The power of the bioval design. The massive differentially tapered hard-drawn 6061T6 aircraft aluminum extension tube absorbs the most brutal terrain while delivering awesome power transfer and control during the most grueling climbs.
Simpler installation. Thanks to a traditional star-fangled nut.
The indestructible Syncros hinge. Featuring a bombproof nickel stainless steel hinge pin design for lightning fast bar switches from straight to downhill bars.
Strengths: sweet Looks..Hinge system looks sweet, Stiff, Responsive
Weaknesses: Peel-off-stickers...its a pre 98 model so its pretty damn good except the cheapo top cap
Bottom Line:
It s light. It works as well as i needed when i was racing xc. It held my handlebars on.. it did twist around my steertube in a wreck once..but other than that its been great...THank you pre 98 syncros! I have seen the post 98 ones and you can tell the quality inst near as good...BOO BOO the funny thin is i think they still use the exact same top caps though..
Bike Setup: its been on XC 98 s-works hard tail full xtr manitou sx-ti, mavic 517's and its been on a 2000 s-works fsr-xc with full xtr. manitou mars super mavic 517's
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Submitted by
calnhob
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2002
Strengths: Hinge design. Pinch bolt. Silver front hinge with black stem body.
Bottom Line:
This stem came with the GT 2.0 I bought and has been a very nice stem. I have the flat top which came with an alloy top cap so I'm not plagued with the angled plastic cap that others have. The "Syncros" label is not a sticker and has been holding it's look very well. The hinge design makes putting on and taking off handle bar very easy. I havent had any problems with the pinch bolt either. Overall i really like the stem that i have but i know what others are talking about when they complain. Syncros did improve their stem a lot with the one i have so you have to look for it and not the angled top that others have.
Submitted by
Saby R
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002
Strengths: Very Still, I have not detected any torque, good name for pre-98 stuff (mine is :-), aluminium cap, very cool look
Weaknesses: Sticker peel off (that does not make any differece to the performance but then again it is sure not an issue with a Thompson...)
Bottom Line:
I bought this stem in 1997, to this day I have absolutly no complaint regarding performance. I do not have the one with the hinge so I can't put riser bar (back in 1997 riser weren't that popular). When I bought it, it was the best and it performed the way it was intended,I am a very heave rider (not a racer)and I really like this stuff. I will evantually replace it with a Thompson at some time but only to put a riser.
Similar Products Used: El Cheapo OEM Rocky Mountain
Bike Setup: Rocky Mountain O2 Race, full XTR, Syncros steam, post and headset, Race Face Next LP, SUN Rhyno Lite
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Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from College Station
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002
Strengths: Hinged Face
Weaknesses: That pinch bolt stinks!!! My front end will not stay together any more. I tighten it up and compress my shock a couple of times and, hey!, it's all loosened up again. And that plastic nylon cap that they claim is supposed to be stronger than a comparable metal one. Horse crap. Only if you call it comparable in the way of cost. And everyone is right, the stickers aren't worth a darn.
Bottom Line:
Get something else. It's not worth the money. Even for the cool hinge face thing.
Similar Products Used: My original threaded Zoom stem
Bike Setup: Bridgestone MB-2 with full LX, XT rear and a SuperFly Z2
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Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001
Strengths: looks cool stiff simplicity, ease of use
Weaknesses: plastic top cap cheap decals slow death
Bottom Line:
the previous reviewer is correct--syncros stuff made after 98 is not much good.
this stem did give me almost two years of good, hard use though. the only real negatives were the two broken top caps--which should'nt even be on a part in this price range. somehow the brass pich bolt on the side got funky as well and eventually would'nt clamp the stem to the steerer tube.
in comparison, the relatively cheap control tech stem on my other bike is still trouble free. my snycros (sans top cap) languishes in my Old Parts Drawer.
so far so good on the seatposts, though.
don't bother buying one of these things. even if the plastic top cap breaks for whatever reason, a cheap plastic part does not belong on a component of this caliber.
Bike Setup: sc superlight xtr 25.5 lbs dog dick red, no stickers.
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Submitted by
carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from san antonio
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2001
Strengths: -light -stiffer than a hard-on -it just looks cool
Weaknesses: -i guess the stickers....but who really cares?
Bottom Line:
ok, first, if the Syncros parts you have came on a GT, they are junk. end of story. Syncros was purchased WAY back in '98.
second, many on-line shops are selling Syncros OEM parts as aftermarket. buyer beware....it's not made in Canada.
third, i know, for a fact, that Peter Hamilton (president) and Leanna Trogi (VP) left Syncros in early 2001. Schwinn/Gt basically said that Syncros parts were to expensive to make in Canada so they moved producion off shore. thanks corporate America!
forth, as mentioned in other posts about Syncros products, just because you work in a shop, or know someone who works in a shop, or call yourself a mechanic, DOESN'T mean you, or or your buddy are QUALIFIED. i've been a mechanic for a few years now and am close to getting my certification but i can say, you guys would be surprised at the kinda folks some shops hire. kids mostly, just looking for some summer work. i have stories that would boggle the mind!
fifth, the nylon cap was used because Syncros wanted ammunition when some half-wit called up and said "my top cap broke". there are several reasons why that thing breaks. improper preperation of a steerer tube, improper torque, improper intallation, improper adjustment, and non-qualified individuals.
sixth, Syncros USED to make some awesome stuff. that ended in '98. do the math.
seventh, their customer service used to be just fine. after '98......
eighth, i agree with Tim from the UK, i can't even begin to count, how many ham fisted dudes i know, who love to work on their bikes.
ninth, i would NOT buy any Syncros parts from anyone unless i knew, without a doubt, that it was a pre-98 part. no exceptions.
tenth, go to school, learn to read, then, read the instuctions. half, yes, half of all broken or worn parts come from folks who didn't read the instructions.
how many rebuild their SIDs every 100 riding hours? i hear "oh they just say that so you will buy small parts", yeah ok, well, we'll see when your fork starts to leak air. OR maybe it'll never leak and you'll wear the finish off the stanchions from not replacing the bushings.
Similar Products Used: stems listed in previous post WAY down.
Bike Setup: Litespeed Obed
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Submitted by
Isaac
a Cross Country Rider
from keene,Tx USA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001
Strengths: bi-ovalized tubing is some of the strongest out there. love the smooth pinch bolt system, saves the knees on tough out-of-the-saddle climbs. looks very beefy but is extemely light weight.
Weaknesses: yes the cheapo stickers come off very easy but its not the stickers that get you where you want to go and besides the stem is stylish enough without any logos. I have an older version without the hinged front plate and that makes for a tough installation but what the heck its fun working on your bike,not as much fun as riding but fun nonetheless.
Bottom Line:
i've never had any issues with flex, either from the control tech or from this stem but at 155 lbs I don't expect to either. the stem works great if you carefully follow the installation instructions. mine was used and did not come with instructions but it wasn't that hard to figure out. it would be very nice if an aftermarket aluminum top cap were made and put out for sale but just be careful with the composite one and all will go well.all in all I think this is a great stem and for the price I couldn't beat it. only time will tell if i really got a great deal. if you are one who pays attention to details and instructions and still likes high quality parts get this stem, however if you wrench every bolt on your bike as tight as it can go, just for safety don't get this stem.
Bike Setup: marzocchi Z4 80mm, xtr rear, stx front, lx hollowtech cranks,easton racelite bar(superlite), xt laced w/wtb speed rear, xt laced w/mavic 517 front, koski brakes, cheapo stratos rear shock which i'd love to replace, frame is a DBR V-Link only stock part is the rear shock which sucks
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Submitted by
JC Brownfield
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2001
Strengths: Good price, apparently adequate design and construction
Weaknesses: None so far. Installed and torqued as per directions on my Heckler and have a few hundred miles of the best trails in the West now (SF bay area, Downieville, Moab) and no complaints. Only weenies complain about the damn logos; if you read a bunch of these stem reviews obviously this impresses more people than the use of the installation instructions and a torque wrench! Keep the rubber side down...
Bottom Line:
Never had a problem with Syncros seatposts, but hopefully GT/Schwinn/Pacific will continue to support previously sold products...but for $35 I'm willing to experiment!
Submitted by
alain was bon...
a Cross Country Rider
from ottawa ont. canada eh
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2001
Strengths: makes a great decoration, or you can use the decal letters on the side to write other cool stuff the front looks like a face so if you have kids you could make puppet shows...
Weaknesses: everything broke, and nobody really takes care of Syncros anymore. i cant get a top cap, rode the thing for 3 weeks, took a spill plastic top cap broke and now, nor GT or Sycros (Syncros bought out by GT) will get me a new one. All the bolts rusted and striped (no other bolt on my bike has done so). Cant believe they sell a 200$(can) stem with a dime top cap and rusty bolts. oh yea the front lock mec. looks like it'll fall apart on you, so i kept staring at it...
Bottom Line:
It's great if your gonna ride TANDEMS, when i went to get mine replaced they told me that there was nothing to do, everything was discontinued, i had to go back and tell them GT now owns syn. + i'm banned from the store for well letting them know what i think. if your going to get one, buy ten top caps and three sets of hardware cause you'll need'em. Called Gt in cali they gave me the run around(25$ phone call), 200$ in the garbage, who cares i like my old Bontrager stem and new FSR better than my new Syncros and old GT tequesta. i'll never touch GT again. i'd go "-" on the chilly's if i could... (had problem with race face stuff, they sent me a new one before i sent them my busted item, that's service! that's why i'd pay the extra 30$ and get canadian race face)
Similar Products Used: a Mc Donalds Straw, or maybee two
Bike Setup: Ground control FSR Comp/ Fox Van. rear shock/ XT/ Magura hs33/ bomber z3/ Race Face and Bontrager components
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Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001
Strengths: Used to have a good (Canadian) name but I'm unsure why
Weaknesses: No longer has a good name period Is not made in Vancouver but offshore by GT Doesn't work
Bottom Line:
The product doesn't work. We're not talking rocket science here. The stem simply has to clamp the steerer tube tight enough so that the rider can safely steer the bicycle via the handlebars and survive a few crashes in the whole process. I had the older Canadian stem and it too did not work well. The dumb angled top cap was a pain as my replacement plastic top cap also cracked and fell apart with the headset still loose. No other top caps work on the Syncros angled top stem. The single pinch bolt also did not hold the steerer tube tight and the stem would slip at the most inopportune moments. Poor overall design really and as a result, I have gone to the very simple Kalloy stem with a simple clamping arrangement. Works like a charm. Works even better than RaceFace's dovetail clamp setup...but that is a different review. Avoid this product like the plague! To add insult to injury the damn thing is super expensive!
Strengths: Stiff, perfect fit for me and my bike (80mm/25deg). Very well made.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
Did the other guys on here read the instructions for installing this stem? I guess not, 'cos if you set the bolts to the correct torque, it works fine. Over do it and you'll damage the steerer clamp. Doh!
Submitted by
R ANDERSON
a Cross Country Rider
from BUFFALO
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001
Strengths: lOOKS GOOD
Weaknesses: SO MANY, FIRST THE TOP CAP....THEN THE LOOSNESS ON A ALUMINUM STEER TUBE...NOT COOL!!!!!!!!OK PRETTY LAME DECALS
Bottom Line:
THE WHOLE TOP CAP THING....JUNK I STILL CANT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I HATE IT NOT TO MENTION SYNCHROS GIVING THE OK TO GT TO MOVE PRODUCTION OFFSHORE SO GT EQUIPED BIKES ARE TAIWAN SYNCHROS PARTS WITH NO WERE THE QUALITY...I HAVE A PRE GT STEM AND EVEN THATS NOT TO GREAT....VERY DISAPOINTED...GET A THOMSON
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001
Strengths: Nice look, saves knees better than the Kore I have on there now.
Weaknesses: The screws all stripped out on me, not because of my hex set, but because of the less than perfect metal. Also, the plastic cap is a dissapointment, broke multiple time, big wait for replacement.
Bottom Line:
I gave up on this stem after perhaps the third time the weak plastic cap broke. I hear that these parts used to be made in canada, now made in taiwan. I must have gotten the taiwan model, because things went wrong constantly, and replacement parts were hard to get, and took a long time. I would rather ride my $2500 bike with a new (better) Kore stem than not ride it all because the cap broke. The first time it broke, I didnt expect or notice it and noticed after a week of riding on a loose setup that the cap was broken. Obviously its not cool to ride on a loose setup, especially with a $500 fork! I wouldnt reccomend Syncros stems to anyone unless they have ridden on them and haven't broken them, because that way they are probably a light rider.
Weaknesses: the stinkin plastic cap and its non standard shape
Bottom Line:
Don't listen to the snotty limey right below; hes so absorbed in his superiority that he doesnt even take the time to read people's posts right.
Yes, plastic caps are designed to break under high torque to save your more expensive parts from damage. BUT, This doesn't excuse the pathetic implimentation Syncros decided to use. Several days ago I was tuning my new bike and after adjusting the stem, I start to tighten the cap; it promptly broke under _minimal_ pressure. This exceptionally weak piece would've been a small but acceptable disapointment IF i could've found the damn piece at a local bike shop. But no, Syncros had to use a specially curved cap, which means I now have to wait on Syncros Customer service to ship a stupid cap so I can ride my $4000 bike (like a post far below).
In conclusion, a non standard, weak cap essentially undermines this otherwise nice stem. Sadly this alone should make you want to stay away from this stem, unless you look forward to a week of downtime when it breaks..
Submitted by
Speedy BoB
a Weekend Warrior
from Cambridge, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001
Strengths: Strong, stiff, light.
Weaknesses: Expensive in UK. (£100-£110)
Bottom Line:
The only reason I am submitting this review (as I do not wish to know the oppinion of a load of dumb yanks) is to inform y'all that the reason syncros fit a plastic top cap, as do many other companies, is to inhibit ham-fisted, inbred, overweight, undereducated yanks (98.74% of the population) from damaging other more expensive parts of the bike. If you break the top cap then you have over-tightened it. Simple as that; what's your problem?
