Bad1

No not really, just that you should have enough respect to support the forum that gives you the Opportunity to bloviate so much!

twocicle

This is your example then?

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post16096827
Perhaps stick to constructive contributions on topic.

Turbotandem

custom Dean Bikes ti stem attached. It took a long time for them to get this thru their queue. Really beautiful work, welding, clamp mechanisms. This one was a reject mis-fabed in angle, but fits on a friends tandem. Dean will make in any angle or length. Ti gauge is adjusted to suit length. This one is 250mm, 225-230 grams. Aluminum face plate, aluminum bolts. This one was made for 31.8mm bars, but is mounting up old school narrow bars on which shims have been added. Price about $250. Plan to be exacting on the how the length and angle are spec'd so it is sure to be correct. Dean provides drawings and bases fabrication on an angle perpendicular to the seat post. This dry run first issue stem has helped them understand the right questions to ask tandem teams. Expect it to take some time to get thru their small shop.

Chris_W

So that would be the same method of measurement as used on nearly all stems, then. Since head and seat tube angles can vary, it's the only one that makes sense.

DubT

i started this this thread and here is part of what I said. Here are the numbers.

new Trial Tech stem 35 degree X 180 long 243 grams. This stem only costs $55 and I have not replaced the stock bolts. $250/225 grams vs. $55/243 grams with stock bolts. Granted the Ti one is 250mm long. For most applications I would think something like the Trial Tech would be more than adequate. A 250mm long stem seems to be extremely long.

Turbotandem

yes, well aware of the trial tech stem. The trial tech stem is not new, is often quoted in this forum, including by me. In fact I have had several for more than a year, with ti replacement bolts as well. Thanks for repeating earlier posts in this thread. At the same time there are others in this forum seeking a longer or steeper alternate. I didn't realize this thread was exclusively dedicated to one-solution-fits-all the trial tech stem.
For those who need, the trail tech often comes up short in steepness of the angle. For my 5'-4" stoker, 220 to 250mm (depending on chain or belt length tandem) is about right. For others with a very tall stoker, the angle needs to be more like 60 degrees to place the stoker bars at a point immediately behind the captains seat or even above it. Dean Bikes is working on just such a stem for a tall stoker now. For those reasons I think the Dean Bikes information I have offered is a positive contribution to the forum.

Turbotandem

Another Dean Stem for a team in WY, for a tall stoker in back.
"The Dean stem is a work of art. It is beautiful and I think it is light at 185gm for its size. Our 2 piece setup we were using was 505gm..I am not sure it put's Aimee's bars exactly where I wanted, but that is not Dean's fault. Through this process, I have learned that if I was going to do it again I would make an exact template of what I want, more for me, so I could make sure I had the bars positioned correctly, before ordering. I tried to do it by measuring alone, and I think I was off by just a bit. Also it would be good to know the size tubing being used, ahead of time, to allow the right amount of relief on the saddle clamp screws, etc. All in all, we are very pleased, and like I say the stem is a work of art!!"

thride

twocicle,

Do you still have this stem (3t Arx II 150 mm 31.8 mm clamp)? Is it a +/- 17 degree?

3T does not seem to make it anymore and I am trying to source one.

twocicle

Yes I do have that stem and with those specs.

If searching for it, take note it is the ARX II TEAM version that is made with the 150mm option.

thride

Twocicle, do you know of any shops that stock that stem? I've checked and it doesn't seem like it'll be coming into stock either at the distributor or even 3T themselves for a while. 150 length 6 or 17 degree will work. Or, is yours in use? If not, want to sell it?

twocicle

Yes, I see the "Temporarily out of stock" on the 3T website. It's a nice stem, so my bet is they will have more soon. I plan to keep ours, but would sell it for $1M

Turbotandem

Just arrived but a bust: The KCNC Arrow stem stamped as 150mm is shorter than my 3t ARX II team 140mm stem.

Turbotandem

Just completed 195mm 30 degree stoker stem, custom carbon and alum. 190g with ti hardware. Had targeted 175g to match our out-of-production Bob Davis Carbon stem 192mm stem, but as a prototype the fabricator chose to over shoot the weight a little to be more stiff. Took about 2 weeks. I provided a 100mm Ritchey base stem which was cut and lightened. Fabricated by Velo Zephyr. $200-$225 not including the $55 cost of the Ritchey. For my stoker, this one is about 3/4" to 1" longer than the Trial Tech, on a frame that is belt length, and she won't ride anything shorter and feel comfortable for the ultra-endurance rides we do. Keep your stoker happy! Velo Zephyr is considering putting this up on their web site with a form for dialing in the desired dimensions, using 7, 17, 20, 30 degree base stems if there is an interest beyond my own need.

mtseymour

My stoker is happier and faster when she's comfortable.

It took a while to get her a good riding position. It was a challenge because my wife has a longer inseam while I'm slightly taller. We started with a 180mm trials stem with 35 deg rise and went to 200mm Da Vinci ti stem to reduce the reach. As part of our tandem fit, Charlie Heggem at Cirrus Cycles suggested a higher rise stoker stem.

To test this suggestion, we attached the Aber Hallo stem to our Da Vinci. The Aber Hallo provides about 2" of height adjustment and can be rotated to change the reach. It's only $40, but requires a shim to go from 25.4 to 31.8mm. Once we found the sweet spot, we asked a local framebuilder to make a 1-piece titanium stem to duplicate the new position. The new stem makes brings her bar to the same height as her saddle, and is far more comfortable. It's close to her single bike setup. The bonus is that our new stem is light and looks pretty good.

2frmMI

So say you... How about a picture?

mtseymour

We were using a DaVinci 200mm ti stem (painted red to match our frame) with Aber Holla extension. My wife really like the higher bar position but the combo was heavy (440g) and was only compatible with 25.4mm handlebar. The new DeKerf stem is unusual because it's made of curved ti tubing to provide the right length and rise. I created a template to confirm the measurements before fabrication. I talked to various ti builders (incl DaVinci) about a custom stem and they were either too expensive or would only weld two straight tubes together. Chris Dekerf told me that the ti tubing was very difficult to bend (with this wall thickness) and it had to filled with a special fluid to minimize crimping. It has enough stiffness (even at 240g) and looks pretty good IMHO. It's currently waiting to be painted black to match our natural carbon frame.

2frmMI

OK. Now I'll say it: looks pretty darned good, even before painting!

twocicle

Hi all,

I am looking for a 180mm stem for building up a used Fandango mtb tandem frame. That tandem frame came with some parts including the usual ControlTech adjustable stoker stem, but we prefer lighter fixed length stems. The 160mm I had on hand looks a little short.

If you've got a 180mm you won't be using, pls PM me.

Heidelfix

https://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=...ge=2;orderby=2

This is new, but might be what you are looking for?

Edit: I am sorry: I didnīt realize this was an older posting...

2frmMI

Heidelfix: Don't be sorry! Better to update an old thread than start a new one that lacks the earlier wisdom.