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Bit confused.....
Since getting my Stumpy frame warranty upgraded to the carbon one, the original bar/stem and seatpost look quite frankly naff. The bars are too narrow as well.
Ideally I'd like to get a matching set, but am struggling to find the right kit.
Requirements are:
Bar:
680mm wide or there abouts (no narrower, but can cut down longer bars) with a rise of about 20mm. Probably prefer oversize to standard (although oversize now seems to be erm, standard)
Stem:
Fairly shallow angle, perhaps 8 deg or so & 70-ish mm long.
Seatpost:
Slight layback preferred which most seem to come with & 30.9mm dia.
Budget - would prefer not to spend much more than £150 for the lot, as currently buying a new house so money is being rapidly drained into prospective white goods & sofas.
I like the look of the Easton EA70 stuff, but the 70mm stem is only available in a 20 degree angle which is too steep (although I could look at losing a couple of spacers.
Bontrager race lite stuff looks OK, but the seatpost doesn't come in 30.9.
Ritchey stuff looks nice, but the bars are 670mm, which is only 10mm wider than my current ones, so probably not wide enough.
The new RaceFace Turbine stuff (rebranded Deus?) looks pretty much what I am after, but will probably blow the budget.
I also looked at KCNC, but their stems look a bit cak, although I haven't ruled them out.
I don't ride anything extreme so don't need anything too beefy/AM/DH or any other acronym you choose to throw in.
I also looked at KCNC, but their stems look a bit cak, although I haven't ruled them out.
The SC Wing is a lovely stem super light and strong, the seat posts are good as well, do a search for yankelly on ebay, he sells KCNC it vastly reduced prices than the UK, e.g. I just got a KCNC scandium lay back seat post for £57 posted from Hong Kong, you'll pay £90 in the UK.
If you fit within the suggested weight limits you can't really go wrong.
Easton EA70 [url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Bars++Stems/Handlebars+-+Riser/Easton+EA70+Monkey+Bar+-+Black_91.htm ]bars[/url] (in lo, med or hi rise), [url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Bars++Stems/Handlebar+Stems/Easton+EA70+Stem+-+SALE_443.htm ]stem[/url] (just 6deg rise, if you're okay with 90 or 100mm length) and [url= http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Saddles++Posts/Seatposts/Easton+EA70+Seatpost_544.htm ]post[/url]. £120 all in. Could probably even find it a bit cheaper if you looked around.
Alternatively, you could swap the post and stem for Thomson Elite for about £30 more, bringing it neatly to your £150 budget, also on Merlin.
Not too convinced about lower end Easton, it's perfectly good but it's not that competitive. Their stems aren't very good either. The bars are the right shape at least.
PRO stuff is very nice and comes in at silly prices. For example:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Pro-Koryak-Alloy-Bar_29987.htm
http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/37/prs3102/shimano-pro-koryak-3d-forged-stem-2010.html
http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/60/prs36826/shimano-pro-koryak-all-mountain-seatpost-2010.html
This is a fairly heavy duty range but the weights are still reasonably low and the prices are excellent. They have a couple of different ranges to choose from. Pro are Shimano's components brand btw
Kingtut - the wing stem is on the KCNC website as a road stem. Was not sure that would be suitable for off road use? Also looks like 80mm is shortest which might be OK, but would prefer 70mm. Something to consider anyway.
Aside from that, the KCNC bars and post look great. Just think their MTB stems look a bit crude & the graphics are a bit naff.
ashfanman - was pretty sold on the EA70 kit until I noticed the shallow angle only available with longer stem length (90mm definitely too long). Might have a look at removing a couple of spacers and getting the 20 deg. 70mm EA70 riser with the rest of the bits.
northwind - not heard of PRO stuff, but that looks quite nice. Hmmm, seems to fit the bill too and well under budget! Something to consider.
HAve a look
I am using there stems and they ain't arf bad, save yerself a wad and get yer pad sorted
[url= http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tP2V1zz52Ws/TSRgQ51GI4I/AAAAAAAABaw/RxHPgkjudVY/kcnc.jp g" target="_blank">http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tP2V1zz52Ws/TSRgQ51GI4I/AAAAAAAABaw/RxHPgkjudVY/kcnc.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
The Sc Wing is for all disciplines as are most stems really, I've been using one for a year or so and I haven't died, yet.
That's good to know. 🙂
Kingtut - I searched for yankelly on ebay, but couldn't find anything. I also looked for KCNC stuff and then looked for that seller in various items, but drew a blank too.
I remember seeing a weight limit for some of the KCNC posts, but can't find the info on their site now. Being particularly inept at using the internet today! EDIT - think I have found it. 85kg for XC, which will probably just tip me over to the 'too fat' brigade.
The way I piled on the pounds over Christmas though I suspect I will be too hefty.
Kingtut - I searched for yankelly on ebay, but couldn't find anything. I also looked for KCNC stuff and then looked for that seller in various items, but drew a blank too.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/yan_kelly/m.html
or
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Cycleway-Bicycle-Shop
Damn blasted underscore!Curse you and your confusing ways.... 😀
Thanks for that.
The weight limit for the KCNC layback scandium post is 100kg for XC.
BTW, you won't go wrong with yan_kelly fast shipping and great communication.
Hmmmmm, looks like KCNC might be a go-er.....
I couldn't get a KCNC seapost to hold the saddle which kept moving backwards, the bolt is tiny and I feared it was made of cheese, it felt like it was going to strip out.
Bars are nice, stem was a stem.
I couldn't get a KCNC seapost to hold the saddle which kept moving backwards, the bolt is tiny and I feared it was made of cheese, it felt like it was going to strip out.
I feared that too but it's a very resilient little bolt it's so far held 3 saddles of different makes, however if you use a shitty allen key that will knacker it but that goes for any Ti bolt.
It was on a demo bike and I didn't want to risk damaging it... I would not buy one after that.
Thomson 30.9 £57 quid
Thomson 70mm O deg £64
EA70 Mid rise (25MM) 685 £37 or 50's which are 20 pounds.
All nice kit with good resales.
Thompson post & X4 stem. Nice kit that will sell on easily if your needs change. For bars, there's nowt wrong with EA50's or 70's.
Thomson kit is fairly hefty, I don't think that's what the OP is looking for.
It's Easton's new Haven carbon range you should be looking at. It's not out yet, but it looks great and should be out soon.
Hmmmm. My indecision is growing. I thought Thomson kit was more expensive than that and I was hoping to get all three matching, but it's something to consider.
If I'm going to go for mix & match, there's plenty to choose from - perhaps EA70 bar & post with just a Thomson stem.....?
I have heard Thomson stuff isn't the lightest, but I will look into this further. It seems to get mentioned a lot.
KCNC still in first place I reckon (unless I can get some RF Turbine stuff cheaper than RRP).
manonsoul - Easton Haven carbon - all 3 bits for £150?!
Cheers for all the great suggestions so far - been very helpful! Keep any more ideas coming......
The Thomson stems and seatpost are both £52 at Merlin at present
It's Easton's new Haven carbon range you should be looking at. It's not out yet, but it looks great and should be out soon.
I fitted this set to my daughters bike last year looks nice and is fairly light, matched set 😀
Apologies for slight hijack but northwind could you reply to my e mail re the noir bars ? Rollason73@hotmail.com thanks