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Race Face Deus

MSRP $ 75.00
Weight 194 grams (120mm x 5 degrees)
# of Reviews 25
Average Rating 4.52/5
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Submitted by Jim Tremblay a Weekend Warrior from Vancouvcer
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2007
Favorite Trail:Too many to list!
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $90.00
Purchased At:John Henry Bikes
Strengths:Great looks. Locally made. Quality materials.
Weaknesses:Pinch bolts are too small and easily stripped when torqued to factory recommended specifications. I only use quality MAC Tools inch lbs torque wrench.
Similar Products Used:Thompson
Bike Setup:Ellsworth Diatance with full XTR groupo and Fox 32 RLC forks
Bottom Line:This product was purchased to complement a full XTR groupo with Easton carbon bars. Every part has been selected for top quality construction and materials. The pinch bolts started to strip when torqued for the third time, to Race Face specifications. I immediately removed the stem and took it plus my expensive MAC Tools micro torque wrench to Race Face for inspection as they are local manufactures. The warrantee department replaced the bolts, sent me away and threatened that my warrantee would be void if I returned the stem directly myself. They said warrantee claims would only be considered if sent be a dealer. The bolts failed when the dealer reinstalled the stem and Race Face denied any further claim. Buy a Thompson! I have had mine for quite some time and am extremely satisfied.
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:1

Submitted by Stu a Racer from Charleston, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $60.00
Purchased At:Price Point
Strengths:Killer looks, strength and stiffness, solid clamping on both the handle bar and fork
Weaknesses:none unless your're an extreme weight weenie
Similar Products Used:FSA OS-115 XC stem, Specialized, generic stem on old Giant
Bike Setup:'04 Turner Burner
Bottom Line:Great quality product. Stiff, fairly light and looks awesome. I purchased a FSA OS-115 XC stem for my new Burner to shave some weight. But I decided to take the Race Face off the bike that I'll eventually sell and put it on the Burner because it just looks and feels better. I don't care that it weighs a little more because it's a marginal weight gain. Rode with the FSA stem for about 3 months and it performed fine. But the Race Face Deus is absolutely rock solid, inspires confidence and it just looks bad a$$. My stem is black, 120mm, 5deg rise. I have it inverted (5deg decline) for a lower riding profile. Works perfect for me.

Like most of the bolts on my bike I have replaced the steel bolts w/ Ti bolts on the stem. Better strength, less weight and best of all they won't rust like steel bolts. Don't forget the anti-seize compound on the threads if you use Ti bolts.

I hope to get many years of use out of this stem. Definitely a keeper!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Joe a from OH
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:vultures knob
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $40.00
Purchased At:new on ebay
Strengths:Stiff, light, nice looking
Weaknesses:none so far
Similar Products Used:Race face system, Kore elite (threads stripped)
Bike Setup:Titus switchblade, RF next cranks, Marz forks, Mavic 3.1rims on Sh XT hubs, RF stem, Thomson seatpost, candy pedals, WTB saddle, Cane creek headset, Hutch spyder ust tires, Avid discs, Rogue lock on grips and some other stuff.
Bottom Line:I have to laugh at the guy a few thread down who paid over a $100 for the stem. I got it from ebay new for 40. He must have a lot of money to waste.
I've used this stem as well as the RF system stems with no problems. Feels rigid, no noises. I think the weightweenies web site has it weighing around 185 grams which is less than thomsons 200. I don't think that I would want a lighter stem for the occassional jumps and drops. I would buy it again.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Marcus a Cross Country Rider from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2004
Favorite Trail:Cheseboro
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $80.00
Purchased At:Pasadena Cyclery
Strengths:Cool Look, The rise (got the 15% one), reasonably light weight, the bar clamp design.
Weaknesses:The Bar Screws strip too easily? Its Canadian (not that it's bad)
Similar Products Used:Generic Stock Stem on my Specialized Enduro
Bike Setup:Specialized Enduro pro w/ Mavic Crossmax XL wheels, Thompson Seatpost, WTB Saddle, Answer Carbon Protaper Handlebars and CB Mallet M Padels.
Bottom Line:Was looking for a longer stem to ease my back. The sales rep at my LBS suggested this over the Thompson Stems because of the bar clamp design prevent wear to the handlebars better than the thompson. I got the high rise one 15%. This has been fantastic so far, I feel much better on long rides. Its very durable in technical singletracks.

Only negative is one of the screws stripped, so I need to get replacement.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Vince H. a Weekend Warrior from River Grove, IL
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:all of them
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $75.00
Purchased At:Cambria
Strengths:good looks, lightweight, high strength to weight ratio, ingenius bar clamp, nice black color
Weaknesses:none
Similar Products Used:race face system, salsa SUL, cheapo stems
Bike Setup:'03 Azonic DS-1, XT drivetrain and hubs, rhynolite wheels, avid mechanicals, psylo SL, wtb motoraptors-2.4, raceface deus stem w/kore lite bars.
Bottom Line:initially, i was looking for a replacement system stem from race face in the 75x15degree size. As it turns out, this size was now impossible to find b/c it was a discontinued product. so i read on the website that the deus was capable of light freeride and bought it. to my suprise, it has been a great performer. it is very stiff when doing anything and i put it through all kinds of abuse- drops, dirt jumps, trials, you name it. so far no problems with anything. i would be hard pressed to run any other stem on any of my current or future bikes.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Lance Thibault a Cross Country Rider from Coorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2004
Favorite Trail:Buckhorn Loop
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $125.00
Purchased At:Ordered through Bicycle Village
Strengths:Looks and feels great
Weaknesses:Price and weight
Similar Products Used:None
Bike Setup:Epic comp, Thompson Elite post, WTB Laser V Stealth seat, XTR hubs w/Mavic 717 Rims. Everything else is stock...for now
Bottom Line:I bought it because I kept reading that this was a light stem. Never could find an actual weight listed anywhere at the time. Now it seems to be everywhere. Anyway, as soon as I took off the Specialized stem and had it in my hand I could feel the weight difference. The stock Specialized stem that came on my Epic Comp was lighter then the Deuce.
Still put it on the bike because of what I paid for it and because the thing looks so darn good in silver on a silver bike. I will replace it though as soon as I find another nice silver stem that actually is light and doesn't cost $200. ie Extralight UL2. I'll give the Duece 2 chilis for value, since it does look good and feel good, and 2 chilis overall since it didn't meet the main purpose I bought it for.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Dirk Diggler a Cross Country Rider from Middle of California
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004
Favorite Trail:dirt
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $1.00
Purchased At:pro service cyclery
Strengths:i hear the blue model has pfizer stamped on the side...

GREAT control, no slippage so far
Weaknesses:butter bolts
Similar Products Used:ummmmmmm an old KORE?
Bike Setup:K2 razorback sl
Bottom Line:this thing is sweet. it's stiff as hell and looks sexy too... with this and a RF handlebar i get zero flex in the front end department.

main complaint is the butter bolts. i went down to the local hardware shop and bought some high grade, longer, allen bolts to throw in it since i have a knack for over torquing stuff, greased em up and haven't had a problem since. looks a little stupid, but i don't worry about slippage, do you?

overall this is a fantastic piece of gear, do your bike justice, buy it.

RF gets knocked a turd for the bolts......
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Stu Abuba a Cross Country Rider from Watford, UK
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004
Favorite Trail:Afan Argoed
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $90.00
Purchased At:Cyclopedia, Watford
Strengths:Nice finish and light.
Weaknesses:Contantly loose on steerer. Easy to round bolts if pushed. Weak in crashes. ;-p
Similar Products Used:Thomson, Club roost I-beam, Specialized stock
Bike Setup:Specialized M5 HT. Fox Talas RLC's, Hope headset
Bottom Line:Have used Thomson stem since which is A1.
Strangely on the same forks the cheap £13 Club Roost stem was fine (apart from the colour)
Low durability I think esp. compared to the Thomson.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

Submitted by Gap Riderz a Cross Country Rider from San Jose
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2004
Favorite Trail:Bay area trails
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $55.00
Purchased At:Supergo
Strengths:Looks
Quality
Bling bling factor
Weaknesses:Price if you paid retail.
Similar Products Used:Thomson elite
Bike Setup:Yeti ARC - Race Face Deus is paired with Easton MonkeyLite CT2 carbon bar
Bottom Line:I don't know if it makes you ride better on DH or uphill, but I can assure you that the it makes your bike stand out more. You'll get a lot of comments like "dude, what kind of stem is that?" "so that's the deus" "sweet!" If you're still unsure, go buy it. Chicks dig it too.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Samsun a Cross Country Rider from Wales, GB
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:Local
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $60.00
Purchased At:Sunset
Strengths:Very strong, looks very nice, Plenty of length choice. Low weight.
Weaknesses:None.
Similar Products Used:Syncros.
Bike Setup:Orange Sub-5, Raceface, Hope, Fox, XT.
Bottom Line:Price is in £. I have the 90 length. What makes this stem stand out is the the bolting method. To the stearer it has two bolts which oppose each other. The way the the bar clamp is designed is very strong, the clamp interlocks with stem which completly holds the bar with no gaps left at all. This makes sure there is even pressure all around the bar and leaves no weak points. This is also quite a light stem for its strengh. This stem is also the dogs doodles when put with Raceface Next Low Carbon Riser, a light yet super strong combination.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by blatido a Cross Country Rider from Guadalajara, Jal., MEXICO
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:The next to ride
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $65.00
Purchased At:jensonusa.com
Strengths:Pretty nice looking!
Weaknesses:Haven't found any
Bike Setup:Specialized Epic (M4 Frame), Easton EA70 Handlebar, Avid Mech Disc Rear Brake, Avid SD7 Front V-Brake, Avid SD7 Levers, Michelin WG Hot-S tyres, Candy SL pedals.
Bottom Line:This is a very good product right out-of-the-box. I cannot say it makes me a better rider, if it's better than Thomson or how to evaluate stiffness, but one thing is for sure: you put in on your bike and you forget about it! Well, at least until someone else looks at your bike and say "Wow! Your stem looks cool!". One of the best stems on the market. Nuff said.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Fredog a Cross Country Rider from SoCAL
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2003
Favorite Trail:The one I'm riding later
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $65.00
Strengths:Stiff, sleek, piece of art, great workmanship.
Weaknesses:Cheesy lightning bolt.
Similar Products Used:Thomson
Bike Setup:Kona Kahuna, Raceface, XT, Manitou.
Bottom Line:After two bad experiences with Thomson (stripped bolts, had to drill them out) stems, I decided to look at something different. Loved the Thomson, so I needed something comparable. Read the reviews here and gave the RF a shot.

I'm very impressed. Super stiff - same as Thomson. Even better looking. I didn't think I'd find something better, but I did. Give this stem a shot, you won't be disappointed.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by MikeO a Racer from San Francisco
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2003
Duration Product Used:6 months
Purchased At:Order
Strengths:Light, great clamp for bars, bolts don't stick out that much so your knees feel a little safer.
Weaknesses:The black anodization is kind of weak compared to their cranks.
Similar Products Used:Thompson, Bontrager
Bike Setup:Scyip Steel Hardtail, Easton Carbon low-riser bars.
Bottom Line:This stem is sweet. Lighter than my Thompson and best of all it doesn't mover around on the steer-tube like the Thompson did. Just as stiff as the Thompson, a little stiffer than the old Bontrager. The clamp for the handlebars is really nice, especially if you have carbon bars because the edges of the clamp mechanism won't dig into the bar when tightening. They did a good job with the placement of the bolts that clamp the steer-tube, they design is pretty smooth and they don't stick out like pungi-sticks. I am really happy with this stem so far, the only downer is the black anodization, it doesn't look as dark-black as the cranks - but then again I should be smacked for such a lame complaint! 4 Chili's for the price because I didn't pay retail, but it's on par with most high end stems.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Biz a Cross Country Rider from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $69.00
Purchased At:Jenson USA
Strengths:Bullet proof, sexy looking, relatively light
Weaknesses:Price
Bike Setup:'96 Kona Kula hardtail with XTR, Mavic, Race Face components
Bottom Line:No creaking or loosening of the allen bolts yet--this thing is tough, ultra-sexy looking, and light. I have the 5 degree 100mm stem, and it's served me well so far. Main competition would be the Thompson Elite, but this one's a bit cheaper than that
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Genital Apparatus a Cross Country Rider from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2003
Favorite Trail:anything at all
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $50.00
Purchased At:Sport Chek (Eaton Centre)
Strengths:Very cool looking, finishing is awesome, very light but also strong.
Weaknesses:Maybe price, but not for me because I got a really good deal on it...otherwise, no weaknesses
Similar Products Used:Cheapo stem, came stock with my crappy bike.
Bike Setup:2002 K2 Zed 1.0 hardtail, Raceface low rise bar and Deus stem, RST fork.
Bottom Line:Probably the best component I own since I'm sort of a newbie to all of this. Cool looks, excellent manufacturing quality. I'll never forget the name Raceface ever again. Recommend for anyone who can afford it or who gets a good deal on it...Raceface is an excellent manufacturer.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by demonic a from wisconsin
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:6 months
Strengths:stiff stiff stiff
Weaknesses:none
Similar Products Used:thomson
Bike Setup:03 truth 03 XTR w/ King bits
Bottom Line:great stem, stiffer than the thomson IMHO and doesn't look at klunky either. the RF stem face is also much kinder to cables than the thomson because there are no protrusions.
worth the cash.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by macaigne cyrus a Weekend Warrior from paris, france, europe
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:fontainebleau
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Purchased At:vtt center (local bike shop)
Strengths:stiff, very good looking, very good clamping system
Weaknesses:none (price maybe?)
Similar Products Used:a lot of different stems: some as light (bot not as stiff) some as stiff (but a lot heavier)... only the thomson fr stem would match
Bike Setup:spe enduro 2003 with Marzo Z1 Bam 130mm (1999), race face turbine lp crankset, mavic crossroc wheels, easton monkey lite bars, formula 4 racing 185mm brakes and so on...
Bottom Line:this is the perfect stem. buy this one or the thomson.
it has a very good clamping system, with 4 bolts, it is very stiff and light. and it makes my bike look so cool!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by SA a Cross Country Rider from Montreal
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:Martin Swiss
Strengths:So pretty
Weaknesses:none
Similar Products Used:nothing worth mentioning
Bike Setup:Spec Enduro Pro 2002. Stock except for RaceFace XYO seat post
Bottom Line:Makes no difference what-so-ever it terms of performance.

I bought this product because it makes my bike look nicer and I have nothing else to do with my money, not to make me climb or descend better. Period.

5 chillis for shear beauty
4 for overall value considering price
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by N8 a Cross Country Rider from Monterey, CA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003
Favorite Trail:Your mom....
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $65.00
Purchased At:JensonUsa
Strengths:Build Quality, Design, Stiffness
Weaknesses:None so far...
Similar Products Used:S-Works Stem 120mm
Bike Setup:'02 M4 Stumpjumper, RaceFace Low-Riser Bar, Deus Stem 100mm, Good n' Evil Grips
Bottom Line:A beautiful, well made stem that performs. This stem is extremely stiff and with the riser bar gave me more climbing power. I was also able to cruise downhill with much more confidence, since the shorter stem placed my weight in the proper location for my suspension. Overall, recommended hands down.

Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by AK a Cross Country Rider from Folsom, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2003
Favorite Trail:Bullards Bar
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $78.00
Purchased At:River at
Strengths:Stiffness, craftmanship, RaceFace quality
Weaknesses:Price
Bike Setup:Singlespeed - RF Alloy Air Riser bar; RF 180 Turbine Cranks; Rholoff chain tensioner; Marzocchi Atom Air Sport fork
Bottom Line:This is the first high quality, aftermarket stem I have purchased. I needed something stiff and strong for my singlespeed as the current stem was a noodle. I am amazed at the difference. This stem provides stiffness and better ride control, far beyond what I imagined. As there is only one gear on this bike, the stiffness in this stem provides me better leverage for griding up the hills. I like this stem so much, I am thinking of putting one on my FS bike. It's hard to beat RaceFace products!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Karl a from York
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $80.00
Purchased At:chainreactioncycles.com
Strengths:Stiff, great clamp design, looks
Weaknesses:weight, not knee friendly.
Similar Products Used:Ritchey WCS
Bottom Line:Great stem- the clamp bit is a real winner. There's absolutely no slippage after each crash and it works well with carbon bars.
Sure it's no lightweight at 189gm (15 deg 110mm), but surely if there's one piece of equipment that should have emphasis on strength it's the stem (and handlebar I guess).
Good range of sizes too.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Scott a Weekend Warrior from Lake Forest, CA. USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Purchased At:The Path Bike Shop
Strengths:Two bolt opposing rear clamp design. And the CNC work on this stem is a work of art!
Weaknesses:None so far
Similar Products Used:Race Face System, Thomson, and many oher brands
Bike Setup:Norco Fluid, Tons O goodies
Bottom Line:I got this stem as a Trade for my Thomson stem that would not hold the steer tube. I love this stem, it stays tight, I like the opossing bolt design, and the four bolt handle bar clap. The stem feels stiff, and I have no worries of it coming loose. If you want a stem that is simple to adjust and stays were you want it, by the Race Face!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Neil Winkelmann a Cross Country Rider from Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $75.00
Purchased At:JensonUSA - Internet
Strengths:Light, cool looks, stiff, fits well, no creaks, quality bolts
Weaknesses:None so far but it is fairly pricy, particularly by the time I pay for it in Aussie dollars (otherwise known as Sth Pacific Pesos) after postage, tax and import duty.
Similar Products Used:Specialised "S-works" forged stem that came standard on my Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:Stumpjumper M4 Pro 2002. Standard except for stem, Easton EC70 seatpost and Braids Jr Bar-ends.
Bottom Line:No problems with this stem. I bought it 'cos I needed a longer one than standard. The fit and finish are outstanding. It is light and stiff and I think it will last. Highly recommended if you are wanting to spend this much $$ on a sweet stem. (No doubt there are cheaper stems that also work well.)
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by K a Weekend Warrior from Fairfax, VA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2002
Favorite Trail:Wakefield, Fountainhead
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $72.00
Purchased At:Universal Cycles
Strengths:Very Stiff! Incredible Looks and light
Weaknesses:None so far
Similar Products Used:Bontrager Race, Titec, Ritchey WCS
Bike Setup:02.5 Ironhorse Hollowpoint, Easton SL bar, Wylder Callisto seat, 75 x 15 Deus stem,everything else stock
Bottom Line:I always thought a stem was a stem, was a stem; nothing much to it. However, as soon as I opened the package, I was absolutely blown away by how well it is made and it actually is a beautiful piece of work! It almost seems like its made out of plastic b/c its so light!

I put it on and it immediately instilled confidence b/c of its stiffness. I know three months isn't that long to really test a product but its doing a great job and if I ever have to buy another stem, it'll be a Deus again.

Overall, I would buy it again and its worth the price.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Spanner a Cross Country Rider from London
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:SDW
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Strengths:looks cool. seems to be very stiff
Weaknesses:unless it was free then its expensive!!! :-)
Similar Products Used:Kore Forged
Bike Setup:Santa Cruz SL. X fly 80's
Bottom Line:I just switched stem from a 100mm 10deg. kore forged to this stem and its stiffened up the front end..
its seems to be well made so it should last the test of time.
When sprinting hard the front seems to twist less.
Must be good!

Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5






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