Stem and bars

Cookeh

Hi all,

Currently got a 660mm Bontrager Low Riser bar paired with a 90mm Bontrager stem. Looking to get some wider bars (700-720 ideally, as I ride XC in quite a few tight forests) and a short, 50/60mm stem. Had a look round at sales, and I've spotted some Crank Brothers Iodine 1 AMs (700mm) for £12 - they match my criteria and are very well priced, but I've also been looking at some Race Face Ride Riser bars (710mm). Now obviously one is more expensive, presumably down to brand and material used, but is there any real difference between the two bars - excluding the 10mm difference in width, and 5mm difference in riser height ofc!

As a follow up question regarding stems, if possible, is it best to fit stems that are the same brand as the bars to ensure compatibility or is this really a non-issue? If this is the case, I'd also like some advice between the two stems I've narrowed it down to thus far, the Race Face Ride and the Truvativ Holzfeller.
The RF is marginally lighter, marginally cheaper but has a six degree rise, the Truvativ does not. Also is there any reason the Truvativ has a much higher RRP (aside from, again, higher quality aluminium) ?

Thanks for your time chaps!

poah

how much are you wanting to spend?

going from a 660 + 90 to 710+ 50 is going to feel pretty odd. 50mm is very very short

this is 55mm

Cookeh

No more than £60 for both tbh, on a pretty tight budget haha. So what kind of stem length would you advise, wanted shorter for more leverage and with the 90mm stem I feel like my arms are being stretched a bit!

Chunkers1980

Just get a shorter stem first, it'll make your bars feel wider.

rockmonkeysc

As long as you go wider with the bars it shouldn't make the bike feel too short. 710mm is still quite narrow. It's a personal preference 5hing though. I would go for getting some cheap parts on ebay to try it.

Kowalski675

I have that same RaceFace stem (70mm) on my Boardman, no complaints - seems good qualty and looks good. Probably not as rigid as some, but that's not an issue for my newbie riding.





Got one of these (50mm silver flavour) recently for my hardtail too - also seems good for its price:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kore ... prod105297

These look worth considering?:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cran ... -prod68927

Cookeh

Yeah, going to borrow a set of 720mm bars off a friend for a few rides, but Im not really a fan of the current stem, just too long. Might drop that to 60 or 65mm.
I did look at the Iodine 1 stem, but its just so damn ugly!

Kowalski675

Yeah, I wasn't keen on the aesthetics of it either, lol. The Kore one looks good in the flesh though (in shorter lengths, at least).

The Rookie

Superstar stems are just as light as many more expensive ones, and work just fine, always get good reviews, why pay more?

buddy_club

Stem and Bars don't have to be the same make either, as long as the dimensions are compatible I.e if the bar has a 31.8mm clamping area then you need to be a stem made to fit a 31.8mm bar, there are shims available but as you are replacing both it would be better IMO to get matching sizes in stem and bars. I run 750mm bars and a 50mm stem, having gone from a 680mm by 90mm setup made a very big difference, but I do like how it handles now, as well as the fact that I am in a better position for descending.

Cqc

As chunkers said, change stem first, then change bars if you feel it's necessary, as a short stem may be a big enough change for you... 50mm stems ftw

Cookeh

Stuck between the Truvativ AKA and the Superstar Zenith AM - Truvativ has a great discount, however!

Does anyone know how red the Superstar red actually is? Looks kinda pink in their picture!

Cqc

Those are two ugly stems mate, hussefelt stems are the way to go if you're poor and you want good looks, or havens like POAH if your rich... And POAH, what angle are your brake levers at?! That looks painfull..

poah

Cqc wrote:

And POAH, what angle are your brake levers at?! That looks painfull..

probably just after I put it on before I set the angle.

Cookeh

Cqc wrote:

Those are two ugly stems mate, hussefelt stems are the way to go if you're poor and you want good looks, or havens like POAH if your rich... And POAH, what angle are your brake levers at?! That looks painfull..

Personal preference at the end of the day, isn't it? I was looking at the Husslefelt originally.

Jomox

I got a ride stem, does the job for low budget, it's nothing special but that's what you get for the price. Prefer it to the hussefelt stems I've had though.

Id be looking at this as well:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cran ... -prod68927

Lewis A

Husselfelt is nearly 2x the weight of the other 2, and looks are a personal thing. Even if you like them they would be totally unsuitable for a xc/trail bike.

Cookeh

Lewis A wrote:

Husselfelt is nearly 2x the weight of the other 2, and looks are a personal thing. Even if you like them they would be totally unsuitable for a xc/trail bike.

The Husselfelt would be unsuitable? As a result of its weight? Or the other two are too light? Sorry dude, Im a bit knackered so my brain isn't functioning properly!

The Rookie

Weight is generally a bad thing on a bike, unless you need the extra strength, then the Husselfelt isn't the best choice, I can't see you saying what bike/usage it is for.

Lewis A

It would work, but it would be overkill for your bike, which I'm presuming is a xc/trail bike due to the narrow bars.

Cookeh

Yeah, its an XC bike - Trek 6300. Also looking to get some 700/720mm bars as bkke feels so twitchy at the moment, but Ive pretty much decided on those anyway!

Cqc

But double the weight means an extra 100g which isn't much considering the great ride quality you get from them as well as class leading looks

supersonic

I'd save the weight.

Cookeh

Thanks for the advice chaps, had a look at a few reviews floating around and went for the Superstar Zenith AM earlier today. Personally liked the looks and its well reviewed!

Just bars to sort now, although for £11 Im tempted to get some 700mm CB Iodine 1s off of CRC.

poah

got a white Easton monkey bar sitting about doing nothing for £25

Cookeh

POAH wrote:

got a white Easton monkey bar sitting about doing nothing for £25

What rise/width? Sounds interesting, especially if its the low rise version!

The Rookie

Cqc wrote:

class leading looks

Christ I thought I'd ventured onto the men's health forums by mistake, what the heck have looks got to do with any sensible buying decision for stem and bars?

I'd save the weight, also the heavier bars are likely to be stiffer and less forgiving and are total overkill on an XC bike.