Submitted by
SageBrush
a Downhiller
from UK
Date Reviewed: 7/21/2002 6:18:21 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
no uphills please |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$150 |
| Strengths: |
Strength, Pimp looks
Light-ish for a billet-style stem
Just-right all-purpose sizes for freeride / jump / dh
Versions for Chubby bars |
| Weaknesses: |
Dubious cost/benefit ratio
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| Similar Products Tried: |
Current and many past RaceFace, Azonic, Thomson, Funn, Pace, Kore, etc |
| Bike Setup: |
Used on FR, DJ and DH rigs - 62.5mm and 50mm versions. Non-Chubby versions, always with Easton or RF bar. |
| Bottom Line: |
The bottom line is simple: Your bars stay put, and it looks suitably hardcore.
The quality of finish is EXTREMELY high (so it should be for this price).
The Chubby versions would suit the suicidally insane, or the paranoid.
Mounting: Its one of the taller stems out there, but not as much as for example the Kore B52. The 2 tightening bolts are on the side of the stem. It works as well as being anywhere else.
Impact Pain factor: High. Despite the fact that the stem back is rounded, the top of the back of the stem is a sharp corner all round.
Sizewise, I'm particularly fond of the 62.5mm version. This is just right for everything. If you're equipping an all-round freerider, this may be the size for you.
Part of the reason is the riding position with this stem, but another part of the reason is that this is the shortest stem which will usually clear the top of dual-crown forks with a high crown offset - with no spacers over the top crown.
Whether you want to pay the premium over something like, say a Diabolus or Kore B1B is up to you. Really, dropping this much dough makes most sense with the Chubby bar versions. It's certainly *very* shiny :) and does the job.
Note: Every Shorty Deluxe I've had arrived with unlubed bolts. Now if you know what you're doing, you'd put a smidgeon of lube on the bolts anyway, so it's no big deal. If you're a first-timer, perhaps you'd end up installing this without lube - and bolts could seize after a while.
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Value Rating: 
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