I'm planning on dropping to a 90mm/6* stem to tweak my fit a little. since I'm in for a stem anyway, is there a reason I should consider a carbon stem over an AL one?? any tangible benefits to ride quality or stiffness?? seems to me, outside of the very high end pieces, there is virtually zero weight advantage even over the stock Cannondale C2 I already have, might even just look for a 90mm version of that on the 'bay.

thoughts??

Not particularly.
I see a difference in bars, but not stems based on material.
It seems the better alloy stems are lighter than the better composite ones.

Aluminum stems that are lighter and cheaper than carbon ones are common. One component on the bike where carbon is no help is the stem.

This is 2-3 years old alloy. It is about 90g stem - can't remember, but as light as you can find and I have not seen any carbon that is ride-able lighter.

It is the ideal stiffness for the rider and has done some rough rides. I would likely not use it for Paris Roubaix, other than that great all around.

It is on the expensive side, but not as much as some composite ones. It uses T20 Ti bolts that require precise torque.
VengeFront.jpg

+1 - I have an AL FSA STEM with carbon bars.

OP - Get an alloy stem. You're "allowed to" buy a carbon one for bling purposes if you really want, but you don't seem to really want, so just go alloy.

Off topic, but do your bars measure a lot narrower than their size?

Depends where you measure

Accurate at bar ends. About 4cm less at hoods.

Venge 20150530_009.jpg

Sorry for parsing out of context, but no carbon/composite part - any part - I have see out bling's an Extralite part. Their websites do, not their parts.
The selection is narrow. Stem, seat post, hubs, and cranks (which I can't speak to) all are the nicest stuff of any I've ever had my hands on.

I like those bars. The price though...

Thanks. I'll have to double check when I get home. I ordered them in 44 cm and when I put them next to another 44 cm bar I thought they must have sent me the wrong one. But it was just a quick glance.

I hate it when I am forced to agree with the penman. But the above is correct.

They measure width at the drops iirc.

Now you have me wondering. I measured, but can't remember if I measured c-c or outside. The bars are 1,600k away. I frankly can't remember what I ordered.

I'm looking for some flat top 36 (or 38) now in less than the $300 range.

Loving it.

I'm learning that.
More and more I'm moving to your world and having to pay for this stuff.

All my stems are FSA OS-99s. The solid alloy ones, not the carbon wrapped CSI ones.

https://www.extralite.com/Products/HyperStem.htm

69g for 80mm, 74g for a 90mm You'd think add 1g for every 2mm, just this is ExtraLite and the material moves around based on length. Nothing goes where it shouldn't and this stuff is strong and stiff. And pretty expensive, but less than many inferior carbon ones.

OTOH old graphics FSA OS-99s are all over eBay right now (used, probably for sizing) for $35 and less. One for $5. Tough to beat.

Doge, a little off topic but - I like that slammed stem and the fat spacer above! My mid-season criterium mode back in the quill days. First ride in the spring, my stem was up that spacer. Midway for 4-5 hour races.

Ben

I keep the space above for resale/returning to team. One of my bikes - my kid rides.
Since we are keeping the bike now I cut that section off. I still need a spacer above as I don't like cutting it so close and have an emotional (that means I don't want to hear any science arguments) issue with tube being less high than top of stem. I gain a feeling of security having post extend past clamps. Some of the Hot'r'Not disagree. Guess they don't have their kids riding on such bikes - just a guess.
However I'm fine with my wife's bike having the tube top a bit below the stem

Yea, it is.
I can't really find the current (as pictured) ExtraLite on eBay. I think I know why.

Do they still make them? It looks like they are all carbon wrapped now.

Just checked mine. I have no idea where Beth left the measuring tape but they're the same width at the ends of the drops as my other 44 cm Enve bars, the compact road ones. The rest of the bar looks tiny by comparison though!

I need a second bike to put these on.

I bought a 3T ARX LTD stem, it's all carbon except face plate and bolts. Weighs about 10 grams less than the ARX II alloy stem it replaced. Absolutely no difference in ride and It looks like the alloy one except up close. I bought it to keep with the matched parts theme. I wanted carbon and could afford it so I bought it. If I were concerned about weight that Extralight looks like the way to go. I really like the stem but I was honest with myself, it's not going to work any better than alloy.

1st world problems.

I have the same issues with cool parts I bought and some that came-with. I end up with great parts in the box. Then I start looking for a frame to put the parts on. I could pull out an old steel one and put the Ritchey SoloStream on there. Or I could buy a bunch of other parts to complete another bike. The old n+1.