Bottom-line - people that paid X amount for something they could have got for Y amount are gonna want to justify the higher price they paid beyond, just the name. Its okay, kids - You can admit you paid for something because you can afford it. You don't have to justify it. Like-wise... someone who can't afford the name won't die for being too poor to afford it in some grisly crash...no more than any other person doing the same activity.

I'm a broke ass law student. If I could afford a $200 carbon stem I would have just posted a picture of it and said eff the world

Funds don't always dictate mentality. You ever dated someone high maintenance?

at least that probably wont happen with the brake lever.

............................................................................

Unfortunately

B,

How much does it cost to go to Law School?
I could never afford that!
See? It's all relative.

And you know where the Pinarello, Cervelo, Trek, Cannondale, etc frame came from? I sure don't.

They're all made in China/Taiwan. To some people that's sketchy. Some people need a big price tag or it's sketchy. Origin on the majority of frames is totally unknown. The unbranded carbon frames are typically in the $300-800 range. You can find brand name frames for that price if you look hard enough. Some of them are from companies like BikesDirect or Planet X. I'll call them "generics". They've been around for years, but they aren't a Dorrel (Cannondale, Schwinn) product. Others are left overs from last year, or a few years ago. Kestrel, Fuji, KHS. As you march into the $700 range you've got more choices. More unbranded Pinarello knockoffs, some brands I've never heard of (Neasty? Swordfish?), lesser knowns (Karbona), Calfree (yes, American made carbon). More familiar names as you go on up in price, still plenty of unbranded or fly-by-night frames mingling in there with Kestrel, Fuji, Argon 18, etc. All of these frames are dirt cheap by carbon standards at sub-$1000. You and I don't have a clue where any of them come from, with the exception of Calfree. The only thing we can distinguish in the brand sticker on an outsourced frame and the paint job. Certainly there's some clearance going on this time of year (2010 RT900 for <$1,000 and by another seller for $2,100.

Again, they are all cheap frames from ebay. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Fuji, Kestrel, Argon 18. A Swordfish or unbrand? Hmm. I'll admit, I don't know that I would. Why? I've seen people on Kestrels and never seen a unbranded bike in person. What is your basis for assuming that a branded frame is better, aside from blind faith in the brand to do no wrong? Safety testing? Sure. However, a lot of the unbranded stuff claims to pass the safety testing as well. True? Beats me.

As far as the original question? I see a Easton stems for $10-15 on ebay. Why spend extra money for unbranded carbon stem that weigh more? Safer or not than branded carbon stems, why worry? The unbranded thing certainly isn't similar to the $200++ ripoff stems (for one thing, it weighs half again to twice as much). Less safe? I honestly can't say, and neither can you. If spending more money makes you feel safer, whip out your wallet, and spend somewheres near $300 for a damn stem to save 40 grams go right on ahead. I've seen a few stupid priced carbon stems fail (usually after or during a crash) not to buy into the it's ten times as expensive so it's ten times as safe baloney. When carbon goes, it goes spectacularly. For all you are I know that sketchy stem might be stronger. After all, it does have more material. More weight is stronger is no less ridiculous than more money equals stronger.

Agreed. Why buy cheap & unproven when you can buy good AND inexpensive?

Toe thumbs!!!

expand on that.

is this a great hand wringing thread or what?

Carbon VS Aluminum.

Common business practices. It's the danger of farming out a product overseas where U.S. intellectual property law does not apply. It's called grey market goods.

the lever could certainly go in a crash, but if you can snap off a sram brake lever with your grip, i tip my hat. the shimano brake lever design seems more prone.

Because it's probably not a REAL Easton part. Any Chinese company making stuff can copy and slap an Easton sticker on a part then sneak it through customs in to the US and sell it at rock bottom prices. Counterfeit parts are like a whole industry in China, and over there it's completely legal to do it!

so why do they arrest people for doing it? you can rightly say inadequate enforcement but not legal.

I buy authentic parts from reputable sellers all the time at great prices.
A little research, use coupon codes, catch the sales.
For example, buying winter gear during the summer months and vice/versa.
I only buy from established companies or at least new companies with good reputations.

I bought an Easton bull horn and Easten EA50 stem for like 25 bucks last week from Jenson.... Grey Market counterfeit good!!!!!

My buddy was looking for a bike.
He knew the model he wanted.
It was going for $600. regularly everywhere.
I found one for him brand new for $350. SHIPPED to his door.
His neighbor payed close to $600. for the same bike.