REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Need your personal preference, and taste...

1144 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by COLINx86, Dec 28, 2009

KevinK

Discussion Starter · Dec 26, 2009

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Parameters: The products are of near equal strength and reliability. So here is my question:

Would you sacrifice 5 - 10 grams of weight to get something that looks better to you?:madman:
Would you sacrifice looks to get something 5-10 grams lighter?:madman:

How much weight would you sacrifice for looks?

Thanks,

Kevin

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AlexRandall

· #2 · Dec 26, 2009

that weight difference is really nothing, especially if you make that call for only a couple of components on the bike. If you did that for the whole thing, of course, you would be a fair bit heavier than you could be

As well as weight, it has to LOOK good

what part are you deciding on

Andrea138

· #3 · Dec 26, 2009

KevinK said:
I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Parameters: The products are of near equal strength and reliability. So here is my question:

Would you sacrifice 5 - 10 grams of weight to get something that looks better to you?:madman:
Would you sacrifice looks to get something 5-10 grams lighter?:madman:

How much weight would you sacrifice for looks?

Thanks,

Kevin

For me, it's totally a case-by-case basis. 5-10 grams really isn't much, but, like we all know- those things add up.
For instance- I would love to use the white 355 rims for my next set of wheels, but the powdercoating adds 25-30g per wheel. Not really worth it to me, so I'm sticking with black. However, I like having a colored headset, so I got a Cane Creek 110, which is nearly 100g vs. some of the other WW headsets that are nearly half that weight but only come in black.

limba

· #4 · Dec 26, 2009

5-10g is nothing. 50-100g is a lot. I would buy a Syntace stem (which is kinda ugly) over a great looking Thomson to save weight.

rockyuphill

· #5 · Dec 26, 2009

I'd agree, 5-10gms of indulgence for aesthetics is a reasonable compromise. I end up with about 100gms of mud stuck to the bike on many rides, but it looks good when it's washed off.

I'd also make a 20-50gm compromise for durability/reliability over weight.

superspec

· #6 · Dec 26, 2009

im on a mission to build a light SS 29er right now, but at the same time i want to be able to look at the bike and be happy with the way it looks. ill give up some weight to have the bike appeal to my eyes.

KevinK

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 26, 2009

@ Alex, Andrea, limba, rockyuphill and superspec

Thank you very much for you input, thoughts and insight. It is of great help in my decision making process.

The parts in question are mentioned on your replies. Stem and Headset!!!

Stems, including the syntace, are still being considered, however, I am also including durability in this decision. That eliminates the KCNC stems I was considering, since the ones I was looking at were spec'd for Road bikes.

Headset. I was also looking at FSA, but, overwhelmingly, almost everyone who responded to my initial question, Highly recommended the IS 110 head set, so, I will be giving up, maybe 25g, for Durability and peace of mind, not to mention, it looks awesome!!!

Any other suggestions would be welcome. Thanks again!!! Happy 2010!!!

Kevin

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superspec

· #8 · Dec 26, 2009

i think most of the KCNC parts are safe to use on a MTB. i almost used their stem on one of my builds but i wasnt crazy about the black.

Andrea138

· #9 · Dec 26, 2009

I use an Easton carbon road stem on my MTB. Bonktown was selling the size I needed for some large %off, and it's lighter than my usual standby (Thompson), so I went for it. I've put it through the ringer, and it's holding well

Oh yeah... and it looks pretty nice!

KevinK

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 27, 2009

I really like the KCNC Team Stem. Love the Oversized look, just worried about durability. Anyone have a KCNC Stem, and weigh around 162lbs? Weight is a claimed 111g for a 90mm stem:

Tied for second are two stems, love the way the CSI looks, however, the non CSI looks pretty good. Not as good as the KCNC or CSI, but better than other choices: FSA OS99: 113g/100mm and the FSA OS99 CSI: 122g/100mm

.

Then there's the others, that, for some reason or another, don't like the way something about each one looks.

Syntace F109: 116g/100mm. Probably the strongest of the group and light weight as well. Possibly, still in contention,
Titec Pluto X-Lite: 112g/100mm. Doesn't speak to me!
Ritchey WCS Carbon: 100g/100mm. Love the carbon, but don't like the way the clamp looks. bolts to close together. JMO!

I like the Rotor SX stem, however, I would prefer a minimum of 5d angle. The SX only has 2.5d angle.

How many people, who ride xc/AM, use Road Stems? Any problems?
Thanks for your reply Andrea, about using a road stem!

Kevin

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3

rockyuphill

· #11 · Dec 27, 2009

I've run the FSA OS-99 CSI at 120mm with 600mm bars and 110mm with 660mm bars, and it is super stiff in torsion. I've had no issues with the stiffness or durability.

You do want the fork steer tube to have a shot peened texture, I had a heck of a time getting the steerer clamp to work on a smooth steer tube on a DT Swiss fork, and it worked just fine on Fox or RS textured steer tubes.

KevinK

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 27, 2009

rockyuphill said:
I've run the FSA OS-99 CSI at 120mm with 600mm bars and 110mm with 660mm bars, and it is super stiff in torsion. I've had no issues with the stiffness or durability.

You do want the fork steer tube to have a shot peened texture, I had a heck of a time getting the steerer clamp to work on a smooth steer tube on a DT Swiss fork, and it worked just fine on Fox or RS textured steer tubes.

Hey rockyuphill. This will be going on a DT Swiss EXC 150 15TA fork! The CSI looks awesome, and sounds like it is strong enough for my riding. What did you do to make the stem work on your DT fork?

Thanks,

Kevin

superspec

· #13 · Dec 27, 2009

i have the ritchey wcs carbon stem on my scott and love the hell out of it. the close bolt spacing isnt a problem either.

rockyuphill

· #14 · Dec 27, 2009

KevinK said:
Hey rockyuphill. This will be going on a DT Swiss EXC 150 15TA fork! The CSI looks awesome, and sounds like it is strong enough for my riding. What did you do to make the stem work on your DT fork?

Thanks,

Kevin

I ended up having to to a budget knurl job on the top 30mm of the steer tube. Using a really coarse bastard file I just used the edge of it to put criss-cross file marks around the circumference of the steer tube to add some tooth to it. Not deep, just enough to feel them. I had tried carbon paste and everything else I could think of, but the inside of the stem and the steer tube were just too smooth. A bit of roughin' it up worked like a charm, even with 685mm wide bars.

COLINx86

· #15 · Dec 28, 2009

the only thing I would do that for is MAYBE a frame. Every other part I buy, is gonna be lighter or the same weight.

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