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Reviews 1 - 15 (66 Reviews Total)
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Submitted by
Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Northern VirginiaDate Reviewed: October 13, 2007
Strengths: Kneesaver clamp, they stopped making itWeaknesses: flat bars only, stickers suckBottom Line: Simple, flat bar only stem (no risers…ever!) with Kore's excellent Kneesaver clamp. Stickers don't stick well, and are tacky looking, especially compared to Kore's better models (also when you have an Elite flatbar clamped to it). The glossy paint was okay, but nothing compared to the bead blasted finish of the Elite stem, which replaced this on my bike to accommodate a riser bar (I guess if you have a sledge and some swear words you could fit a riser on this stem). Decent for OEM, but I would never have recommended it to anyone for aftermarket.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Purchased At: came preinstalled
Similar Products Used: Kore Elite
Bike Setup: hardtail
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto,ont,CanDate Reviewed: May 21, 2002
Strengths: Strong, single handlebar clamp, clean welds, stiff.Weaknesses: No longer in production.Bottom Line: Great stem for the money. I switched from a Control Tech and the difference is amazing. No more twisting at the bars.
Favorite Trail: DVP secret trails
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: Control Tech, Zoom
Bike Setup: 01 Jamis Dakar Expert with 130mm 10 degree Kore. SRAM 7 drivetrain, syncros seat post, white industries hubs with Ti spokes and mavic 221 rims.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, TexasDate Reviewed: July 8, 2001
Strengths: None.Weaknesses: Bad design. Bolt size and angles make it immpossible to assemble correctly.Bottom Line: The Kore stem came with my bike. The night I put it together, the bottom bolt stipped and basically ruined the stem before I could ever use it. I now have a Bontrager stem and it looks and feels better anyway. I just hate that I had to shell out the extra cash when I was suppose to get a good stem from the jump. I would stay away from the Kore stem if you can help it. I think most bike shops will switch that out for you if it happens to be on the bike you're looking at. Trust me, it will make your life easier.
Favorite Trail: Grapevine Lake
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Purchased At: Supergo.com
Similar Products Used: N/A
Bike Setup: KHS Elite 2000
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Frank
a
from Perth, AustraliaDate Reviewed: February 23, 2001
Strengths: Light, easy to work withWeaknesses: Weak steerer tube clamp threads.Bottom Line: This is my second Kore stem on which the threads stripped. The first I might have overtightened (although the threads should be strong enough for an Allen key with no extensions) and it let go on a rough descent.
The second stem stripped the threads today on a similar descent. I didn't overtighten this one... I learned from the first.
I also found, when I bought this stem, that the bottom face on the steerer calmp was about 1mm out of square, making headset adjustment difficult until I filed the thing flat.
I've never had a problem with the cheap unbranded stems... do labels make the product weaker?
The Kore stem works well until it lets go... don't trust it! Too easy to lose teeth when (not if) it fails.
Rated very low on a safety principle.
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Similar Products Used: Unbranded cheapies (great!), Zoom, Profile.
Bike Setup: GT Zaskar LE, XTR gruppo, Titec Hellbent bars, Judy SL
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Charlie
a Cross Country Rider
from Hell City, AZDate Reviewed: September 6, 2000
Strengths: Connects handlebar to bike. Looks kinda nice.Weaknesses: Flexy, no removable faceplate, and bottom surface of steerer clamp not square.Bottom Line: This stem is like a noodle the way it flexes. I got used to the flexiness, but found that I could not get a good adjustment on my headset. After replacing the stem for a good square fit with my King headset, I realized that the stem had been way too flexible.
Favorite Trail: hawes
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Similar Products Used: Profile Designs, old quill stems...
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Heckler
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Kenny McCormick
a Weekend Warrior
from TorontoDate Reviewed: May 22, 2000
Strengths: Strong.Weaknesses: Decals suck. I can't believe they just come off after 2 weeks of use.Bottom Line: Can't get a better stem for the money- 'cept for the peeling decals.
Favorite Trail: Don River
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from IllinoisDate Reviewed: February 25, 2000
Strengths: low price, nice colors, range of sizesWeaknesses: poor quality control, no customer serviceBottom Line: The headset surface is not flat, 1mm offset between the faceplate and the stem body. No response from customer service. Bought this stem based on the high overall ratings but I would not recommend buying this from mail order. If you must buy this stem visually inspect it carefully for flaws, especially the headset surface and the faceplate alignment. This stem really doesn't deserve such a high rating.
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Bike Setup: kore lite 3
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
matthew
a Cross Country Rider
from vienna va usaDate Reviewed: February 11, 2000
Strengths: absolutely bombproof. dont even remember when i put this thing on. its seen many handle bar changes.Weaknesses: stickers wear off long before it will be replacedBottom Line: great investment for your control center
Duration Product Used: More than 3 years
Similar Products Used: control tech
Bike Setup: '94 zaskar le
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cadel
a Weekend Warrior
from SingaporeDate Reviewed: December 9, 1999
Strengths:
too weak to have any strengths...Weaknesses:
Treads on stem comes out easily..
lousy decals..
blah blah blahBottom Line: Sucks......i got 2 of em and both stem are now threadless...
Favorite Trail:
Toilet
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bike Setup:
Mountain Bike
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Daron Tan
a Weekend Warrior
from Kuching, MalaysiaDate Reviewed: October 15, 1999
Strengths:
This stem is well made with all edges smoothed. The stem is very durable and light.Weaknesses:
The decals comes off after wetrides. The bolt turns rusty too quickly. Would have have given it full marks except for these 2 minor flaws.Bottom Line: I have no reservation recommending this stem for XC riders using flat bars. Great value for money/performance product.
Favorite Trail:
still looking for it....
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Similar Products Used:
Zoom
Bike Setup:
Marin Nail Trail 19, RST Mozo Pro3.5, LX/STX RC Groupo, Mavic 517
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Fritz
a Cross-Country Rider
from Carrboro, NCDate Reviewed: September 10, 1999
Strengths:
Light
Looks good
Will not hurt kneesWeaknesses:
Poor quality
Poor design and use of materialsBottom Line: The stem bends easily . I don't know how or why b/c it looks very tough, but mine was bent so bad I couldn't turn my bike without the steerer tube rubbing the headset. I would never have imagined this would bend and it is surprising since I only ride cross country. I don't reccomend this stem to anyone b/c of potential safety issues if you do ride hard.
Favorite Trail:
Dunn RD, Raleigh
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Similar Products Used:
Rocket Power stem
Bike Setup:
Ellsworth Truth, Marzocchi Z1, XTR Drive, Chris King Headset, Race Face Cranks
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Billy Bob
a Cross-Country Rider
from KansasDate Reviewed: August 1, 1999
Strengths:
This son o B will put you through Hell and High water and still keep your britches cleanWeaknesses:
The metal is as pussy as the fat cats
who made itBottom Line: What it lacks in strength it makes up for by being as light as hogs eyelash.
Also it's paint never fades even after being pelted with doggarn all the pig crap in
southern Texas.
Favorite Trail:
The pigs manour heap round back uh my house
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
Tioga Alchemy
Kore lite3d
Bike Setup:
Full suspensionGT
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from NY`Date Reviewed: May 30, 1999
Strengths:
KORE name, Strength, clamping power.Weaknesses:
Not really any except for the decalsBottom Line: great stem. came stock on my tequesta and has never failed me. It is very strong and light. couldnt ask for anything elese. the only problem is the decals are acctually stickers. i hope they don't come off! The KORE name is one of my favorite parts of the stem. oh well. 5
Favorite Trail:
some dirt mound by my house
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Similar Products Used:
Azonic ORC(piece of shit)
Bike Setup:
98 GT tequesta Judy XCs
kore lite bar and stem
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ramon
a Cross-Country Rider
from Daraga, PhilippinesDate Reviewed: April 26, 1999
Strengths:
Ample handle bar clamp area. humongous no-non-sense design. Clamp is tighter than the grip of a snapping turtle.Weaknesses:
Too shiny. Get the painted version. Watch out when trading to this stem. You need a lot of steerer tube for it to be clamped the right way.Bottom Line: Great trade-up aheadstem. Install and forget mechenism. No need to retighten or regrease. I causion riders buying the polished finish. I had a couple of times where I was momentarily blinded from the super-reflectiveness of this darn thing. I had to trade up this one with the syncros. If I had bought a painted model I wouldn't have gotten rid of it. Also. Kore should have include titanium bold instead of steel one. The steel one formed a layer of rust whenever it touches water. BEST STEM AROUND.
Favorite Trail:
bumpy congested roads
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Similar Products Used:
Syncros CattleHead
Bike Setup:
Answer/Balance AL-750. Sun/ChrisKing/Syncros/Shinao XTR
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sean C.
a Cross-Country Rider
from Houston, TXDate Reviewed: April 20, 1999
Strengths:
Light weight and price, since it has been discontinued? On clearance everywhere...Weaknesses:
One bolt clamping of the bars means you have to strip your bars to install it....has held my carbon fiber bars in place thus far though!Bottom Line: Lighter, cheap weight savings, has not slipped yet!Log it!
Favorite Trail:
W/O Bunny Lovers
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Similar Products Used:
Titec on same dimensions, 120mm, 10 degree rise...HEAVIER
Bike Setup:
Giant XTC SE-1
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