force flat bar (640mm) that i have used on my carbon hardtail and my current FS bike. Great bars and only 126grams from memory. You can get them on Ebay for £45. I also had a USE Carbon SUMO post on my hardtail. Not the lightest, but only carbon post i could find in 34.9 flavour that wasn't £130 (it was £80 from CRC)

Pudseyp

You can get good details on FSA carbon products by a bit of googleing...and on ebay.

There is nothing wrong with Exotic carbon components the only difference is not a branded name...they have to pass the same EN safety standards as Easton and FSA....

bails87

I've got an Exotic seatpost, which has been fine. Not much more to say really.

Are you sure you want a carbon stem though, they're often not really any lighter than the alu equivalent, but a lot more expensive.

xand_xand

thanks ll thus far!

Stems - weight. Naturally i assumed the weight woudl be significant to justify me buying a carbon stem - however on checking descovered the exotc stem @ carboncycles is 121g whereas my current easton EA30 is only 125g anyway!

I guess now then im asking- if you were upgrading your current stem, bars and seatpost what brands would you be looking at then? (for a XC hardtail remember)?

Pudseyp

For me Thomson, simple, strong, functional and fairly light...

bails87

Thomson? Where's Super? :twisted:

Almost everything is good. It depends on the shape of bars you want, stems and seatposts are much-of-a-muchness, other than the clamping mechanism for the saddle, some are more fiddly than others.

Do you still want carbon? If so, for XC use I'd get a carbon Exotic seatpost and carbon or scandium/alu bars.

VWsurfbum

I have had the Exotic carbon bars and seat posts, both good but i looked at getting a carbon stem and as said up there ^^ there's better lighter alternatives.
I have also had FSA stuff and Race Face, some bargais about on Race Face stuff ATM

supersonic

Thomson isn't light lol. I'd keep what you have with the stem, 126g is light enough.

If want a lightweight xc post, the Exotic carbon/ti, nothing comes close fore that cash. For bars the Exotic isn't that light, so I'd get this, a bargain:

http://www.stif.co.uk/mtb/product/truva ... r-bar/8975

Pudseyp

supersonic wrote:

Thomson isn't light lol. I'd keep what you have with the stem, 126g is light enough.

If want a lightweight xc post, the Exotic carbon/ti, nothing comes close fore that cash. For bars the Exotic isn't that light, so I'd get this, a bargain:

http://www.stif.co.uk/mtb/product/truva ... r-bar/8975

Hence why I said fairly light....and unless your a weight weenie like Njee I am not going to loose any sleep, but like I said for me it's the simplicity, durability and strength..I have had carbon posts before but if your droping it they soon look crap when all the lacquer scratches...that's why I use Thompson...but agree they might not be everyones cuppa !

xand_xand

Thanks super. I was kind of hoping to get a same brand set for example all Easton etc.
And was hoping could recommend a good post, bars, stem 'set'.
A few ideas above which I've been looking into and thanks to all.

Does anyone use a carbon stem? Just seems to be such an important part which needs to be ultra sturdy and reliable ... Would carbon stem be really practical?

supersonic

Carbon stems haven't come of age yet. Why stick to the same brands? I'd get the best of each.

I wouldn't call a Thomson seatpost simple, one of the most archaic and fiddly bolt systems I have ever seen! And the one I have the anodising has worn off.

Chunkers1980

You really don't like Thomson do you....

*AL*

Pudseyp wrote:

For me Thomson, simple, strong, functional and fairly light...

+1

Fit and forget.....

supersonic

Chunkers1980 wrote:

You really don't like Thomson do you....

Lol, I just think there are cheaper products that are as strong, yet lighter with better designs. Ones that actually are forged too.

xand_xand

Sonic what bar, stem, post combo are you running on the Zaskar Carbon Team out of interest?

supersonic

Am running the Exotic Carbon/Ti seatpost, either a KCNC or Exotic Meta F stem, and either Easton MonkeyLite SL bars or FSA XC191.

The post, KCNC stem and monkey bar in total weigh just over 400g!

xand_xand

lovely, you must be well pleased with that mtb.

supersonic

I am! A lot cheaper than you might think...