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Submitted by
Karl
a Cross Country Rider
from minneapolis
Date Reviewed: October 28, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | penn cycle | | Strengths: | Shiny, light, indestructible | | Weaknesses: | um, 2 bolt clamp stems need to be watched | | Similar Products Used: | bontrage junk, specialized somethin or another | | Bottom Line: | I don't know how others are have trouble, but this sucker has been infallible for me. Its a two bolt, which means if you're an ogre, you can damage bars. But keep your wits about you and this thing will make you happy. Oh, it also seems pretty stiff for a long (120mm) stem. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jo Blo
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$10.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | -Light
-Clean looks
| | Weaknesses: | -Chews holes in carbon bars
-Handlebar clamp is JUNK and DESTROYS CARBON HANDLEBARS
-Threads strip very easily
-Flexy | | Similar Products Used: | Race Face SyStem, Syncros (1996), Specialized S-works Ti | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Blizzard with my dream spec -except this crappy stem | | Bottom Line: | This stem was a stop-gap just to get my bike on the road while waiting to get something real like a Thomson or Deus. What a mistake that was...This piece of junk is the antithesis of what a stem should be: the handlebar clamp simply does not work and will not hold a riser bar tightly wihtout self-destructing and eating the threads; the entire stem flexes wildly when riding; and WORST OF ALL, THIS THING RUINS CARBON HANDLEBARS.
Seriously, to anyone considering this stem for use with ANY carbon handlebars, AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE! It took chunks out of the clamping area of my Easton MonkeyLite, and this is AFTER I TOOK THE TIME TO FILE & SAND ANY AND ALL SHARP EDGES AND BURRS BEFORE INSTALLATION. The points around the clamping area seem to dig into the bar during use, slowly taking chunks out of the bar. Luckily I noticed what was happening after only 5 days of use, but enough damage was done to make me wonder if the bar is still safe to ride.
Compared to the SyStem: the Race Face is probably 200% stiffer (40g heavier); the quality of finish of the RF is head and shoulders above the CT in terms of machining and tolerances. The only drawback to the RF was it creaked when dirty.
Compared to the old (pre buy-out) Syncros: the Syncros had to be the stiffest stem on the planet and was beautifuly constructed -no comparison at all, really.
Compared to the Specialized Ti: the Specialized was also a flexy unit, but level of finish was still far better than the Control Tech. At least the clamp worked.
Bottom Line: this stem is absolute junk, and if you care at all about performance, strength, and longevity, get something else.... ANYthing else. I wouldn't ride another one if I were paid to.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl
a
from SD
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Strengths: | Stiff, reliable, light | | Weaknesses: | um, a little expensive | | Similar Products Used: | bontrager, kore | | Bike Setup: | GF paragon | | Bottom Line: | I love this stem, the only thing on my bike that doesn't wear out. I haven't had any of these problems with stripping bolts. Tad expensive, though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ed t
a Cross Country Rider
from Tallahassee
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cadillac Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Got it cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Stripped the face plates threading when installing the h-bar. | | Similar Products Used: | Thomson, Ritchey, multiple noname stems | | Bike Setup: | Haro Werks 3.0, marathons, sid xc, thomson post, xt/xtr/sram
component mix | | Bottom Line: | I bought the sucker despite reading the warnings on MTBReview about the threadings stripping. Bought it because it was cheap & the seller claimed it was the new version with the threading inserts that "eliminated the stripping problem." The threading stripped when I installed it. I barely even tightened it all.
Well guess I was wrong. Replaced it with a Salsa stem - and no problems at all. Would have gotten the Thomson if they made Thomsons with the rise I needed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CK
a Cross Country Rider
from Southwest, VA
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | any that twist | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Affordable, efficient, stylish | | Weaknesses: | Paint chips after several years
Not quite as solid of a feel as the high-end stems | | Similar Products Used: | Easton, Bonty, Icon, Thomson, Kore | | Bike Setup: | Spec S-works, used to have the latest and greatest but have scaled back to being somewhat sane with the wallet | | Bottom Line: | It's a good stem for the money. I've noticed very little flex in my 7 yr old stem - 130mm, 0deg. It's been through many downhill runs, handlebar-treetrunk slaps, endos, other bails, and parts changes. Of course, this is the older model so I can't comment on the new design. The bolts and stem bolt holes have never stripped. The paint is beginning to chip off in areas, though. So I might replace it with a new Kore Elite I got for $10. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad Winslow
a Cross Country Rider
from Sumner, Wa
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | cut your bars | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | don't remember | | Strengths: | it looks good, it is strong enough to support my 200+ fat ass, and it is light | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | kore, specialized | | Bike Setup: | '98 S-works hard tail. all xtr. '98 sid. chris king/517 | | Bottom Line: | i actually got to visit the factory when i was doing a job shadow years ago. the people that work there are increadibly nice, and they make an awesome product. I've had my stem for four years, and i haven't had a problem with stripping threads (like i did my specialized) and i haven't had a problem with the paint chipping, or noises... or anything. The reason i replaced my Kore was because it was too long for me and i needed a shorter stem. Control tech also makes a skewer that only weighs 48 grams, so i'm going to check it out. overall, awesome product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
weather expert
a Weekend Warrior
from iowa
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | er...cheap? | | Weaknesses: | badly aligned--the stem and the bar aren't perpendicular to each other! | | Similar Products Used: | salsa, icon, syncros | | Bike Setup: | doesn't matter | | Bottom Line: | this stem came and it looked somehow different. i put it on anyway but soon discovered that the bar and the stem are not at right angle. talking about quality control eh? | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Don't remember | | Strengths: | Durable, reliable | | Weaknesses: | No complaints | | Bike Setup: | Sure is! | | Bottom Line: | I have been using this stem for over 6 years and I still think that it is the best value out there. It has out-lasted 3 bars and still clamps reliably. Building a new bike and will pick up another one of these to hold my bars on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony Ratcliffe
a Cross Country Rider
from Aylesbury
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any long singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Chain reaction IRL | | Strengths: | Clean well made looks. | | Weaknesses: | Front threads. | | Similar Products Used: | Kore,Kalloy,Club roost. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Cone,Judy XC 96 80mm & Rocklobster AL with Judy SL's 97 and WB 80mm cart. | | Bottom Line: | Liked the seatpost with its inner rib and clamp system, thought i'd match it with the stem.
Initially fine but after a couple of handlebar changes over the years the frontplate threads did strip! There are inserts in the steerer clamp so why not add helicoils to the front threads. I have now had a friend do this to both of my Control-tech stems and i'm now back out there. Hindsight! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Baker
a Racer
from Charlotte, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Etc (defunct) | | Strengths: | Strong, rigid, long lasting | | Weaknesses: | logo wears off after 10 yrs | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, 1991 Fat City Yo Eddy | | Bottom Line: | I've owned my Yo Eddy for 10 yrs and it has been raced hard during that time. There are several components that have remained on the bike for the duration of 10 hard years without failure and still performing at a high level. This stem (130mm, 5degree rise) has been one of them along with an Easton Taperlite bar. I just bought another Control Tech stem (97 model brand new) for a new Factory limited frame I'm building. GOOD STUFF, don't know what happened to the guy that flamed this stem??? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steel is real
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | www.controltechbikes.com | | Strengths: | Ultra Lightweight, super strong, high quality stem that is made 100% in the USA. Elegantly welded stem. Stainless steel threads all around. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | OEM forged stems, Titec Ti stem, older CT stems. | | Bike Setup: | 853 steel frame, wheels, fork, etc | | Bottom Line: | This is a review of the NEW Smart Stem. It is a great stem as long as you know what you're buying. It is for cross country riding, not for DH, slalom, utter clumsiness or for people who dont know how to follow directions. They give them to you, use them! Grease your bolts and don't over tighten the bolts. The specs are right in the box. The anodized finish for the black stem is gorgeous.
Support your country-Buy American. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RM
a Cross Country Rider
from Co
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Strengths: | Weight/strenth ratio | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Kore, Profile, Race Face | | Bottom Line: | This is a classic stem, or "Old school" in these times. I am surprised to see some of the negative reviews. I have not, nor have anyone I know using this stem has had any problems with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sausalito, CA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Strengths: | Looks OK | | Weaknesses: | Very, very, poor functional design and quality assurance testing by Control Tech(CT). The Stem broke after 3 months of moderate riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Titec, Salsa | | Bike Setup: | Stel hardtail w/Marzocchi Atom 80 and XTR/King components | | Bottom Line: | YOU SHOULD READ THIS WHOLE REVIEW
This is a horrible example of a 2 piecce clamp stem. Read and believe the other negative reviews. It happened to me after only 3 months of moderate riding. I now have a steel stem with a traditional clamp.
The threads stripped and the h-bars detached while going down a short and slow steep section. I was lucky to get away with mild abrasions and a short run down the mountain.
I contact CT and they told they had never heard of this happening before. They should read this section of MTBR. Is it coincidence that CT has redesigned the stem and now puts steel helicail inserts in it.
FYI, I did some investigation and found CT was informed of this problem by an independent testing facility long before they introduced the stem and did nothing about it. Why do after-market MTB parts mfrs. feel they have to hide the truth about the deficiencies of their products. Syncros, Answer and White Industries are guilty of this also in my experience.
CHANGE YOUR STEM IF YOU ARE USING THIS VERSION | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Czieje
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island City, NY
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Stillwell Park Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Seemed solid until I switched bars [see below] | | Weaknesses: | For a $50 stem, the Control Tech has a major weakness: aluminum threads. Now, I know that when you work with aluminum parts [especially your frame], you need to control the torq... but wouldn't it be smarter for this stem [and any stem build for real use] to have a steel-threaded insert instead of rapidly-strip-able, non-replaceable aluminum thread set. As you may have guessed, my Control Tech is toast due to stripping. Sucks, because my bike is waiting to be ridden with brand new Easton handlebars. | | Bottom Line: | If you own this stem, buy a torq wrench and set it low -- real low. Avoid this product otherwise | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anton
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Strengths: | color | | Weaknesses: | everything else | | Similar Products Used: | suncros | | Bike Setup: | schwinn homegrown | | Bottom Line: | what a pile of crap ! On my last ride I noticed my bars were a little loose. Today I was all set to ride, went to tighten up the clamp on my bars, fricken threads were stripped. What a pisser. I HATE control tech, they are my enemy now! I guess I didn't get such a good deal now that I have to buy another stem. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jules
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dr Blackells Drive | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Light weight, height adjustment, stiffness, cool design | | Weaknesses: | None whatsoever, seriously cool stem for the price | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized tig stem | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp, XT throughout, Z2 BAM fork | | Bottom Line: | This is a very nice stem. I've had mine for over 7 years and I've never had any problems with it. I've also got a flat Control Stem that I used in my racing days. Both the stems have been fine, apart from the occasional creaking (which could be the handlebars!!) I've never had any bother at all. Very lightweight, and even lighter with the Ti bolt set in it. I have the quill version so I also get the height adjustability too!!! 5/5 on both counts!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tsali, NC | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | thread inserts, light weight, easy to remove bar | | Weaknesses: | poor decals (mine aren't even straight), if that matters, paint chipping | | Similar Products Used: | crap | | Bike Setup: | 110 by 25 deg rise | | Bottom Line: | This is a good stem. Too bad they didn't put more care into making it look good. I got mine closeout from my LBS for $30. Along with my low rise easton monkey lite (love it) bar I am in comfort heaven. And no matter what anyone says, being a little higher in the fromt does not affect preformance, it just makes you more comfortable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | It is a stem for goodness sakes. It is front loading which is nice for changing handlebars easy. It is light. | | Weaknesses: | Paint peels off | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of stems from cheap to expensive (all work) | | Bike Setup: | Curtlo | | Bottom Line: | Decent stem! I dont' know, I still think a $20 Tahoma at Supergo is just as good without the name Control Tech on it with a cheesy sticker. The paint came off around the steerer after a few rides. It is an okay stem if you can find it for under $40. The best stem I have used has been a Kore Elite, but they are too dang much dough. This stem is no better than a Kalloy, Tahoma, etc. It works fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a
from Knoxville
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | This stem rocks!! I ordered the last Mango one from speedgoat.com It doesn't flex but the paint was chipped right below one of the handlebar clamp screws. Mine slid right on my steerer tube without any problem and there was paint in the inside of it. All of ya'll that have problems with this stem must be stupid or really fat. Mine is a 135mm length and works perfectly. 5 chili's for the best stem for the best price!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Richland, WA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, strong, stiff, simple, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Usually only comes in 6-degree rise. Doesn't look as beefy as, say, a Kore stem - if you care about that sort of thing. | | Similar Products Used: | Kore Aheadlite, various others. | | Bike Setup: | lightweight XC riding | | Bottom Line: | For $40 or so, you're not going to find a better stem. I've stripped out some, others creaked constantly (or worse, made that irritating "tinging" sound), others made it impossible to remove the bars, etc. It's not as macho as a lot of oversized stems out there, but the great thing about this stem is that it is a simple, light, proven design. Everthing on this stem is sufficiently strong w/o being over done. Its unpresumptious and effective. Put it on and ride - JUST so long as 6-degree fits your bike and body! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andrew guckes
a Racer
from Gambier, OH, USA
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | light, looks good | | Weaknesses: | provides very little vertical height | | Similar Products Used: | a few that I can't remember the names of | | Bike Setup: | trek oclv | | Bottom Line: | the stem is a very high quality and durable product; however, when I used it I had to bend too far forward to ride without hurting my back. It's a great product, just make sure that you will be comfortable with it before you put it on your bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from arlington, VA
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | issaquenna | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | strong, oooh shiney, looks nice | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | raceface | | Bike Setup: | custom stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | good stem, i think one person chipped his teeth below and kept submitting reviews. However i don't think that's the stem, it would probably be the retailer, i worked at a bike shop and i've found that sometimes stuff gets screwed up and the wrong bolts get put with a stem. You shouldn't even be riding on a stem that has bolts that don't screw in all the way.
good value and stem 5 chili's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Missouri
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Light, Cheap, Strong. | | Weaknesses: | The mango paint has faded a bit. | | Bike Setup: | "pimp" XC hardtail | | Bottom Line: | I have wrecked multiple times and no problems. I run them on both of my bikes. I will say it again....Light, Cheap, Strong. What else can I ask for? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad Knisely
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chardon, Ohio
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Steel thread inserts, a major plus.
Good welds.
Flex, what flex?
Well made.
Much better quality then anything I have ever tried. | | Weaknesses: |
The people who gave this stem less than five stars. | | Similar Products Used: |
You name it. | | Bike Setup: |
Klein Fervor, Kinesis MaxLite fork, King hubs, and some other cool stuff | | Bottom Line: | I really like this stem, I notice no flexing at all, yeh I do ride hard. I ride trials once and a while and it has held up just fine to the extra abuse. I think this is a great product and would recomend it to anybody. I bought one for my wifes bike I liked it so much. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Uncle Fats
a Weekend Warrior
from Wall NJ
Date Reviewed: December 20, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Ringwood | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Basic stem, light and strong | | Weaknesses: |
the paint chips off easy | | Similar Products Used: |
Titec Big AL
Kore Lite
Kore Elite
Race Face | | Bike Setup: |
On my old Trek 8900 attached to a Titec 150 Ti Bar(The best flat available) | | Bottom Line: | It got the job done for a fair price, it was light, strong, had no flex, but the paint chipped off after a while and became a black and polished dot type of look, hey at least it was original. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SUPERMEX
a Cross-Country Rider
from WINTER PARK
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
MOUNTAIN GOAT | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
PRICE | | Weaknesses: |
? | | Bike Setup: |
LITESPEED OBED W/ JUDY SL | | Bottom Line: | IF YOU POSERS ARE BREAKING STEMS, YOU MUST ALL BE WORLD CLASS DOWNHILLERS. SOUNDS TO ME YA'LL NEED TO STEP UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
BUY A DIRT BIKE (MOTORCYCLE) THEN LET'S SEE WHAT YA CAN BREAK BESIDES YOUR
EGO'S! LET SEE JOE THE PRODUCT DESIGNER, CAN WE MAKE A STEM THAT WILL BREAK CAUSE THE MARKETING DEPT. SAYS THAT'S WHAT REAL MOUINTAIN BIKERS WANT CAUSE IT MAKES THEM APPEAR AS AWESOME RIDERS. LITIGATION DEPT. SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM THE NEW CONTOL TECH PASTA STEM. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jochen
a Cross-Country Rider
from austria
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
nice design, quite cheap | | Weaknesses: |
dangerous for screws for front plate much too little inserted, also flexes too much | | Similar Products Used: |
Kore, Race face, Roox | | Bike Setup: |
Zaskar, Z2 atom bomb | | Bottom Line: | well I replaced this stem for i did not want to end loosing my bar in some nice trail. the screws for the front plate are much too short, and you cannot even insert longer ones. this stem had also never heard of stiffness- better buy roox, kore or something the like... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Patrik
a Racer
from Utah
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
light | | Weaknesses: |
Broke | | Similar Products Used: |
syncros and kore | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale, Judy SL | | Bottom Line: | The stem broke when riding uphill!!
As a result I crashed and broke my two front teeth and lost both | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
DJE
a Cross-Country Rider
from ABQ, NM
Date Reviewed: March 29, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
CHEAP | | Weaknesses: |
CHEAP
You get what you pay for | | Similar Products Used: |
Syncros
Kore
Bontrager
Manitou
Grove Innovations
name it.... | | Bottom Line: | No we aren't on crack like college boy there (apparently a liberal arts major). We have just come to the conclusion that pasta isn't the best steering apparatus. I personally have been hurt by this stem. I'm not suing, although I have been contacted by a class action lawyer concerning clients of his who were hurt also.Everyone who likes this stem either likes the color, the easy bar changes (how often do experienced riders change bars any way, when they break/bend?)or hates the stickers. Not really a review for MTBR, but a fashion statement. Hell, maybe people who are more concerned about looks than safety need a good knock on the head or even a broken collar bone.If this stem works for you, great. But if you read this and still purchase this stem, don't whine(or worse, litigate) when it eventually breaks and causes you bodily harm or even death. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNEDOne steaming pile of crap. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross-Country Rider
from State College PA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
tussey mt. | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
looks good
easy to change bars
inexpensive
durable | | Weaknesses: |
cheap stickers
hard to install the first time | | Similar Products Used: |
Zoom threaded
generic threadless | | Bike Setup: |
cr-mo hardtail, 98 SX-R fork | | Bottom Line: | For the money, this is a great stem. The first installation is a pain, because paint leaks into the steerer clam area, but after that it slides on. I've never noticed any flex, and I use the 150mm version. It also looks good, and makes bar swaps a breeze. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FishMan
a Racer
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: March 25, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
South Mountain, AZ | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Light, Strong, Inexpensive | | Weaknesses: |
Crappy Sticker | | Similar Products Used: |
Kore, generic | | Bike Setup: |
GT hardtail, with a judy up front | | Bottom Line: | All of these other reviews are on crack. I haven't noticed a bit of flex in my stem (although it is a shorter 120mm so maybe longer ones flex more). I've had this stem for almost 2 years now and no problems, just as good if not better then the more expensive Kore I used to have. So good I bought another for my road bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from New Orleans
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
End of the Lane | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Cool paint job. Lots of length/rise combinations avaiable | | Weaknesses: |
FLEXIBLE! Pricey. | | Similar Products Used: |
Kore Elite, Titek | | Bike Setup: |
VooDoo Bantu w/Marzocchi Z3 | | Bottom Line: | Nice paint job/decals (if that's what's important to you) but the stem was more flexible than I think is acceptable for a $50 (Nashbar) stem. Kore Elite is definitely stiffer and for the same price (SuperGo) is a much better deal. I also found some junk in the threads left over from the machining process, but it didn't bother me too much. This stem should be priced around $20. It's well made with a good finish but not the stiffest around. I give 2 flaming dead horses. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Iggy Snap
a weekend warrior
from San Francisco, Ca
Date Reviewed: March 11, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the standard OEM stem, but it is actually the softest stem I've ever ridden. The front clamp twists easily and the bolts seem to screw into a mashed aluminumm hole. The threads must be so raw because when I blow into the hole, lots of junk flies out. There is no way that this stem can be stiff- the clamp doesn't even fully round out my bar so only the edges touch the clamp. If only someone would manufacture an add on better clamp end and better biting bolts- to add onto flexy stems. Any other stem is stiffer unless it's Ti. On the plus side, it looks ok with ok graphics, but that won't help any when it fails to do its job. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a downhiller
from missouri
Date Reviewed: February 7, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I got my control tech stem a long time ago so I payed a lot mare for it than most people would today. About $65 which was a rip off for this flexy piece of crap. This stem, I would have to say has more flex than a rubber band on a very hot day. Plus it only one handle bar bolt, so if you wanted to take the handle bars off you would have to take every thing off of on side just to pull the bars off, and that was a big pain in the ass. After a few years of putting up with this I finaly got a KORE lite 3 stem which worked pretty good. I now use a B52 DH stem which has NO FLEX, and has a kick ass black color. I give this stem two chilies for its flex, and its dumb ass one bolt handle bar clamp. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sammy aka Samantha
a
from NE USA & Western Canada
Date Reviewed: December 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After having 2 Control Tech Stems FAIL & the latest stem's bolt thread strip while putting on my new Crow Bar handlebar I will never put another Control Tech stem on any of my bikes again. Three Stikes & three words for this product...Peice Of ****!!!! One star for a good selection of colors. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FREEEEDEEEE!
a cross-country rider
from Swarzeeland
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
You might as well stick a lump or Rubber on your steerer tube and stickey tape the bar on the end of it for all the good these is going to do. FLEX loads of FLEX HHHHMMMM! They don't look togood either! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Coulon
a cross-country rider
from Mill Creek, WA.
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been Riding Control Tech products for about a year and half and have no complaints. The stem I ride 120mm plus 5 deg. consumer friendly. Also the company is based in the mecha of mountain biking The Pacific Northwest extremely muddy, and harsh on the bike. +30w | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaji
a cross-country rider
from Fremont. CA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
good stem, VERY light, great handlebar clamp, no problems, had a KORE and stripped the handlebar clamp bolt. very easy to change the handlebar out. the clamp design is ingenious since they started that front face and flipable stem thing. easy to change the stem too. really good stem for only 50 bucks!!!
a bit flexy though. thinking about trying a kore elite or race face ( heard that race face was the bomb ass stuff). gotta try those. read the race face stem reviews! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gus
a racer
from St Louis Park MN
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1998 | |
|
$ 50.00
