saunaking

Does anyone use an unbranded carbon road stem? I am looking for a stem on ebay and while there are lots of nice carbon brand name stems for over $100, there are also some for under $25 (sold from the US).

curiouskid55

Uh.. you know if your stem fails you are in some very deep s++t?

AngryScientist 

what would the point be other than the bling factor? i'm sure a cheapie carbon stem will weight just as much as a high quality alu one. considering the relative importance of the stem, i wouldnt risk it.

its not just critical failure to be concerned with either, think slipping bars, stripped threads, delaminating carbon, etc. buyer beware.

saunaking

my fork is carbon - what kind of stem will slip less - carbon or aluminum?

tagaproject6

Are you sure your fork has carbon steer tubes? Or is it a carbon fork with aluminum drops and steer tube?

saunaking

yes, carbon steer tube (look hsc5?)

Val23708

get AL.

tagaproject6

None of the materials will slip more or less than the others as long as it is done properly. You spent good money on your ride, why cheap out on the stem?

If you are doing it for bling factor, you are doing it wrong.

nayr497

^ Yep...if you spent the money for a LOOK...why save $25-$50 on a stem that is of questionable quality.

While it does seem to me you'd either have to be quite large, heavy, and strong to break a stem OR it would have to be really poor quality, there still isn't a good reason to go cheap on this part. (I do know people have broken them, it just seems unlikely to me...)

I picked up a very nice, very light, brand new Ritchey 4-axis on eBay for around $50. And it was just the other day that someone posted a link to Deda's on sale at Competitive Cyclist for $50, down from around $150, I think.

And yeah, most people don't like the feel of carbon stems.

bikeM3987

There is no reason for a carbon stem. They are usually heavier, less stiff, uglier, and always a lot more expensive.

Dilberto

JUNK...my aluminum Cannondale C4 weighs 60g less and is still stronger than those cheapie CF stems.

mzeffex 

I am so lost.

sbxx1985 

That was me. Stop wasting your time on ebay and buy this.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...paign=Datafeed

MajorMantra

Some of the so-called carbon stems on ebay are just carbon wrap anyway so you're paying for something heavy and fake. Don't bother.

Matthew

rugerben

Aluminum dropouts...where the wheel connects to the fork.

paul_858

ritchey wcs 4-axis, great stem reasonably priced. go with AL.

garysol1 

I agree with what many have already said.....if your on a budget there are many very light AND very strong aluminum stems out there that are not real expensive.

timeedgevxr

I'll chime in and disagree with most of you.

I ride a Time VXR with full Record and lots of upgrades, and I also have a 15lb Orbea Ora TT bike with all DA. I'm not a big fan of cheap gear. However, I wanted to try a 130mm stem on my Time for crits and I found a $40 carbon WRAP stem on KB Cyclewerks. I had total expectations of being disappointed, I was far from let down. This stem is awesome. It ways 12g more than the 110mm Time stem that costs about 5 times as much and it feels great. I rode the p!ss out of it all summer and no failures. I'll probably keep it on the bike. Sure, it was a gamble, but it just goes to show that sometimes you ARE paying for a name.

oilman_15106

What is the big deal. They are all made in Dick Chaney's secret carbon bicycle parts factory.

garysol1 

I am sure your $40.00 stem is AWESOME but the stem is another of those pieces on my bike where I refuse to skimp. I want to know the manufacturer has done real tests on the strength and longevity of the stem and I want to have a company that I can go back to if there are any issues. I apply this school of thought to Stem, seatpost, handlebar and pedals.......

DrPete 

Why on earth you'd cheap out on a stem from a no-name manufacturer I have no idea. $25 can buy you a good alloy stem from a manufacturer with a name and a warranty. In fact, it'll probably weigh the same as the cheapo CF and probably be stiffer.

Spoil yourself. Spend $40 and get a 3T Arx Pro or something.

sjumper

+1000. Cheap, light, stiff, reliable, looks great. What more can you ask for?

CerpinTaxt

I am buying chinese made CF frame (aka ebay frame) but under no circumstances I'd use their carbon stems, things just look plain dangerous. I am very hesitant to even use their fork at this stage.
Now, handlebars on the other hand, would be interesting to hear opinions on that.

oldbobcat

Roger that. Tons of light, strong goodlooking, and reasonably priced alloy stems are available from the likes of Ritchey, 3T, FSA, Deda, ProVibe, . . .

sbxx1985 

Interesting that you're willing to buy the frame but are concerned about their other carbon parts failing.

I just looked at the CF frames on ebay for the first time. I had no idea one could be had for $300 with a fork and headset. That in itself freaks me out.

Give us an update when you get some miles on it.