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If so, what were the ride characteristics like?
Particularly keen to here about road bike experiences.
I recall a rumour that they are flexy, and possibly prone to failure, is this correct or bunkum?
Ti is generally flexier than alu. Not a characteristic most would want in a stem I wouldn't have thought.
I have a ti stem on my Seven and have it for the last 9 years. No perceivable flex compared to Alu stems I have on other bikes
The two I have used, ride the same as an alu one mostly. Just lots lighter. Although alu seems to be lighter than in the old days. I don't think you'll notice much difference in terms of ride.
lol. they're fine but the characteristics are based on the design not the fact that they're Ti. some are stiff, some aren't.
as clubber said is the fact of the matter. i have a controltech timania stem of 100mm and no flex at all. its a work of art compared to a lot of usual ti stems that consist of two spigots welded either end of a tube. and pretty light.
like this:
http://road.cc/content/image/42680-control-tech-timania-stemjpg
I cannot see the point in them. They are made purely to sell to people with more money than sense and an eye for shiney, pointless bike parts.
Aluminium ones are lighter or stiffer and cheaper.
i like mine and all my bags of money wooooaaaaahhh
Mr Taylforth, you're forgetting how darned nice my bike will look with one fitted.
Anyone got any suggestions for where to find well made Ti stems that dont cost the earth?
Damn the Timania stem is shweet..
I certainly don't have more money than sense. But, I have a credit card.
While my frame and pretty much every bolt attached to it are Ti I avoided a Ti stem purely due to them been heavier than alu stems.
Couldn't see the point, especially as carbon bars solve any 'harshness'.
Had 2 titec fathead Ti stems on mtbs, no flex, v light, and perfect match finish wise to the brushed ti frame and post. Were no more expensive than a Thomson when I bought em years ago (old stock).
Had an airborne ti which was cheaply finished and flexed alarmingly.
As with frames design has more impact on performance than material.
My Global Ti has a Global Ti stem and it's pretty carp really, it's wide enough on the bars but only has two central bolts so it creaks like hell if I put any stress on the bars. One I had before, had an internal pinch bolt arrangement and that snapped so Craig at Ride On gave me the one I have now. I suspect that even Craig would admit that his Ti stems weren't his best invention!