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Crank Brothers Cobalt 3 Stem

2.6/5 (5 Reviews)

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MSRP : $99.99


  • Store Price

Product Description

Light, simpleTorx bolt designThat uses a wedge/plunger system for steerTube and handle bar clamp weight: 137g (100mm) material: 7075 aluminum plunger material: aluminum bar clamp: 31.8 length: 80-120mm rise: 6º color: black/gold, iron/blue,


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Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:3
Submitted by arkhamasylum a Weekend Warrior

Date Reviewed: October 8, 2012

Strengths:    Lightweight minimalist design, good design integration with other Crank Brothers Cobalt 3 products.

Weaknesses:    Pain to mount and un-mount non flat handlebars.

Bottom Line:   
I bought the 80mm red and black to match with other Crank Brothers stuff. First thing I noticed is that the 80mm seems to be 90mm, measured and compared with other stems. 2nd thing is it's really a pain to mount, I've scratched the Cobalt 11 flatbar trying to insert it to the rings. I could have purchased similar weigth/class stems at a much cheaper price, but I wanted to stick with Cobalt 3 Red/Black theme. Now I have a difficult time selling the Cobalt 3 stem at a reasonable price.
Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Kenneth

Date Reviewed: August 23, 2012

Strengths:    Weight, works when it`s mounted. Looks good.

Weaknesses:    A bit hard to mount. The use of Torx.

Bottom Line:   
I got this on an impulse and struggled hard to get it fitted. But when its mounted it works flawlessly. Sure, there was some bruices on my carbon handlebar, but thats almost avoidable. The use of torx can be both a pro and or a con. Its not something everyone has laying around, but it tightens much more flawlessly. The fact that this stem is really good looking isnt exaclty a weakness.
Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:2
Submitted by winsail a Cross Country Rider from Soquel, CA

Date Reviewed: February 16, 2012

Strengths:    It looks very Nice

Weaknesses:    Unless you are mountng aluminum flat bars this stem will ruin your bars

Bottom Line:   
The design engineers should be ashamed of themselves. This stem is 100% Flash and 0% Function. You have to remove all your levers and spread the flanges out while passing your carbon bars into this terrible product. You will damage your bars in the process. There customer service is excellent in telling you how to install this item. There is even detailed written instruction on how to mount bars. Crank Brothers should recall this product. Now I know why seller sold it new for so cheap. It's rubbish. I am giving it 2 chili's only because it may work fine if you mount flat bars and the customer service guys are really nice. Look elsewhere for a new stem. Crank Brothers iodine stem looks like a much better alternative.

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Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $50.00

Purchased At:   Pinkbike

Similar Products Used:   FSA, Race Face, Truvativ

Bike Setup:   Jamis 650b2 Nothing Stock
Overall Rating:1
Value Rating:1
Submitted by jeff smith a Cross Country Rider from Castroville, TX, USA

Date Reviewed: December 10, 2011

Strengths:    light weight & attractive

Weaknesses:    bar installation tough to impossible & major flex

Bottom Line:   
After struggling with getting the bars into this stem and eventually pounding them through with wood block and hammer (marking the bars), I was finally able to get the stem mounted for a ride. Perhaps it was the wide bars I was using but I felt and noticed a considerable flexing of the bars when force applied to grips (i.e. in climbing out of saddle). These two things (installation hassle & flex) combined with the fact that anytime you need to remove the bar, it requires removal of the brake levers, shifters (if you are geared), and grips - you remember, the old style stems without the removable face plates. Pretty stem but I couldn't get it off the bike fast enough (literally as I had to pound the bars back out) and replaced with the best, a Thomson X4. Oh yeah, it also creaked.

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Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $40.00

Purchased At:   new off ebay

Similar Products Used:   Thomson Elites, X4s & X2s

Bike Setup:   Installed a 100cm stem for a few rides on Surly Karate Monkey SS with low rise, wide bars
Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by broadwayline a Cross Country Rider from Caledon, Ontario, Canada

Date Reviewed: July 25, 2011

Strengths:    Looks spiffy, light weight, does not slip and grips hard.

Weaknesses:    Torx bolts make adjusting or loosening a bit more of a pain than a standard alen key hex bolt.

Bottom Line:   
Honestly, I really like the looks of this stem and that is why I bought it. It was light, the sizing was right, and it clamps hard. There is not too much more to stems am I right?

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Favorite Trail:   Albion Hills

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $110.00

Purchased At:   Cambria Bike

Bike Setup:   Norco Nitro
Reviews 1 - 5 (5 Reviews Total)

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