Stems - should I pay more?

JimboM

Want to change the stem on my Canyon Nerve to something shorter and after a quick look on the web they go from anywhere from £12 to £100!!! Is there really much difference between the two ends of the spectrum? I'm not worried about saving a few grams here and there so any reason not to buy a cheap one?

Cheers

Jim
ps If anyone has a 60mm, 1 1/8 oversize they're looking to sell please drop me a PM

cooldad

Nope, I'd go for the cheaper end. My KCNC one cost about £12 on Ebay. Carboncycles are good quality and decent prices (the aluminium ones, don't waste money on carbon or carbon wraps)

sniper68

Cooldad him speak um truth

Mad_Malx

Stems must be one of the least exciting bits of kit. I really can't see there is much scope for innovation or improvement. I doubt anyone could tell the difference in feel without seeing the decals.

lawman

+1 for KCNC, mine was about £25, weighed a smidge over 100g so was mega light and i never had a problem with it. Only changed it because I wanted a shorter one and wanted to match my Easton bars. The Haven's I have now are superb, they look better quality and the finish is slightly better, but its not worth the RRP, compared to the price of the KCNC. I got my Haven stems in a deal from merlin so for me the small premium was worth.

Deputy Dawg

If your not 100% a specific length stem will be perfect then get a cheap one. You can always upgrade to a more blingy brand later, there's nothing stopping you from getting the right length.

ilovedirt

I never spend much on stems, I just make sure I get the right length and something a little blingy. Never spend more than about £35 on one...

The Rookie

The Superstar is only a little heavier (124g for an 80mm) than the KCNC and under £20 new, or for me £8 used (but unmarked), it's the same generic one lots of people sell, so the On-one is the same as is the Bikehut (yes really), also the OE ones on Voodoo's and so on....

Stu Coops

Got an carbon 80mm stem on my HT and the same on my FS in Alu and it's 10grms lighter than the carbon one so absolutely no point in spending big bucks.

njee20

Carbon stems are nearly always just a cosmetic wrap on an alu stem. Full carbon stems need lots of material to make them stiff and they cost loads. I changed the £160 Bontrager XXX Lite Carbon that came with my Top Fuel to an aluminium one that was 30g lighter.

Like clincher rims (IMO) It's just one of those areas where carbon doesn't really make sense, unless you're spending AX-Lightness money...

.blitz

JimboM wrote:

...any reason not to buy a cheap one?

Although the law of diminishing returns strongly applies, apart from a bit of bling and a few grammes the main difference between inexpensive and expensive stems is that ime the expensive ones are more accurately made and generally a better fit on the bars & stem.

Although your inexpensive stem may give you the impression that all is well when you've fitted it in your shed or kitchen, out on the trail when your bars become mis-aligned on the first rocky step-down you'll wish you'd paid a few more quid for something that actually fits properly and stays put.

Just saying like

cooldad

I think that's nonsense, never had a problem with OE or aftermarket ones.

njee20

Cooldad +1, never had a problem with cheaper stems.

rockmonkeysc

I have had stems costing between £10 & £70. There was a few grammes difference and the bolt heads corroded on the cheap on but the both performed perfectly well. The £70 Renthal one just matched my bars and looked nice.

JimboM

Cheers guys, general opinion is pretty much as I suspected so a cheapy one it is

jimothy78

cooldad wrote:

Carboncycles are good quality and decent prices (the aluminium ones, don't waste money on carbon or carbon wraps)

seconded - my "eXotic" branded one from carboncycles is very well made, has survived several very heavy crashes and only cost me £12