Upgrade Stem Question?
01-19-09 | 02:03 PM
#1
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From: Alvin,Texas
Bikes: 2005 Trek 1200, GT Aggressor Mountain Bike
Upgrade Stem Question?
Wanted to do alil upgrading I have a Bontrager Race Lite stem on my bike now but wanna upgrade to a carbon stem..the bike is a black trek with red and some with on it and was looking for some suggestions on carbon stems to upgrade too...thanks
01-19-09 | 03:58 PM
#4
pan y agua
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
If your current stem is the right length and rise, buying a new stem is just tossing money away.
There's not going to be a performance advantage, and any weight difference may well be a lot less than you might think.
There's not going to be a performance advantage, and any weight difference may well be a lot less than you might think.
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01-19-09 | 04:24 PM
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01-19-09 | 06:34 PM
#11
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It's always interesting to me that folks refer to any change as an "upgrade". Some are, but most are just changes for fit or appearance, not necessarily "better" equipment.
To OP: if you want to change (note I did not say upgrade) your stem just for a different look, go for it if you can afford it. But unless you can find a carbon stem that weighs a meaningful amount less than 100 grams, it won't be an upgrade at all. (a syntace aluminum 26.0 stem weighs about 100 grams and isn't seriously expensive - probably about the same as a Bontrager stem that weighs 30% more)
To OP: if you want to change (note I did not say upgrade) your stem just for a different look, go for it if you can afford it. But unless you can find a carbon stem that weighs a meaningful amount less than 100 grams, it won't be an upgrade at all. (a syntace aluminum 26.0 stem weighs about 100 grams and isn't seriously expensive - probably about the same as a Bontrager stem that weighs 30% more)
01-19-09 | 06:38 PM
#12
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word most people i've talked to have said that carbon stems do not make any difference at all
also, isn't it true that there isn't really such thing as a carbon stem just a carbon wrapped stem..?
anyway, i would disagree that upgrading stems in general is a joke, some stems are stiffer than others and i know that from experience, but 'carbon' stems really are just for looks
also, isn't it true that there isn't really such thing as a carbon stem just a carbon wrapped stem..?
anyway, i would disagree that upgrading stems in general is a joke, some stems are stiffer than others and i know that from experience, but 'carbon' stems really are just for looks
01-19-09 | 07:06 PM
#13
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
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01-19-09 | 08:37 PM
#14
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01-19-09 | 10:50 PM
#16
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Only if you're more concerned about the stem matching the carbon weave in your frame than having money in your pocket. Some marketing wienies say carbon-wrapping makes the stem stiffer, but aluminum ones work fine IMHO.
01-20-09 | 06:08 AM
#18
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The PRO Vibe Carbon/Al 7050 T6 stem with Ti bolts is good value and pretty light at 115gms.
01-20-09 | 09:57 AM
#21
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I'll pile on.
Stems and bars are not great applications for carbon. Why not? Because carbon is great for tensile strength but relatively brittle in side loads. Stems and bars need to be strong against side loads, but don't require much tensile strength in the material (compared to, for example, a frame).
Aluminum is a great material for bars and stems. To make a carbon piece handle similar side loads requires a BEEFY piece of material -- generally as heavy or heavier than the equivalent aluminum piece. Plus, the carbon piece -- which may not perform as well -- costs a multiple of what the aluminum piece costs. (But it DOES have that pretty weave to it!)
Stems and bars are not great applications for carbon. Why not? Because carbon is great for tensile strength but relatively brittle in side loads. Stems and bars need to be strong against side loads, but don't require much tensile strength in the material (compared to, for example, a frame).
Aluminum is a great material for bars and stems. To make a carbon piece handle similar side loads requires a BEEFY piece of material -- generally as heavy or heavier than the equivalent aluminum piece. Plus, the carbon piece -- which may not perform as well -- costs a multiple of what the aluminum piece costs. (But it DOES have that pretty weave to it!)
01-20-09 | 10:11 AM
#22
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From: The West Side (Of Rochester, NY).
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It's about scale of pricing and production costs. It's cheaper to have someone stick a wad of aluminum into a forging/CNC machine then it is to have someone lay a bunch of piles of carbon fibre into a rediculously tiny mold.
The most expensive and lightweight aluminum stem is going to better than a carbon stem of the same price. I'd rather have a Deda Newton or FSA OS-115 bolted on to my bike than some carbon wrapped garbage that weighs more/isn't as strong/feels flimsy.
The only carbon stems that have a significant weight or stiffness advantage are custom full carbon ones made by some German dude in the autoclave he has in his basement. Custom carbon stems can be made as light as 50 grams, but they would cost over $500 (Nordischer Rahmenbau).
Again, you have to look at the top of each material's price range if you want to get to the good stuff.
The most expensive and lightweight aluminum stem is going to better than a carbon stem of the same price. I'd rather have a Deda Newton or FSA OS-115 bolted on to my bike than some carbon wrapped garbage that weighs more/isn't as strong/feels flimsy.
The only carbon stems that have a significant weight or stiffness advantage are custom full carbon ones made by some German dude in the autoclave he has in his basement. Custom carbon stems can be made as light as 50 grams, but they would cost over $500 (Nordischer Rahmenbau).
Again, you have to look at the top of each material's price range if you want to get to the good stuff.
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Last edited by BananaTugger; 01-20-09 at 10:22 AM.
01-20-09 | 11:24 AM
#24
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01-20-09 | 01:08 PM
#25
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I'll pile on.
Stems and bars are not great applications for carbon. Why not? Because carbon is great for tensile strength but relatively brittle in side loads. Stems and bars need to be strong against side loads, but don't require much tensile strength in the material (compared to, for example, a frame).
Aluminum is a great material for bars and stems. To make a carbon piece handle similar side loads requires a BEEFY piece of material -- generally as heavy or heavier than the equivalent aluminum piece. Plus, the carbon piece -- which may not perform as well -- costs a multiple of what the aluminum piece costs. (But it DOES have that pretty weave to it!)
Stems and bars are not great applications for carbon. Why not? Because carbon is great for tensile strength but relatively brittle in side loads. Stems and bars need to be strong against side loads, but don't require much tensile strength in the material (compared to, for example, a frame).
Aluminum is a great material for bars and stems. To make a carbon piece handle similar side loads requires a BEEFY piece of material -- generally as heavy or heavier than the equivalent aluminum piece. Plus, the carbon piece -- which may not perform as well -- costs a multiple of what the aluminum piece costs. (But it DOES have that pretty weave to it!)