Submitted by
Ed Salazar
a Cross Country Rider
from Redwood City, CA Date Reviewed: October 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
If I tell, the
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
Tough, Great bolt position, inexpensive, came in 1" to fit my steerer (Keith, why did you stick with the 1" so long? Shocks with 1" steerers are getting tough to find.)
Weaknesses:
Mine is a pre-Trek stem. I have heard rumors quality has slipped but who can be sure
Similar Products Used:
Many and various
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz built Bonte Race
Bottom Line:
It fits, it dosen't squeak, in three years of active riding I have done nothing to it but remove the faceplate so I could replace the bars. Install it and forget it, just how components should be. All the other stems I have used have started squeaking or slipping or something after only a few months use, not this one. For the change it has been an oustanding stem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Eckardt
a Racer
from Huntington, IN USA Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002
This is easily a $100+ value. The stem has taken 4 years of Sport-level racing/training punishment with absolutely no problems. It is very stiff and does not creak. I like the knee-saving steerer clamp bolt placement, too.
I was seriousely thinking of changing to a different stem, but after considering how well this one has treated me and reading the other reviews, I would be stupid to stop using it. Bontrager has an excellent quality product with this stem. I would recommend it to anyone.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale, CA Date Reviewed: August 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
El Corte de Madera
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Speedgoat
Strengths:
I love the way it looks even though looks shouldn't count for much. The silver model is very satiny and goes great with my silver anodized frame. The stem is a little over 200 g (I have a 120 mm)just as Bontrager says it is. It is very reasonably priced. There are no welds to break. Everything is cold forged and then bead blasted. The position of the binder bolts is very nice. Very secure because of the oversized bolts (need a 5mm wrench instead of the usual 4 mm). No creaking. The stem seems to be very stiff, though it's hard to measure.
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Salsa, Ritchey
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Superlight with Bontrager Race Lite straight bars; Marzocchi MXR forks, SRAM Shorty 9 shifters, Avid SD5 levers, Titec bar ends.
Bottom Line:
Excellent value and no problems at all. They seem very solid and therefore confidence-inspiring to me. Buy them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
keefe ward
a Cross Country Rider
from dover, nj Date Reviewed: May 26, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$35.00
Purchased At:
speedgoat
Strengths:
Price,strength,choices
Weaknesses:
none at this price
Similar Products Used:
salsa,trek OEM
Bike Setup:
Santa Cruz Bullit DH Titus Switch Blade Trail
Bottom Line:
Can't go wrong for the price. Weight isn't bad either. Takes an extra minute to setup because knee saver bolts are on the side and pull the stem to the right when you tighten them. I have 2 of them one 90mm and one 120mm. No problems ever.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ethan
a
from Raleigh, NC Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
Binder bolts. Looks. No problems yet.
Similar Products Used:
Some Specialized stem.
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC. XT/LX components. Rhyno Lites.
Bottom Line:
Great stem. My knees love the out-of-the-way binder bolts (not that it doesn't still hurt to smack the stem on eject). The bolts are also a bit bigger (6mm?) than other stems, so you can crank down a little harder on them.
I'm pretty rough on my bike and no squeaks or creaks yet. The bars haven't slipped once. Fairly light. Good looking. Can be found cheap.
A good deal overall.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
CHUCK COOK
a Racer
from NASHVILLE,TN.U.S.A. Date Reviewed: January 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
HAMILTON CREEK&LOCK-4
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
E-BAY
Strengths:
VERY LIGHT-STRONG AND STIFF.LOOK'S GREAT
Weaknesses:
NONE,THAT I FOUND.
Similar Products Used:
RACE FACE-CONTROL TECH
Bike Setup:
MARIN,PINE-MT.XT ALL THE WAY.ROCK SHOX SID SL,SELLA FLITE GEL SEAT,THOMSON SEAT POST,BONTRAGER RACE STEM,PROFILE CARBON FLAT BARS,SHIMANO 858 PEDALS,MAVIC 517 RIMS,HUTCHINSON GOLD TIRES.
Bottom Line:
THIS STEM CAN'T BE THAT BAD,IF ROLAND GREEN THE #1 PLATE HOLDER IN THE U.S.A.RUN'S THIS STEM ON HIS TREK.IT HAS HELD UP GREAT VERY STRONG,VERY LIGHT,LOOK'S AWESOME.I GAVE UP MY 120MM FOR A 90MM AND IT IS A LOT BETTER ON MY BACK NOW.GO OUT AND GET THIS STEM.YOU WON'T BE SORRY.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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