FSA Plasma bars (sorry, bit of a moan)
londoncommuter
Posts: 1,550
Just got some of these from CRC:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... -prod36076
Claimed weight 366g. Actual weight on kitchen scales 438g. That's not even close!
It was always a bit of an irrational purchase based on looks as even at 366g that's well over the weight of cheaper separate bars and stems but 438g is crazy. Why would you pay £550 RRP for something that weighs the same as a Triban 3?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... -prod36076
Claimed weight 366g. Actual weight on kitchen scales 438g. That's not even close!
It was always a bit of an irrational purchase based on looks as even at 366g that's well over the weight of cheaper separate bars and stems but 438g is crazy. Why would you pay £550 RRP for something that weighs the same as a Triban 3?
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Think you need to move this thread to the weight weenies thread ! :-)0
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I will take them off you for £75 no point in fitting such heavy bars to your bike
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Hmm.
What size bars did you buy? The weight quoted on the CRC website doesn't say for what size but quite unambiguously on the FSA one it says that's for one of the smallest size bars - 100mm stem length and 42cm width. See here:
http://www.fullspeedahead.com/products/handlebars-road/plasma-integrated-compact-handlebar/
A 5 second Google search turned up this article review, from 2011:
http://road.cc/content/review/44983-fsa-plasma-integrated-compact-barstem
In which the reviewer notes: "... Our 440mm-wide (centre to centre) version with a 120mm stem weighed in at 438g..." which sounds suspiciously close to the weight you've measured..
If you've bought the 100mm / 42 cm size and they weigh that much you have a right to moan, but otherwise I'd suggest you might not have a reason to...Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS0 -
That some weight for a bar and stem, you could have spent £50 and have got something lighter.0
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I've got the smallest one at 42cm width 100mm stem so pleased I've got the right to moan....
No big deal as they can go back for a full refund (oddly CRC now charge £275 rather than the £198 I paid last week), it's just a waste of my time, incurs CRC needless postage costs and makes me thing FSA are a bunch of bandits! I'm sure manufacturers can get away with a bit of exaggeration but 366g to 438g isn't rounding.
As an aside, I also ordered a Deda bar from Wiggle and that came in 3g under the claimed weight so with the Haribos it was exactly right.0 -
londoncommuter wrote:Just got some of these from CRC:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa- ... -prod36076
Claimed weight 366g. Actual weight on kitchen scales 438g. That's not even close!
It was always a bit of an irrational purchase based on looks as even at 366g that's well over the weight of cheaper separate bars and stems but 438g is crazy. Why would you pay £550 RRP for something that weighs the same as a Triban 3?londoncommuter wrote:I've got the smallest one at 42cm width 100mm stem so pleased I've got the right to moan....
No big deal as they can go back for a full refund (oddly CRC now charge £275 rather than the £198 I paid last week), it's just a waste of my time, incurs CRC needless postage costs and makes me thing FSA are a bunch of bandits! I'm sure manufacturers can get away with a bit of exaggeration but 366g to 438g isn't rounding.
As an aside, I also ordered a Deda bar from Wiggle and that came in 3g under the claimed weight so with the Haribos it was exactly right.
Hang on, you stated that you knew they were heavier than a separate bar and stem set up and ordered them for the looks alone; I don't see what you're moaning about? I have them on my No1 bike and find them ideal for shock absorption, comfort and position. I'd be more bothered about the weight of the wheels than a few grams on the bars.I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.0 -
I was "happy" that they'd come out heavier than separate bars and stem (the extra stiffness and (sadly) looks do count for something). What I wasn't expecting and was childishly moaning about was that they would be 20% heavier than the manufacturer's claimed weight.0
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How stiff do bars and stems have to be ? I mean if you're a big roadman sprinter trying to get all the watts out - I can kind of see the point - but for mortals ?0
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Hee hee - good call, totally taken in by marketing. I've the upper body strength of a 90 year old so could manage with bars made of straw....
They do look cool though.0 -
Fair enough then !
I cant honestly think theres been a time when I've thought - if only my bars were a little bit stiffer.... :-)0
