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Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, Idaho
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | Looks cool. Does what it's supposed to. | | Bike Setup: | Steel Hardtail. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best looking stem out there. I could drop about 100 grams with something else that's just as sturdy but I like the way it blings my bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fooman
a Weekend Warrior
from Paisley, Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Third one from the left | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain reaction cycles | | Strengths: | Easy set up, strength, looks | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Trek non-descript thai special | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6000, Rock Shox, Raceface, Kore, X-Lite, Hope | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic Stem, not a sound, rattle or hum for the last 2 years.
Set it up and left it, it fits my Kore bar perfectly, theres no rust, and its hardly even chipped which is amazing given my frame is on its way out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ivan
a
from C-Springs
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Pancake Rocks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | CBO or Jenson | | Strengths: | Cheap. THese are on closeout everywhere. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Bike Setup: | full rigid | | Bottom Line: | I bought this stem because it was on sale at one of the online stores. You can find them ~ 50% of MSRP. Nice 4 bolt front and 2 bolt stem clamps. Stem has held up well to my SS ways. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ferd
a Weekend Warrior
from Cumming, Ga
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | solid no brainer installation | | Similar Products Used: | Kore Thompson | | Bike Setup: | K2 5000 LT raceface thompson easton mavic | | Bottom Line: | This was great stem. It twisted aprox 12 to 15 deg. I called raceface and the said they never heard of one of these stems twisting. ha da easton ec70 bar it cracked at the interface but did not break. raceface said they would look at the stem and probably replace it. I hope so if not 5 years is a good run | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from OH
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | vultures knob | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | strong, stiff, works | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Kore elite (stripped threads), deus | | 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've used it for 1.5 years and had no problems. stiff and rigid. I actually bought a used one on ebay and then a new one because I liked it so much and could not resist the price. The used one had some rust on the bolts, which are supposedly rust proof? Race face sent me new bolts, what a great company. I've replaced it with the RF Deus though because I needed something shorter on my new bike and had one laying around. You can get these on ebay brand new for a good price too. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eric hadzima
a Cross Country Rider
from rockville md
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | patapsco | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | looks great . avilible in many colors and its a part that you put on and leave alone . the bolts are super strong and wont strip | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | bonty race lite /race , amoba ,ritchy | | Bike Setup: | fisher xtr-xt bonty race tubeless, hot-s,fox talas | | Bottom Line: | great for a rider that wants to make his or her ride
different from another . oh yah there on sale now for like 20 bucks on line | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a Weekend Warrior
from Earth
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Super stiff
No noise | | Weaknesses: | Not one-piece design like Thomson | | Similar Products Used: | Thomson
Ritchey | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ARC | | Bottom Line: | As if another positive review is needed...
When you install a stem and never hear from it again (I mean that literally), you know it works. Combined with the RaceFace bar, it's completely silent. Only wish the stem came as a one-piece design - but when it works this well, I realize I'm nitpicking. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark b.
a Weekend Warrior
from ft wayne, in
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | unblocked! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | RF! Stiff, does not flex; good looks -- "ruggedly handsome" | | Weaknesses: | limited compatability | | Similar Products Used: | RF Prodigy, Profile BOA, OEM crap | | Bike Setup: | motobecane x4b2.0, black fork, xt crank, deore-sunDS-2, profile carbon riser | | Bottom Line: | a perfect match for the bar! there is NO movement in this combo, no noise, nothing but pure transfer of rider input. Light (makes the whole bike feel 2 lb lighter)w/ the carbon bar, and is a pleasure to the fingers (when i roll it in & out of work for commutes, i steer by the stem). After the extra time on this combo, I can only say YEAAHH, BABY YEAAHH!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark b.
a Weekend Warrior
from ft wayne, in, usa
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the one in front of me | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | exotic looks, stiff (so far) | | Weaknesses: | limited success with other bars, works best w/ my profile carbon | | Similar Products Used: | RF prodigy, profile BOA | | Bike Setup: | black fork, profile carbon riser, XT, deore/sun ds-2 | | Bottom Line: | can't flex the stem or the bars! stiff, light (lighter bar/stem combo than my bar alone!). doesn't work near as well w/ the titec bar i have, so be careful of the bar you use with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, oh, USA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | streets | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Looks damn cool, respect from the name alone causes people to tremble in my wake, or perhaps it's the lightning bolts I conjure up from my fingertips to strike down the unworthy... One of the two. | | Weaknesses: | The System stem has a SHORT clamp height on the steer tube- Beware! If you ever want to replace it, think about using shims to make up the difference, or suffer the consequences of needing a new fork, as well, because not many stems will fit afterwards, especially stock and/or cheapie replacements. It's more expensive than most. | | Similar Products Used: | stock crap, stock on Schwinns, stock on Treks, Titec (who hasn't?) | | Bike Setup: | Pre-bankruptcy Schwinn Mesa GSX, with an 'under construction' sign hanging around its neck. '04 marz MX Comp with ETA due in three days! | | Bottom Line: | As a large, 6'3", 275lb man, I can assure you that the pressures I exert on this stem will be greater than anything you can come up with in your wildest imaginations. Even buying this used (very nice condition), I have yet to have a single problem with it, other than needing new spacers to compensate for the shorter clamp height. PLEASE NOTE: stems such as these are aluminum, and have a set amount of torque that they can take before the mounting threads stretch. DO NOT yank on the bolts like an ape- you're being as counterproductive as possible. TO all those who hate this stem because it loosens up in 20 minutes or whatever, you've gone too far already. No amount of grease, or locktite, or praying to your favorite God will help you now. You MIGHT get away with Heli-Coiling the holes and starting over with less torque. Even Heli-coils, though, have torque limits. You do NOT need to crank down on one of these things to get it tight! Max torque should be around 15lbs/ft? It's only a little bolt! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary White
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Old Springs Trail, Marin, Ca | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Surgery, London, UK | | Strengths: | Very strong, quite low weight, no movement or creaking - an excellent clamping system, good range of sizes and degrees of rise | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none apart from price, but you get what you pay for.... | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face Prodigy, Easton EA50 & 70 | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight A (2001 frame), Fox Float RLC 100mm forks, Mavic Crossmax XL wheelset, Panaracer UST Trailblaster tires, Race Face Turbine LP crankset, XT cassette, Sachs PC69 chain, Race Face stem, carbon Monkeylite bars and seat post, Shimano 959 pedals, XTR shifers and mechs, Hope Mini brakeset | | Bottom Line: | Another excellent Race Face product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel
a Weekend Warrior
from Greensboro
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | EBAY | | Strengths: | I never had to think about it | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. but that makes it strong | | Bike Setup: | Airborne,XT,XTR,fox forx | | Bottom Line: | I bought this stem two and half years ago. You know its good when you don't think about it. I have taken it apart to remove the fork and the handler bars several time and i never worried about strippen the bolts. its a good stem | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Grand Forks, ND
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | any singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | srong, looks good | | Weaknesses: | a little spendy if bought new | | Similar Products Used: | titec | | Bike Setup: | Surly 1x1 w/ Z2 X-fly, RaceFace Crankset, XT BB, Surly 1x1 rear hub/freewheel, Mavic rims, Speedplay Frogs, 34:16 gear ratio | | Bottom Line: | great stem all around | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Doble
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$62.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Strong, stiff, relatively light, and looks awesome to boot. | | Weaknesses: | Whatever! | | Similar Products Used: | Thomson Elite | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y2K 7000, XT hollowtech splined cranks, XT cassette, XT shifter/lever set, XTR V-Brakes, XTR rear and front der., Race Face Air Alloy Flat Bars and Good n'Evil grips, Cane Creek Ergo Control bar ends, Mavic CrossRide Wheels, Race Face XY seatpost, Race Face System Stem, Selle Itallia Prolink TransAm saddle, Time ATAC pedals, Salsa Skewers and Lip-Lock seat collar, SRAM PC-99 chain, Hutchinson Python Gold front tire, Hutchinson Mosquito Gold rear tire, hell, the only stock component left is the metal flake yellow frame...! | | Bottom Line: | Excellent stem. And since I previously used a Thomson Elite, it really had enormous shoes to fill. Absolutely no creaking or noises (lightly greased all screws and threads with Finish Line Teflon Grease before installation, obviously). Very stiff, makes me feel very secure no matter what type of terrain I tackle. RaceFace has earned my respect! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
grant
a Cross Country Rider
from sale, victoria,australia
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Strengths: | Looks good, and finishes my bike with its other raceface bits. | | Weaknesses: | It creaks and moans and makes more noise than the rest of my bike and my mate's bike put together. | | Similar Products Used: | Syncros, Azonic | | Bike Setup: | 80mm Hardtail (Reyolds 853 now Ti) | | Bottom Line: | The stem seems to work fine. It just makes so much bloody noise. I tried to fault find my front end creaks and ruled out the stem because it was from "raceface". What a joke. It takes more than a good name to be successful for the long term. If this stem performed as advertised I would certainly recommend it to my friends and also buy another myself, but it doesn't. Raceface just lost another half dozen potential sales. That doesn't make good sense to anyone, even a top canadian company like Raceface. They must have known from R and D that their stem design creaks, or why else does the new high-end stem design look so different. Does it work? Convince me Raceface. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | Seems strong | | Weaknesses: | begins to flex and allows the handlebar to creak, even when installed with a torque wrench. | | Similar Products Used: | Titec, Ritchey, Bontrager, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Strong Frame, XT Group for the most part, assorted cool stuff. | | Bottom Line: | This is my second review. I put a lot of miles on this stem, and only switched because I had to when I put a 100mm fork on the bike. When I put on the Titec Stem the handlebar creak disappeared, and I noticed a lot less flex in the handlebars.
I wouldn't buy another Raceface stem for this reason only.
So far so good with the Titec. Stiffer and lighter than the Raceface, and a more secure fit with my carbon handlebar (load is spread over a much larger faceplate). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BEAUX DUKE
a Weekend Warrior
from HAZZARD
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$75.00 | | Purchased At: | THE BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | extremely stiff, easy to swap bars if needed, no welds so really is 120mm by 5 deg rise bcs no heat cycle and/or sloppy welding to change things | | Weaknesses: | squeeks and squeeks, not too light | | Similar Products Used: | stock specialized which failed catastrophically | | Bike Setup: | 98' stumper all xtr, king, r face, thompson, etc | | Bottom Line: | this has been a very reliable stem and has only started squeeking the past 8 mths or so-can't really complain aftr 3 yrs some of which i rode quite a bit and i weigh 205 lbs-5 flamers because i'd buy another one but 4 overall bcs of the squeeking-i really feel that its a good idea to buy a stem that hasn't been welded bcs i've seen several stems at the shop that were supposed to be the same rise and many were off including one thats made by a hi-end ti frame bulder whose name rhymes with shoots!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Danault
a Racer
from F
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | L | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$74.00 | | Purchased At: | super.com | | Strengths: | Strength, good reputation | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000, Mavic Crossrock, Pythons tubeless, race face system, easton Monkeylite, Crank Bros egg beaters, race face crank | | Bottom Line: | No creaking here, good strength and design good reputation, no flex noticed at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Downhiller
from Denver
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | stiff, strong, no creeks, looks sweet! | | Weaknesses: | the only negative thing about this stem is the decals. they don't last more than a couple of weeks. nothing to worry about | | Similar Products Used: | various other DH stems | | Bike Setup: | Bullit FR/DH raceface everything | | Bottom Line: | This is a stem you can strap on and forget about. I love when I never have to worry about a component coming loose or breaking, and that's the case with this stem. Quality components with great customer service...I have no problem shelling out the extra cash for that. Great investment, I give it five flamin turds!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andreas KLAUSER
a Cross Country Rider
from Feldafing
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | radsport rösch munich | | Strengths: | Design | | Weaknesses: | decals not enduring, else see below | | Similar Products Used: | Syntace, Easton, Syncros, Icon, Ritchey, Kore | | Bike Setup: | Hot Chili Zymotic Hardtail, Manitou X-Vert Super, Shimano XT, Mavic Ceramic 521, Magura Quick Silver, raceface cranks | | Bottom Line: | It looks very nice. Eh, but: it makes noises even with a 560mm XC bar; now I use it with a race face low riser, and it still speaks to me. And it is not as stiff as some others are (Easton, Syntace). At least it stays in the position I fixed it. While the race face cranks are definitely super, the stem is not, sorry to say. If you want a stem with similar messures and optimal performance, try to get hold of a Syntace Mega Force. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian D'Souza
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, IL, USA
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Good looks, no welds | | Weaknesses: | small steerer clamp | | Bottom Line: | A great looking stem that is easy to install. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a
from Austria
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Very strong and stable.
cool look, cnc-machined
| | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | Trek Fuel 100 Fully, complete XT, Manitou X-Vert Air... | | Bottom Line: | This stem is the f...kin best ive ever seen.
to all the people who have problems because the stem gets loose after a while... this may have to do with your steerer.
I got both the SYStem and the air alloy riser and it fits perfect.
I check the screws app. every month (after heavy riding).
Easy install.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James H
a Cross Country Rider
from Swansea, Wales
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | afan agoed | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | Strengths: | Looks...err...that's it. | | Weaknesses: | Oh yeah. It creaks, squeals, then comes off the steerer. | | Similar Products Used: | loads of other stems, some expensive, some cheap. All noteable for quietly getting on with their job. | | Bike Setup: | Pace RC200F8 frame, Pace EVOIII forks, RaceFace thermoplastic headset, Hope, Shimano XT etc | | Bottom Line: | Are Race Face takin' the flippin' piss? So maybe some of them work, but what has happened to their quality control? There was never a problem with stem design, but those Race Face boys have successfully made the lamest stem I have ever had the displeasure to use. I suppose it manages to hold the handlebars (Race Face ones) on, but what about the steerer? It always loosens after about half an hour of riding. I tried taking it apart and greasing the dove tail and after all that palavar ('just tap out the bolts' yeah, right)it stays tight for 40mins but creaks instead. Absolute, unmitigated tat. If it cost $20 it would be bad, but at $100??????????????????????????????????? To make things worse, I've cut down my steerer to fit it and as it has such a low steerer clamp hight I'm going to have to get another one as nothing else I know will fit. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Downhiller
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Kelso - natural selection trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | the bike zone | | Strengths: | light weight; durable; no creaking or slipping of the handlebar and steerer tube; damn good looks [black powdercoat]. | | Weaknesses: | I have the DH SYSem, it is so short that it doesnt have enough room on the main tube to etch the raceface logo on it, so it has the white "RF" sticker on it, which is starting to peel off - OH WELL NO BIGGIE :) | | Similar Products Used: | raceface system 120mm length, specialized sworks titanium, various taiwanese threadless stems. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 brodie holeshot, raceface DH 70mm system, psylo sl, hayes, xtr, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This stem is a component you can bolt on and never have to worry about again. it never loosens and it never creaks, no matter how hard I ride. I weigh 195lbs by the way.
Its the type of component that you dont have to upgrade ever, just like my thomson seatpost.
I've searched around for the ideal length/rise in a stem for a while now, and since I do a lot of drops/jumps/technical/or just plain urban fun, I wanted a shorter more responsive stem. The 70mm length and 15 degree rise is just perfect! I will always buy another RaceFace product again.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dane
a Weekend Warrior
from Bedford, IN
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bicycle Outfitters | | Strengths: | None | | Weaknesses: | Flex flex flex | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized, BMX stems | | Bike Setup: | Intense Uzzi SLX | | Bottom Line: | This stem makes all kinds of creeking and popping noises. This stem flexes more than any stem I have ever used. The last stem I used before installing this one was a relatively cheap and generic (stock specialized fsr enduro) stem that did not creek and did not flex as bad as this stem does. I thought RaceFace was supposed to make quality components for freeriding ?? You cant always believe the hype surrounding a product, I guess. I would not recommend it to anyone who jumps or wheelie drops more than 1 foot high. Needless to say, I am very disapointed in this product. I will try a Kore B52 next. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ripley Ryder
a Racer
from Possum Trot, Arkansas USA
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Uphill singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | I need to sell this stem because it is the wrong size for my new bike. | | Weaknesses: | It is Black and in great shape.
It is 120 x 15. | | Similar Products Used: | Paypal accepted. | | Bike Setup: | $45 shipped | | Bottom Line: | email me at RipleyRyder@excite.com for more info. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Strengths: | It looks cool and is rather light considering it's apparent strength. | | Weaknesses: | It can't clamp the bar tight enough. It uses an odd size of bolt that I cannot find | | Similar Products Used: | Syncros hinged, Control tech, Raceface Prodigy, | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Rocky mountain Blizzard | | Bottom Line: | got this thing on sale for half price. It was missing two washers, so they grabbed them from another stem. The instructions said I needed two brass washers or I would crush my handlebar. I put the washers between the faceplate and the stem body and followed the torque specs and everything when installing it. I rode it hard for a week. Then, when I was honking on my barends on a commute, the bar slipped an inch. So, I tightened it, it still slipped. So I tightened it until it would tighten no more and snap! one of my handlebar bolts went. I cannot find the right length anywhere, except at raceface, and they are taking their sweet time sending a couple over. Raceface said they stopped using the brass washers ages ago and that it should work fine without them. But their instructions were saying otherwise. I am running the prodigy stem right now and am having no trouble. I think this stem's chilli rating could go up alot if they updated their instuctions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 70.00
