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Submitted by
All hail the mighty beefrod Beefrod
a Racer
from Mobile, Alabama USA
Date Reviewed: January 15, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | seagull creek tril, MT | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Eastern Shore Schwinn | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | s-works, Thompson, etc... | | 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 | | 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.. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
calnhob
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Single Tracks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came with GT Idrive 2.0 | | Strengths: | Hinge design.
Pinch bolt.
Silver front hinge with black stem body. | | Similar Products Used: | Thomson | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Saby R
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Pierre Primeau | | 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...) | | 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 | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from College Station
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lake Bryan | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | My original threaded Zoom stem | | Bike Setup: | Bridgestone MB-2 with full LX, XT rear and a SuperFly Z2 | | Bottom Line: | Get something else. It's not worth the money. Even for the cool hinge face thing. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mike b
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodom in the North
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | boggs | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | park cyclery sf | | Strengths: | looks cool
stiff
simplicity, ease of use
| | Weaknesses: | plastic top cap
cheap decals
slow death | | Similar Products Used: | control tech, titec | | Bike Setup: | sc superlight xtr 25.5 lbs dog dick red, no stickers. | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from san antonio
Date Reviewed: December 15, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | still flat creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | the BW, when i worked there. | | Strengths: | -light
-stiffer than a hard-on
-it just looks cool | | Weaknesses: | -i guess the stickers....but who really cares? | | Similar Products Used: | stems listed in previous post WAY down. | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Obed | | 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.
i'll give it 5 chilis for pre-98 parts.
live and let ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Isaac
a Cross Country Rider
from keene,Tx USA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | dinosaur valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Southwest Golf & Sport | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | 130mm control tech | | 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 | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JC Brownfield
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco CA USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | 4 u to find | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint.com | | 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... | | Similar Products Used: | Trek OEM stuff, Profile, Titec, Moots (all successfully retired except the Moots and the Trek OEM on my other rides) | | Bike Setup: | SC Heckler XT kit, Manitou Xvert Super/Fox Float RC | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alain was bon...
a Cross Country Rider
from ottawa ont. canada eh
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | tommy $*#$ lefevre | | 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$(can) stem with a dime top cap and rusty bolts. oh yea the front lock mec. looks like it'll fall apart on you, so i kept staring at it...
| | Similar Products Used: | a Mc Donalds Straw, or maybee two | | Bike Setup: | Ground control FSR Comp/ Fox Van. rear shock/ XT/ Magura hs33/ bomber z3/ Race Face and Bontrager components | | Bottom Line: | It's great if your gonna ride TANDEMS, when i went to get mine replaced they told me that there was nothing to do, everything was discontinued, i had to go back and tell them GT now owns syn. + i'm banned from the store for well letting them know what i think. if your going to get one, buy ten top caps and three sets of hardware cause you'll need'em. Called Gt in cali they gave me the run around(25$ 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) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey (Kalloy probably)
Kalloy (excellent stem)
RaceFace SYStem
Specialized (Kalloy I'm sure) | | Bike Setup: | Aluminum steerer - Z1 Dropoff
Rocky Element Race
Ritchey Logic Headset | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain Reaction | | 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! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
R ANDERSON
a Cross Country Rider
from BUFFALO
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | jOHNNYS BIKE SHOP | | Strengths: | lOOKS GOOD | | Weaknesses: | SO MANY, FIRST THE TOP CAP....THEN THE LOOSNESS ON A ALUMINUM STEER TUBE...NOT COOL!!!!!!!!OK PRETTY LAME DECALS | | Similar Products Used: | RACE FACE (ALSO A DUD) | | Bike Setup: | ELLSWORTH TRUTH NO SHIMANO | | 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Came stock on bike | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Kore Elite stem, yellow. Trek stock stem, threaded. | | Bike Setup: | XCR-3000, Shimano XTR drivetrain, Psylo Race shock, Kore Elite stem, Clipless SPD pedals, full suspension SID shock. | | 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.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a
from Oakland, CA
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | it looks nice, good fashion appeal | | Weaknesses: | the stinkin plastic cap and its non standard shape | | Similar Products Used: | Ctrl Tech, other stuff | | Bike Setup: | Dean Ti softtail, XTR, Spox Wheelsets | | 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.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Speedy BoB
a Weekend Warrior
from Cambridge, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Thetford forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong, stiff, light. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive in UK. (£100-£110) | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap stuff from a handful of companies, all obviously made in the same factory in Taiwan. | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar X, stock, it's a beauty! | | 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? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Klauser
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | rabe | | Strengths: | very stiff, bar clamp. | | Weaknesses: | plastic cap,decals, wedgenut | | Similar Products Used: | easton ea70, syntace VRO, V2 | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9900 oclv, xtr, Magura 10th, tune whizz wheels. | | Bottom Line: | The overall design and especially the bar clamp is perfect. The thing is a beauty, and the bar feels well in the broad clamp, too, I am quite sure. The fixing of the wedgenut and exact placing the stem on the steerer tube with that plastic cap is a pain in the neck. I is nearly useless in the state it is sold. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roland Werth
a Cross Country Rider
from Darmstadt, Germany
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Frankenstein | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Hibike Bär KG, Kronberg | | Strengths: | Stiff
relatively lightweight
looks fine | | Weaknesses: | decals
screws | | Similar Products Used: | Taiwanese stems that come with bikes, Procraft | | Bike Setup: | Scott Yecora 20,5 w/ SID XC, XT all, Mavic 517, Flite Titanium, Syncros seatpost | | Bottom Line: | The decals are poor, but I sealed them myself with some clear tape, so nothing can scrub them away. Works fine. The installation of the wedgenut was easy - after I built my own installation tool as described in the manual. Glued into the steerer tube w/ Loctite it's bombproof. The topcap is a bit deformed, but thats normal.
When the topcap tends to be broken, then your steerer tube is just not long enough.
Could be more lightweight (like Kore stems and Extralite), thats why just 4 chilis.
I would like to change the screws from Inbus to Torx. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil T
a Cross Country Rider
from San Francisco, CA, US
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Kilmacaogue,Dublin,IRL | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | airbomb.com | | Strengths: | Looks great, strong design. | | Weaknesses: | Keeps coming loose. | | Similar Products Used: | Some Trek system 1, SR | | Bike Setup: | Sunn Exact, Marz Z2. | | Bottom Line: | My Cap has not broken, though it does look dodgy when I am tightening it. I know about backing off after you tighten the clincher but as has been mentioned previously this clincher does not stay clinched and 10 minutes sounds about right for the time needed for it to perform its Houdini act. Thats a shame considering how well it looks. Come to think of it the bike did come with a stock steel steerer so now things are making sence. Still, b4 I damage my aluminum steerer i think I will look for a new stem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alberto Juan van Lennep
a Cross Country Rider
from Utr. Netherlands
Date Reviewed: December 18, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Monthermé (NF) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop (distributor Vertex sucks) | | Strengths: | Looks | | Weaknesses: | - Stem works loose (within 10 minutes)
- Decals
- Plastic top cap
- Cotter (who designed this, where does this guy ride) | | Similar Products Used: | Contol Tech, Specialized, Ritchey, Race Face, Ringé | | Bike Setup: | Sram 9.0 SL, Sid XC, XT, XTR, Syncros (post and headset), Race Face (yes I've dumped the stem), X517 | | Bottom Line: | There's no way to get this thing work the way it should, it comes loose within 10 minutes. No one should buy this product.
Absolutly no service what so ever from Benelux distributor Vertex. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AcunaMatada
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX.
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | New Light | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | OEM item | | Strengths: | -Syncros reputation | | Weaknesses: | -Plastic top cap....what the hell were they thinking?
-Sloppy welds | | Similar Products Used: | -Ringle
-Tioga
-CODA | | Bike Setup: | Fully custom i-drive | | Bottom Line: | I have no real complaints or raves about this stem. It simply does its job. However, I can see the plastic top cap being a problem in the future. I wouldn't recommend it for that reason alone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john beletic
a Downhiller
from wyevale
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | 3 stage | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | looks | | Weaknesses: | flex,flex,flex,flex,flex,cracking noise that no grease will fix, made in taiwan like the rest of there product line up. | | Similar Products Used: | race face, control tech | | Bike Setup: | rocky mountain blizzerd, rm6 dh | | Bottom Line: | junk no one should buy syncros products not even light wieght beginners. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ron kraft
a Cross Country Rider
from jena
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | some... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | look`s not that bad | | Weaknesses: | the whole damn thing... | | Similar Products Used: | kore lite stem | | Bike Setup: | sunn xircuit-un,sram 9.0,avid brakes,marzocchi z2bam light fork | | Bottom Line: | there was no way to get this damn thing fixed right on the marzocchi z2,everytime we fixed it,the stem worked loose after 10 minutes of riding...it´s now replaced by a kore stem and there´s no problem anymore...you shouldn´t buy this if you have an aluminium steer tube on your fork | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Joshua Tree, CA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks cool, well built except for..(see below) | | Weaknesses: | Yes the top cap broke the first time I tightened it. This came stock on my 2000 GT XCR. The stem worked loose after the first ride. YES ...I loosened the bolt on the side of the stem first. I had just taken up slack and about a half turn more (there was still a gap between it and the head set)when the F@#$^'n thing broke. Plastic may be a bad choice for this part of a otherwise quality component. | | Bottom Line: | Syncros and GT should fix this thing before everyone starts selling them on e-bay "as-is" | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Lütken
a Weekend Warrior
from Ski, Norway
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything gnarly | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Stiff, looks good, won't break, that hinge system is "tha bomb" | | Weaknesses: | polished finish looked until I'd ridden it through one puddle... A stem (i.e. a couple of welded together Aluminium parts & some allen screws) this price should NOT come with a plastic top cap! what's up with the poor decals? | | Similar Products Used: | those unnamed stems that come with your bike, and a Specialized Alu unit | | Bike Setup: | 16" Kona AA, Kona bar, 135mm/15deg rise | | Bottom Line: | I bought this stem to compensate for a bike that was a bit too small for my preference (an achy back told me to buy a new stem or stop mountainbiking...)
Lets be honest: a stem is a stem is a stem. pretty much anything will do, but this is were fashion comes into play. Syncros stems are some of the coolest, burliest ones on the market (and I bet they sell a bunch of them just on that) I'll be the first to admit I bought the Syncros just to get one step closer to "bike fashion nirvana" And here is where Syncros (or should I say GT) should listen carefully: a fashion product like this stem should have a set of decals that DID NOT fall off after you ride your bike once and then wash it...
When it comes to the top cap I have to be honest: Mine have not broken. this is probably due to the fact that I have installed and maintained my headset properly: first you make sure the bolt(s) on the side of the stem are pretty loose, then tighten the top cap carefully, until there is no more play in the headset, then and ONLY THEN do you tighten the bolt(s) on the side of the stem! An aluminium top cap adds the extra flair to the stem though, and will only reinforce that "indestructable" feel given by it's extraordinary stiffness (check out mr. Bontragers rants on the subject by checking out: http://www.bontrager.com/rants/rant_0014_11_01_1998.html)
If Syncros/GT would sort out these few minor quirks they'd have the best damn stem on the market! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will
a
from Ft. Collins CO
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Well, the aluminum part of the product is its only strength. | | Weaknesses: | Stupid, d*mn plastic top cap is broken! I guess these things are about as rare as platinum because I sure can't find one anywhere, even while working in the industry and searching all over. | | Similar Products Used: | RaceFace, Specialized, Azonic | | Bike Setup: | Custom steel hardtail | | Bottom Line: | The negative reviews are right in this case, Syncros customer service is among the worst in the industry. I ordered a top cap from Syncros (I work in a shop) and some replacement stickers (yeah they chip right off!) and having paid for the parts expected to recieve them. Wrong. No parts and a week after I ordered it I find out they went belly up and sold out to GT. I was really pissed because I had ordered stuff from their sales rep before and had good experiences. I guess GT pretty much just bought the name, I sure we'll see some lovely Taiwan sweatshop-made parts in the near future. I ride RaceFace now (yes I know they have Taiwan-made parts too). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from San Antonio, Texas
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Flat Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light, stiff, flex free, wide clamp.
Cool looks and cotter bolt.
| | Weaknesses: | Whats' up with Syncros' customer sevice? | | Similar Products Used: | Control Tech, Icon, Bontrager. | | Bike Setup: | 98 Litespeed, 98 Judy SL, Syncros stuff throughout. | | Bottom Line: | The new cotter system won't crush the thin aluminum steerers on SIDs.
I dig the powder coat black finish and the clamp is wide if ya decide to use Ti bars.
What can I say....good stuff.
I knocked one chili off for customer service. I just wanted some stickers. :( | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geir
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale, CA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bella Vista in Montebello Open Space Preserve, Santa Cruz Mountains CA | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Light, Stiff, Looks good when new, Good Hinge | | Weaknesses: | Cheap "S ncr s" sticker + that ridiculous plastic cap that makes the whole thing worthless | | Bike Setup: | Moots YBB, XTR, Syncros Post/Stem, Mavic 517 Ceramic, Richey A/O-Bite, SID | | Bottom Line: | DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR - DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!
When that cheap plastic cap breakes, you are left stranded. In this case it was my fault as the cotter had welded itself to the steerer and I tried to thighten my headset without breaking it loose first - I am willing to pay for a new cap, this is not a warranty claim.
So, I have spent one week trying to get hold of that 50 cent part that prevents me from riding my $4000 bike - AND I CAN'T GET IT!! Since Syncros went bankrupt last year and was acquired by someone else, there's no support phone, just e-mail - and THEY DO NOT REPLY. My preferred bike store, Cambria Bicycle Outfitter, gave me a phone number, but all I get is a voicemail - and guess what - NO REPLIES THERE EITHER. Customer support is not bad, IT IS NONEXISTENT!! CBO further tells me that they have been waiting for a similar cap for two months. I can't stay off my bike for two months! I die if I don't ride for two days. I have a KORE stem on order now. Unless Syncros fixes this in a graceful manner (I don't see how they could) I am done doing any business whatsoever with these guys.
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Submitted by
mike brown
a Racer
from san francsico
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | china camp state park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | stiffness, good looks, the hinge. | | Weaknesses: | schmaltzy stickers, plastic stem cap. | | Similar Products Used: | control tech | | Bike Setup: | ibis alibi 99, xtr, easton monkey lit bar, race face, chris king, so on so on. | | Bottom Line: | a part that costs this much should not come with ANY plastic parts. my mechanic is competent. i am SURE that he did NOT tighten down the preload so tight that it would tear out the bottom of the cap.
and what's with the cheap syncros stickers?
now that gt/riteway has purchased syncros is it only going to get worse?
on a positive note, i've used two syncros seatposts. no problems at all after three years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Owen
a Racer
from St. George, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Today, SR-18 Road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Functional, light, stiff, right fit for my bike (0 deg, 130). I like the looks, though that is obviously subjective. | | Weaknesses: | Expensive, decals rub off. (I'm now riding a "y roc" on one side and a "cyncroc" on the other) | | Similar Products Used: | Kore Elite, Voodoo steel, CODA for Headshock, Control Tech | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Tsali with Marzocchi Superfly, XTR, Chris King headset and hubs, LP Composites, Flite saddle, Bontrager Mustang rims, Mythos XC | | Bottom Line: | I've never had any properly set up stem break, slip or noticibly flex although I do often climb standing while holding the bar ends. I can't honestly say that (unlike saddles, forks, tires, drivetrain, wheels, bars or seatposts) I have ever noticed differences in stems aside from the ability to get the right fit on the bike. The plastic cap is a nonissue, use it to tighten the headset then back it off as per instructions. The angled top of the stem won't allow me to use my chi-chi Chris King cap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave V.
a Racer
from Toronto, ON
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Lightweight, stiff, great craftsmanship. Looks good with a Syncros post. | | Weaknesses: | Composite top cap works fine, but an aluminum one would look nicer. Expensive! | | Similar Products Used: | Generic Taiwanese stuff - which happens to work just fine. | | Bike Setup: | RaceFace bar and headset, Superfly fork. | | Bottom Line: | This stem performs great - its light, stiff, and easy to install. At 140 lbs, I don't think I'm capable of breaking it.
Syncros has a new cotter system so you don't have to worry about crushing your steerer tube and you can use a standard star-fangled nut. However, I actually like using the Syncros aluminum nut because I can install it myself.
The composite top cap works fine - but it looks funny.
I decided to get this stem because the stock stem on my bike was too long. However, if your bike fits you OK, th |
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$ 90.00
