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Submitted by
Pablo
a Weekend Warrior
from withchataw
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Very stiff and very light | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | all | | Bike Setup: | I use this stem on several bikes, HT, ST, and FS | | Bottom Line: | I have never had a problem with the Bonty stuff and these stems are no exception.. I use a 120mm on my XC softail and it is extremely stiff. I use them with Carbon bars and have never scared or cracked a bar yet. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Weekend Warrior
from San Mateo, CA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Skeggs | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | Tough
Good finish | | Weaknesses: | Slight rust (normal for steel here) | | Similar Products Used: | You name it | | Bike Setup: | Cro-Mo cross bike with a Mutt-like mix of components | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the old quill style stem. It came off my Bonte Race Mtn bike when I upgraded to threadless and went straight to the cross bike. After a year of Mtn. riding and a couple more of cross/commuting it is going on strong. I've bent a couple sets of bars and the alignment on the stem is still dead on and the stem has only twisted in the streertube once (Not bad for a quill). I sure wish Trek hadn't screwed up Bonte's quality, the new stuff is just too hit and miss. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Dayton, Ohio
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Stiff, clamps bar and fork well enough | | Weaknesses: | manufacturing defect - clamping surfaces not perpendicular. | | Similar Products Used: | KORE 3d | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher X-Cal | | Bottom Line: | Here I thought I had bent my bar and finally got around to buying a new one. Got tired of having my stem slightly cocked to the left so my hands were correctly positioned. Turns out it is the stem and not the bar! When squared up the right hand is about 1/2 inch lower than the left. One by one the Bontrager components are coming off the bike because they are inferior. You all can believe what you want... but I'm telling ya the quality just isn't there anymore! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodney B V
a Weekend Warrior
from Mesquite, TX USA
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Rowlett Creek - Garland, Tx | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Jack Johnston's in Dallas, Tx | | Strengths: | Stiff. Short (60mm). Bonty quality is obvious. Various lengths allows anyone to improve "fit" of their bike. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | OEM 100mm stem with higher angle. | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M80; Koobi au chrono saddle; Club Roost 2D pedals; Short Bontrager stem. | | Bottom Line: | Switching to a short stem with minimal rise has given me much more control. I'm positioned further back, so moving off the back of the saddle riding down hills is easier. I no longer feel like I'm leaning forward too much. This is the kind of modification that can make a bike FIT YOU. Tweaking your riding position with a quality Bontrager stem (many sizes to choose from) can make a real difference. And about needing two different size wrenches - SO FREAKIN' WHAT! Anybody can install it - and anyone can improve the fit of their bike with the proper length stem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Racer
from Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Look 'Ma No Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Rodger's Ski and Sport | | Strengths: | Stiff, Strong, 2 piece design so bolts don't jam into your knee, short so steering is great. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Powertools | | Bike Setup: | KHS TEAM ST W/ XT and XTR and Bontrager stem. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent, does what it needs to do, doesn't nail your knee when you fall. Short, steering is great, stiff, does what it needs to do. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
logbiter
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz, cali
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | online somewhere | | Strengths: | stiff, does what it's supposed to, 'knee saver' design. | | Weaknesses: | Minor quibble- but I don't like 2 different size bolts heads either. | | Similar Products Used: | specialized ti (lite, but noodley), specialized A1 | | Bike Setup: | M2 pro-ish, Bonty bars, ends, stem & frt rim, rhyno-lite rear. | | Bottom Line: | AHS ahead stem here, silverish color. It's stiff- waay better than the Specialized ti stem I tried for a while- what a noodle! Steering precision good, although my stock stem wasn't a problem.
It's quite a bit lighter than the A1 stem came stock on the bike (which I'm sure was a Tahoma w/ a specialized sticker on it). Set it up and forget about it.
No probs in 2 years use, except a bit of rust in the bolt heads. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gaoo
a
from Quebec
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | elegant black finish, light and strong, no bolts will hurt your knees, Bontrager logos | | Weaknesses: | I can say that using 2 allen key is dull but who are too lazy to put this in a weakness? | | Similar Products Used: | Icon Onyx | | Bike Setup: | '99 Trek 6500 ZX, Psylo SL, XT rear, LX, STX-rc..... Bontrager (crow-bar, stem, seatpost, seat,rims,hubs...), Panaracer XC fire tire 2.1 | | Bottom Line: | it's not complex (it comes with a instruction manual!!), 5mm allen key is for tighting the handlebar, 6mm key is to thight the steerer tube. But it's a kind of "agace". Anyways, the general look is good and a Bontrager product will not break. 7 degree angle is ok, a ) degree would be also good | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
2Elk
a Cross Country Rider
from IL
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | porc rim | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | -strong
-stiff
-relatively inexpensive
-inconspicuous
-Bonty quality
-does what it's supposed to
-steerer bolts tucked safely away
-tough finish | | Weaknesses: | -different size bolt heads for steerer and face clamps
-a touch on the heavy side
-limited rise options
-inconspicuous
-moves when tightened
| | Similar Products Used: | -Control Tech
-Answer ATAC
-Tawain Inc. | | Bike Setup: | Bonty bar, stem, & post | | Bottom Line: | What can you really say about a stem? The Bonty does what it was designed to do w/o much fuss. It's sufficiently stiff, light, and cheap.
The only issues I have are when installing, the steerer clamp twists a bit to the right when it's tightened down and you need a 5 AND a 6mm allen to get it all done; why not just use one size??? These issues are really nitpicky and have no bearing on its actual performance.
Overall, it's what you should expect from something w/the Bonty logo stamped on it. Nothing too fancy or light; it just plain works. Bolt it on and fuggetaboutit.
5 chilis for value; it's hard to beat 30 bucks.
4 chilis overall for the mismatched bolts and the fact that it could stand to lose a few grams.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from New Orleans, LA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hooper Rd | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Strengths: | stiff, strong, good finish, bolt location | | Weaknesses: | only offered in 7 deg rise | | Similar Products Used: | Kore Elite, Control Tech, Kore 3D forged, Generic forged | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-Works FSR, SID XC, full XT | | Bottom Line: | Great design, no flex, bolts are well placed, not the lightest thing out there but not outrageously heavy, good finish, one quirk that I noticed was that, due to the location of the steer tube clamp bolts, the stem will pull to the right about 2 deg when tightening the steer tube clamp - thus requiring subsequent readjustment - no biggie once you are aware of it and can compensate. I just wish they made other rise options in addition to the 7 deg. Five flamers for doing it's job very well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shanedawg
a Weekend Warrior
from san jose, ca
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | soquel demo | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Beautiful, inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Can't put it on my bike! | | Similar Products Used: | ritchey comp lite | | Bike Setup: | bontrager hard tail / Z2 atom bomb 1 in. | | Bottom Line: | I ran the old quill version for 6 years and had no problems. I recently bought a Z2 to replace my old judy and decided to go threadless at the same time. Only one problem. I wanted to get the new bontrager race AHS model but could not find a 1 in. model anywhere. You would think that you could find a bontrager stem to go on your bontrager bike, but NO. Trek decided to be a bunch of knuckleheads so I had to go with the ritchey comp lite instead. It is also a good stem but doesn't have the same lust factor. Thanks for sticking with us Tom! 4 chilis for the price, 1 stinking chili for not making the 1 in available. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | removable faceplate, large steerer tube clamp, stiff. | | Weaknesses: | What? | | Similar Products Used: | Icon Durante (Graphite), no-name threaded stuff | | Bike Setup: | Titec PG handlebar, SID XC fork | | Bottom Line: | when I first got my bike, I made the mistake of thinking that lighter was better with the Icon. It turned out to be way noodly, especially when paired with my SID and my 200-lb. frame. The Bontrager is absolutely perfect, especially since I got it on the cheap. The removable faceplate is really important to me, since I ship my bike a couple times a year. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, California USA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good value- price, quality, strength, fairly light | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | threaded headsets with "gooseneck" stems | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude- Chris King, XTR | | Bottom Line: | This stem is fairly stiff, and I haven't experienced any bolt slippage thus far. The important thing is that this stem fits me perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Saratoga, NY
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Matte black finish matches the rest of my bike. Holds the bars where I want them. Removable faceplate. Pretty light.
| | Weaknesses: | None really | | Bottom Line: | I like it. It hold my bars to my bike and puts them where I want them. Good job. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross-Country Rider
from Elkhart In
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
I'm still looking | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light, stong, lets me steer. | | Weaknesses: |
Not found yet | | Similar Products Used: |
Stock stems on bikes | | Bike Setup: |
Jamis Dakar Team | | Bottom Line: | It works. Gives me the rise and feelthat I need. It isn't portly, it isn't overpriced. Holds the bar on to the bike.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mason
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia, PA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
still looking | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Light
Cheap
Removeable faceplate
Screws are in a gonad safe area | | Weaknesses: |
A little hard to tighten | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
99 KHS Team ST, raceface, z2 A-bomb, xt/xtr mix | | Bottom Line: | Only problem I've had is that I thought I had it tight enough only to have my handlebars move after a very hard hit. You have to really bear down on the faceplate screws to get it tight enough. I'm no small guy (5'9, 185, bench 350) and I have to crank the screws. SO far they haven't stripped on me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Malcolm
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego CA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Stiff
Cheap | | Weaknesses: |
Rusting bolts | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek A-head stem | | Bike Setup: |
Y-22 | | Bottom Line: | I replaced my stock stem with one of these. I chose it because it weighed the same as the more expensive stems, but was on average $40 cheaper. So far the stem does what it's supposed to. I've had no problems with it except I did notice the front clamp bolts are rusting. An inexpensive no-frills stem. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ralston Boy
a Racer
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
VASA Network | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Stiff, light, good rise | | Weaknesses: |
Bolts rust. | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek Ahead. | | Bike Setup: |
Attitude Race '99 | | Bottom Line: | light, stiff, cheap, bontrager made. Get one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Henry
a Weekend Warrior
from West JOrdan, Utah
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any Off Road | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Does what it has to do
Super stiff. Responsive. | | Weaknesses: |
SUper Stiff | | Similar Products Used: |
Ibis Ti
Syncros Ti
Kore Elite | | Bike Setup: |
Gary Fisher Mt. Tam
And Manitou SX-R | | Bottom Line: | Not too bad. THough, I would have liked an Ibis Ti or Syncros Ti better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a cross-country rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: February 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I bought the A-head because I wanted a removable face plate, This stem is a nice peice of work, no flashy decals just smooth form and solid function. The price doesnt hurt much either. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a cross-country rider
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is one of those pieces of your bike that make no difference on your ridding (with exception to rise and length). This stem does what it has to for less than the others. It does have some smart features like the oversized binder bolts (steel), removable faceplate, and the binder bolts are off to the side so you dont ding your knees up. Maybe not chichi but well built, cheap, and does what it has to. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a weekend warrior
from Mass
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the Bont. threadless stem from bike world. It's very nice. It looks good, works well, and I've had no problems with it. It's not the absolute stiffest stem out there, but I have 0 problems with it, and it was relatively cheap, so I'll give it 4 stars. If you wanna get rid of your stock stem, but don't wanna spend a ton (like on a Syncros or something), go with this- lots of different models to choose from. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
peckerhead
a weekend warrior
from Pecker land
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Will some please tell them to get the Ahead stem review pic up as this is what most of the reviews are about! Your twisted if you have the quill stem. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan
a cross-country rider
from Newburyport, MA
Date Reviewed: July 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
All I really have to say is that ANYTHING made by Keith Bontrager rules. He make amazing bicycle components. Almost every part that can be, is a Bontrager part on my bike. I have had zero problems with his stuff. Take a look at his web page and check out his descriptions of his products, very detailed. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erick
a cross-country rider
from sacto,CA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Got the Race AHS stem because I wanted to go from 120mm to 105mm, and this thing is great. For 30-40 bucks I can't see why people shell out 100 bucks for a Kore or C-tech. Has beefy 6mm steerer tube clamp bolts offset to the side I guess so you won't rack your knees on them. (having a shorter stem makes a hell of a difference too, at least for me) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Benson
a weekend warrior
from Anniston, Al
Date Reviewed: June 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I thought my Bontrager stem was allot lighter than it really is. For the price I paid, It should have been lighter. Also I get some flex from the front clamp. Does anybody else have this problem? I will take it to my bike shop for an avaluation. I do not recommend buying this stem, unless you get a smoking deal and don't weigh over 175 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave
a cross-country rider
from bainbridge island wa
Date Reviewed: May 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
this review is for the forged al race lite threadless stem. the one i have now is my second. i had one on my last bike before it was stolen. i think this stem is great. for starters it will only cost you 30 or 40 clams depending on where you get it. i think it looks pretty cool too. i can certainly testify to it's durrability. between the two i've owned i've probably logged 5000 mi and have had no problems at all. for that matter i've never had problems with any bontrager parts and have had quite a few of them on my bikes. for the money i don't think this stem can be beat. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony D
a cross-country rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have the race-lite stem. I honestly think this is one of the best-looking stems out there. I think I picked mine up from Cambria for $29. With the removeable face-plate and knee-saving bolts, you gotta love it. I believ it only comes in 7 degrees of rise, but just about any length you want. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billie-Joe-Bob
a cross-country rider
from Hickville, IA
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I really can't say anything bad about the stem, beyond my impression that it's ugly as sin. It works like a stem should work. It came on a Klein I recently purchased but when the time comes for a replacement, I'll probably go with a Control Tech just because it's not so bulbous and about 50g lighter. It says in the header that the B-trager retails for $100 which seems steep considering there's nothing really special about it. If you're buying aftermarket look at a C-Tech; it's lighter, cheaper, and not as ugly and does the same good job. 3.5 chilis for being ugly and expensive. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alun Evans
a cross-country rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: February 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had the Bontrager stem for about 3 months and its so good I don't notice that it's there - this can either mean that a component is very good or very bad (depending on the component). In this case it means that it's excellant. It's stiff and responsive, fairly light, and it manages to look, well, slick. As others have said before me, why spend loads ofmoney on a stem when you can get a top notch one like this fairly cheap? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT ROCK
a weekend warrior
from Kitimat, BC
Date Reviewed: February 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Bontrager Race AHS stem is great. Bar and steerer clamp bolts work very smoothly, making adjustment easy. Looks cool, colour looks good on almost any bike, and it's inexpensive. If the 7 degree rise is OK for you, a five chili product. When did this fifty word mininmum crap come into effect? Yadda, yadda yadda.... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Carrigan
a downhiller
from Escondido, California
Date Reviewed: December 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have the blasted finish on my stem, wish I would have bought a polished or anodized one. To hard to clean! Also the stem creaks a little but seems to be stiff. I haven't pin pointed the problem yet. I have taken it toa mechanic and he seems to think there is a invisable hairline crack developing. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a cross-country rider
from LA, CA
Date Reviewed: December 10, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Use this stem on both hardtail and full suspension. The stem works great, is light, looks nice, has the rad Bontrager logon up front, duo-screw for easy handlebar removal. Why pay $80+ for stems which do not function any better. Only thing is that the color may not suit your taste or the rest of your bike... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rowan
a weekend warrior
from England RULZ!
Date Reviewed: November 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This AHEAD stem is super strong. Very well made. Brillant value for money. Put one of these on the end of your steerer tube and you can laugh at any donut who was stupid enough to by a control tech! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Haddy
a cross-country rider
from Houston, Texas
Date Reviewed: October 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had the stem for awile now. No problems, good stem. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
charles coker
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: October 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is for the new forged alloy stem:Great design, great price, very stiff, perfect.
if you need a 7 degree bend like I did, 0 not enough, 10/15 too much,
this is great... replaced a Kore 135x0 with the Bontrager...
the Bontrager is at least if not more stiff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Beacham
a downhiller
from Moab, Utah
Date Reviewed: August 26, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
My stem started a crack around the handle bar clamp. I felt paying such a price would bring me a better product, but I was wrong!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: August 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got the bontrager race stem about a week ago and I've had no problems at all. its lite and looks very cool. the design also keeps your knees from getting bloody on a wipeout. 5 peppas | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a weekend warrior
from Saskatoon, Sask.
Date Reviewed: January 19, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The picture is a little out of date, but the aluminum, clamp-on Race stem is soooo cool. Light, strong and a way cool design, it looks like its' not so much manufactured as grown. A definate five star product | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Bell
a racer
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a really nice and stiff stem. Made of aluminum, sandblasted for a dry Titanium color. Made of aluminum, with dual bolt clamps and a removable faceplate. Scores high on the coolness charts. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ola Helenius
a cross-country rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: June 7, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using the Bontrager Racelite Cro-Mo stem for a couple of years
and it has caused me no trouble whatsoever. It is very light (210grams) and
stiff and, since it is a Bontrager product, probably really strong. This is
an extremely nicely construction. The tubes are heavily butted heat treated
cro-mo, and the expander bolt is recessed (only 1.5 long) and made of titanium.
My version has a Answer Hyperlite bar glued in, so there is no clamp bolt.
At last, the price is also pretty OK.
This is a really, really good product.
| | Overall Rating: |
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