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Easton
EA50 Forged Aluminum Stem
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Submitted by
Hugh
a Racer
from Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | Looks OK. Reasonable Weight. | | Weaknesses: | Mediocre quality. 2 bolt cap causes creaking even when done up tight. | | Similar Products Used: | Raceface, Thomson. | | Bike Setup: | Cove Handjob | | Bottom Line: | Easton make some excellent products. But some of their low range stuff is very mediocre. This part is one of them.
Even done up super tight the 2 bolt end cap allows the bars to flex and creak. I bolted on a Raceface Evolve stem with a 4 bolt end cap that costs similar money and it instantly cured this.
Spend a little extra and get something a lot better.
The EA50 handlebar is pretty good, though. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme Cameron
a Racer
from Canberra Australia
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anywhere away from cars | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Ordered in at Onya Bike Tuggeranong | | Strengths: | Attractive - looks nice with matching EA50 bars & seatpost. Reasonably light (159gm actual in 110mm/25.4mm.
Reasonably stiff. | | Weaknesses: | Overpriced.
Ordinary design.
Poor tolerances. | | Similar Products Used: | Ritchey WCS (lovely), BBB (bargain), Titec (cobby) plus various road stems, eg ITM Millenium, ITM Big One, etc | | Bike Setup: | Standard 2007 Giant Anthem 1. Time ATAC Alium pedals, Concor Light Ti saddle. Standard 110mm stem replaced with a 130mm stem (both 2007 EA50s). | | Bottom Line: | A 110mm came standard on the bike, I later bought a 130mm which is otherwise identical. Both are 2007 models with yellow/white graphics. The comments following apply to both.
A nice looking, ordinary stem.
Steerer clamp is a little over tolerance and doesn't pull up round - causes slight deformation of the fork's alloy steerer tube. The steerer clamp itself is the basic vertical slot with both bolts on the one side.
The bottom of the steerer clamp is wavy, it has not been faced (machined flat)and does not sit flush on the headset/spacers, producing a noticable gap at the front - more obvious on the 130mm than the 110mm.
The price is a joke (I wish I checked before ordering the 130). You can do a lot better for your money.
The BBB's (eg) are very nicely made and finished, more advanced design, weigh the same and sell for half the price.
Given the chance again I would pick up a new Thomson or WCS in sale pages for what I paid for this..
Never-the-less it works, is reasonably light and stiff and isn't out of place as OEM on a midrange bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoff King
a Cross Country Rider
from Christchurch, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gun Barrel, Port Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Came stock with bike | | Weaknesses: | Flex | | Similar Products Used: | Thomson Elite (bought to replace EA 50); Kore Lite, numerous generic stems | | Bike Setup: | Giant Trance 2 with Thomson stem and seatpost, Hope rear and Hayes front hub laced to Campag K2 rims,Hope skewers, SRAM X9 rear mech and X 7 shifters, RF Good n Evil grips, Avid Juicy 5 brakes, WTB Rocket V saddle, Maxxis High Roller rear Mofo front... my dream machine | | Bottom Line: | I was happy with this stem until an obliging bike sales rep did the 'flex test' whilst visiting my LBS, and suddenly I realised where at least some of those creaking noises might be coming from (see review on EA 50 post!)
Decided to install a 100mm Thomson to replace the 110 EA 50 - problem instantly solved.
The EA 50 is OK as a relatively light, quite good-looking OEM stem, but having now experienced a Thomson why anyone would upgrade to anything with 2 bolts holding the bar in place is beyond me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shiny_car
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | OEM | | Strengths: | cheap and works; quite light | | Weaknesses: | nothing for the price you pay | | Similar Products Used: | Easton EA70; Thomson X4 | | Bike Setup: | Aus-spec '05 Giant XTC2 | | Bottom Line: | this stem came standard on my Giant HT; pretty decent as a XC component; quite light, strong enough, decent build quality; nothing flashy about it, but it works | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PAMA a xc - beginner frerider
a
from Quito- Ecuador
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came on bike | | Strengths: | light weight
nice looking
xc stem | | Weaknesses: | creaks in my ea70 monkey bar
xc stem | | Similar Products Used: | regular xc no name stems and..... Kona Clump (good one but not a xc stem) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Bullit, z1 qr20 eta, 5th element, easton hb and stem, thompson post, hayes mag 8", great mavic rims, lx-xt-deore, hozzfeler, kona saddle, kona bashgard, intense tires, great bike | | Bottom Line: | light weight, put your weight low and forward, I think very good to xc and xc racing. Mine came in my bullit, to make it more pedal friendly, it works, but after some drops it is starting to creak, a noice like something is not going good. Well I'm 220 pounds rider in a long travel freeride bike, maybe it is not the stems fault, it is just me, maybe an azonic shorty, aggresor or Race Face diabolus would fix my riding problem. At the end great xc stem, dont use it to freeride or for clydasdale agresive riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gordon
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Roads + Off Road | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$32.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Looks cool
Strong as a tank
From easton
5-year warranty
Forged is better than welded
Fixes Easily
Cheap
Laser-etched graphics | | Weaknesses: | The front plate looks quite cheap.
Finish scratches off easily, revealing silver surface
Possibilty of crushing handlebar if not tightened properly
| | Similar Products Used: | Kally Ground Speed All Terrain Stem (202 grams) | | Bike Setup: | Frame : Progear 2005 rock a3(7005 aluminium, full suspension, 3 X 8 = 24-speed)
Front Derailleur : Shimano Acera Top- Pull
Rear Derailleur : Shimano Allivio
Crank : Shimano
Shifters : Shimano RapidFire Shifters
Brakes : Promax 3.0 Mechanical Disc brakes
Rear Shock : DNM Fireball
Front Shock/Fork : RST Capa T-4 Fork(76 mm travel)
Saddle : Progear saddle(Velo)
Hamdlebar : Easton EC70 XC Composite bar
Stem : Easton EA50 Forged Stem
Handgrips : Setlaz Kevlar handgrips
Headlights : Power beam white LED x2
Tail-light : Smart Red LED
Headset : Cane creek Thudbuster
Rims : HIC double rimmed aluminium
Tires : Maxxis Larsen TT 2.0(front and rear)
Fenders/Mudguards : Topeak RX DeFender Carbon Look
Pedals : Wellgo LU950(Platform only)
Computer : Cateye Enduro 8
Misc/Extras : Lizard Skins chainstay, grunge guard for both derailleurs, headset seal, brake levers. | | Bottom Line: | Get this now...! Wow.. what to say? This stem is really really strong..and cheap.. been jumping around and it has'nt made a single sound yet.. looks really cool when matched with an easton handlebar.. Strong enough for All terrain , and quite light for it's category. Another great product by Easton.. cheers! =) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan R
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island NY
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pandora | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | Strong hasn't broke yet, Light it weighs practicly nothing, Hold the bars like a gorilla and hasn't had to be tighted up again, Screws haven't stripped out like my friend's Kore Lite 3 did. | | Weaknesses: | Cheesey stickers but thats about it. | | Similar Products Used: | Controltech (junk) Specialized S-Works, (Bars keep twisting in this thing) Aviner (could never stay tight) Assorted no name brands. | | Bike Setup: | 02 Stumpjumper with lots of good stuff on it. | | Bottom Line: | This ones a keeper, it holds my bars like a gorilla and weighs nothing PERFECT. It's got to be one of the best kept secrets in XC. It's so light and strong I forget it's there half the time. I have yet to have to tighten it up and I have checked. Bolts don't strip like a friend of mine's Kore Light 3 did man was he pissed. Hasn't broken yet like my controltec did at the weld I hate welded. I got it at pricepoint for a steal best 18 bucks I spent. I love this stem unless it breaks. I was a little worried about it being so light but after using it not anymore. It provides great control and it's a perfect size at 100/0. Buy this stem and you'll agree and if you hate it hell you ony spent 18 bucks! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Denis
a Cross Country Rider
from Alameda CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | good looks, relatively lightweight, heavily discounted on pricepoint at the time of my purchase ( I bought the set stem+ monkey lite bar for $34) | | Weaknesses: | I bought this item recently from Pricepoint in CA and installed it on a Chris King Headset to find out that the hedaset topcap is not sitting square to the steer tube!! It turns out that the stem is not faced and this is unacceptable to mount on expensive headsets like Chris King. I had to file to make it flat.
| | Bike Setup: | santacruz SL frame. Chris King threadless headset | | Bottom Line: | if the headset mount does not require a faced contact surface to the topcap, I guess that stem is a great value. Once you pass this weakness and make the right adjustment ( e.g using the file with caution) it will stand out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow, Scotland
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine Bikes | | Strengths: | Percieved strength of construction, superior to OEM part.
Close fitting match to the stem it was replacing. | | Weaknesses: | None, unless it breaks! | | Similar Products Used: | OEM Orange stem. | | Bike Setup: | Orange Evo2, Easton Ea50 90mm stem, RaceFace grips. | | Bottom Line: | This has helped my carpal tunnel syndrome problem and sharpened the streering.
I went down from 110mm 10 degree rise to 90mm at the same angle.
It's a good quality stem.
Only time will tell if ther are any constuction problems, but I think it will last the lifetime of the bike.
Might even take it to my next bike, depending on the fit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Jackson, WY
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Strong, light, looks good | | Weaknesses: | Um, honestly, it hasn't broke yet, so I have no idea | | Bike Setup: | 2003 SJ Comp, Thomson seatpost, python golds, egg beaters, flite saddle, new stem | | Bottom Line: | Good stem, no qualms, and its at a good price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BBS
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Light, satin black finish, good price. | | Weaknesses: | No laser engraving, just a cheap sticker. But who cares?? It won't make me faster. | | Similar Products Used: | DTM, Kalloy. | | Bottom Line: | What can anybody say of a stem. This thing is what is suppose to be: strong, light, no creeping noises, hold your handlebar like a vise. I even forget it is there. And the price is a steal. I strongly recommend it if you are not a weight obsessed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Porterville
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | pauls | | Strengths: | it's stronger than anything I can throw at it | | Weaknesses: | the stickers, rather than painted decals | | Bike Setup: | fisher hardtail with EA50 bars | | Bottom Line: | this stem and bar combination is way tougher than I will ever be! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The one I'm riding at the time. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | The stem is a non-issue when riding. Just set it and forget it. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic. Kore. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 GT Zaskar. Full XT. 2001 Marzocchi Z3. Rhyno Lites. | | Bottom Line: | I have an Easton EA50 handlebar as well as the EA50 stem, and I've had no problems with either of them. Once tightened, the bolts stay tight. I'm very satisifed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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