Cracked AX Lightness Stem
Moderator: robbosmans
-
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am
Hit a bump on the road yesterday -- a gap on the pavement transitioning from smooth asphalt to a concrete overpass section. The impact resulted in a crack on my AX Lightness stem. Luckily, the stem still held the bar in place and did not cause an accident. It was an older model -- not the latest version of the Zeus.
A new AX stem will realistically take a couple of months to obtain (door to door from Germany to the U.S.). Can anyone recommend an alternative lightweight stem? I was thinking the Extralite Road UL3 stem -- it's not carbon but is only a few grams heavier than the AX and Fairwheel has them in stock. It also has a fully detachable clamp on the front so I won't have to remove the shifters in order to install the bar. Need one with a 26mm clamping diameter.
Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Thx.
A new AX stem will realistically take a couple of months to obtain (door to door from Germany to the U.S.). Can anyone recommend an alternative lightweight stem? I was thinking the Extralite Road UL3 stem -- it's not carbon but is only a few grams heavier than the AX and Fairwheel has them in stock. It also has a fully detachable clamp on the front so I won't have to remove the shifters in order to install the bar. Need one with a 26mm clamping diameter.
Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Thx.
Last edited by audiophilitis on Sun Sep 29, 2013 9:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com
-
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 1:21 am
- Location: Canada
Yep....i would definitely go for the Extralite. I've had my share of problems with the older Zeus stem both road and MTB version and it took 2 months if not more to get a replacement from AX.
Just wondering if the stem cracked in the body or at the head where you connect the handlebar?
If it's just the head you could probably have a bar stem combo done by a qualified maker.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
If it's just the head you could probably have a bar stem combo done by a qualified maker.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
Cervelo R2.5
Cervelo P2c
Cervelo R3
Parlee Z3
Parlee TT
Cervelo P2c
Cervelo R3
Parlee Z3
Parlee TT
-
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am
Thanks for all the feedback. I will go with the Extralite as suggested by the vast majority.
Serbelo, the crack developed around the section that clamps the bar -- near the location of the bolts. They look like stress cracks and are on both sides. I will retire this stem and chuck it up to cost of doing business. There are downsides to building an uber lightweight bike and this is one of them -- but I still think the advantages far outweigh the few disadvantages.
I'm just very thankful that this did not result in a crash as I would have taken down at least 5 other riders.
Ride safe everyone.
Serbelo, the crack developed around the section that clamps the bar -- near the location of the bolts. They look like stress cracks and are on both sides. I will retire this stem and chuck it up to cost of doing business. There are downsides to building an uber lightweight bike and this is one of them -- but I still think the advantages far outweigh the few disadvantages.
I'm just very thankful that this did not result in a crash as I would have taken down at least 5 other riders.
Ride safe everyone.
Do you have a photo of the cracks? I'm interested in a visual. Thanks.
“I always find it amazing that a material can actually sell a product when it’s really the engineering that creates and dictates how well that material will behave or perform.” — Chuck Teixeira
Not on your 'want-list' but you may also want to consider the new Deda SuperLeggero stem. I have one and have given it a beating with no complaints.
It is also in the 'very light' range of stems, and once you scratch off the Italian flag it looks great.
It is also in the 'very light' range of stems, and once you scratch off the Italian flag it looks great.
audiophilitis wrote:Hit a bump on the road yesterday -- a gap on the pavement transitioning from smooth asphalt to a concrete overpass section. The impact resulted in a crack on my AX Lightness stem. Luckily, the stem still held the bar in place and did not cause an accident. It was an older model -- not the latest version of the Zeus.
A new AX stem will realistically take a couple of months to obtain (door to door from Germany to the U.S.). Can anyone recommend an alternative lightweight stem? I was thinking the Extralite Road UL3 stem -- it's not carbon but is only a few grams heavier than the AX and Fairwheel has them in stock. It also has a fully detachable clamp on the front so I won't have to remove the shifters in order to install the bar. Need one with a 26mm clamping diameter.
Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Thx.
Dear Audiophilitis, i feel sorry for the crack in your stem. You said, it would be a earlier version ? May i ask you to send me a picture of the crack with infos about its age ? We might be able to help you. My adress is: axel.schnura@ax-lightness.de
Thank you !
ax-lightness GmbH: http://www.ax-lightness.de | http://www.facebook.com/axlightness | http://www.flickr.com/ax-lightness
-
- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am
Thank you for your post, Axel. I will snap some photos and email themto you directly.
Extralite.
Carbon stems still scares me
(and still don´t save grams enough for that prices)
Carbon stems still scares me
(and still don´t save grams enough for that prices)
Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓ Broad Selection ✓ Worldwide Delivery ✓
www.starbike.com
Last year i ride the combo ax lightness roadbar with the Zeus stem. I mount it with carbon pasta...but every time there was a bad road (i life in Belgium) like kobbelstones it give a hard "crack" and the roadbar turn down! Not happy when you pay more than 1000euro for that combo! I ride now a syntace f99 with Ti bolts without issues and the f99 is a fraction of the price of a zeus stem!
And to test the new stem "rigid" i won't pay again almost 600euro...also it is oversized and i like the shape of my ax4000 wich is diam 26!
And to test the new stem "rigid" i won't pay again almost 600euro...also it is oversized and i like the shape of my ax4000 wich is diam 26!