Superstar Stems - crazy weight/price?!

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Devon
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by Devon

Any experience of the Superstar Epix CNC or Zephir Stems? Claimed weights for a 110mm unit are 115g and 103g.

This seems extraordinarily low, considering most brands offer the same length with at least an extra 20-30g for more money.

For the price, these seem crazy good value. I've had no issues with Superstar parts in the past, having used their seatposts and garmin mounts.

Any thoughts?

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vejnemojnen
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by vejnemojnen

Have you considered Uno stems? Those are light and cheap. YOu can swap the screws later for more weight loss. And the graphics are easily removed via some acetone and scrubbing :beerchug:

Devon
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by Devon

vejnemojnen wrote:Have you considered Uno stems? Those are light and cheap. YOu can swap the screws later for more weight loss. And the graphics are easily removed via some acetone and scrubbing :beerchug:


As in Kalloy Uno? I'm building a bike using all British (branded) components.

As a sideline, oven cleaner works better for removing anodising/logos and doesn't require any scrubbing.


Edit: clarification made for fussy people :twisted:
Last edited by Devon on Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:03 am, edited 2 times in total.

topflightpro
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by topflightpro

Those numbers don't seem too far fetched. My Rithcey C260 in 120mm weighed in at 110g on my wife's old Weight Watchers food scale. My 100mm WCS Matrix stem came in at 115g.

trailflow1
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by trailflow1

I'm building a bike using all British components.


Sorry to break the bad news but most likely those stems have been picked out of a taiwanese catalogue. Along with most of the other stuff Superstar sell.

Planet X btw also sell the Zephir Stem but they say its 155g for 110mm and its only £19.99
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/STPXCNC/pl ... t-cnc-stem

bm0p700f
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by bm0p700f

Superstar stems are not made in the u.k. There is no British stem and drop bar manufacturer. A British build is impossible as there are no u.k rim, spoke, chain, shifter and mech manufacturers.

Are you sure the stem is not a re branded kalloy uno.

rpenmanparker
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by rpenmanparker

I have a 110 mm FSA OS-99 stem that weighs 125 g. I can't sell it for $25.00 on ebay. What is wrong with this picture? Also a 120 that doesn't weigh much more.
Robert

Nefarious86
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by Nefarious86

rpenmanparker wrote:I have a 110 mm FSA OS-99 stem that weighs 125 g. I can't sell it for $25.00 on ebay. What is wrong with this picture? Also a 120 that doesn't weigh much more.

Link to 120?;)
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vejnemojnen
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by vejnemojnen

oven cleaner will get the whole anodising.. acetone will only remove the graphics..

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/251045/

with oven cleaner, you'll end up with a silver-raw stem.

btw, the superstar stem is surely a kalloy one... just like "eddy merckx" or "concept" or any other basic "branded" stem..

wrcompositi
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by wrcompositi

Devon wrote:Any experience of the Superstar Epix CNC or Zephir Stems? Claimed weights for a 110mm unit are 115g and 103g.

This seems extraordinarily low, considering most brands offer the same length with at least an extra 20-30g for more money.

For the price, these seem crazy good value. I've had no issues with Superstar parts in the past, having used their seatposts and garmin mounts.

Any thoughts?


Zephir looks the same as Mr.Control stem-LB1:
http://www.mrcontrol-bike.com/en/product.php

But Mr.Contol claims 128g for 120mm stem(also with ti bolts), Superstar's claimed weight seems questionable.
(One of the user review on Superstar's page says his 70mm Zephir stem weighs 120g, which is quite a discrepancy.)

Mr.Control provides many models to name brands, like Planet-X brake calipers and stems.

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prendrefeu
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by prendrefeu

Devon wrote:I'm building a bike using all British components.


:popcorn:

Singlespeed? Derailleur?

What about the chain? I can't seem to find any British bicycle chain manufacturers.

Hope, Middleburn or U.S.E. may have the stem you're looking for.
http://www.hopetech.com/
http://www.middleburn.co.uk/
http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/use-hardware

A lot of those were found on this blog: https://ukmade.wordpress.com/category/bicycles/ but I'd be weary as the author does not seem to know when the light he is using from Clulite is in fact a rendition of the common light found on Aliexpress
Good luck with your all British bicycle! :beerchug:
It's an ambitious task you've set out to do.
Exp001 || Other projects in the works.

Devon
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by Devon

Obviously there aren't any groupset manufactures - why would I use anything but Camapgnolo anyway? :roll: :twisted:

By the logic of it having been made elsewhere, my British frame is also of Asian origin. I don't care, it's designed in the UK and/or branded
and distributed by a British brand. Who cares about the technicalities...

I should point out that this 'ambitious build' is meant as a bit of fun - there is no way I would limit the quality of a build in order to maintain
some sort of bizarre patriotism. It's a UK designed frame, so I'm sticking some kit on it that is designed and/or sold by British brands.

In regards to the Hope stem, I was planning to purchase it, but it weighs about the same as my frameset and costs more than an Italian sports car.
Last edited by Devon on Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:16 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Devon
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Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

vejnemojnen wrote:oven cleaner will get the whole anodising.. acetone will only remove the graphics..

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/251045/

with oven cleaner, you'll end up with a silver-raw stem.

btw, the superstar stem is surely a kalloy one... just like "eddy merckx" or "concept" or any other basic "branded" stem..


Yes, very true.

I don't see why you'd ever want to remove the graphics from a stem. I do however use oven cleaner on my retro builds as it allows
me to run a decent (modern) silver stem without emptying my wallet on Ritchey classic.
Last edited by Devon on Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:08 am, edited 2 times in total.

Devon
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Location: Sydney, Australia

by Devon

I emailed Superstar to confirm weather the claimed weight includes the front cap and bolts. Will be interesting to see what is said.

EDIT:

Hello Alex
The weight of the complete 110mm version of this stem is approx. 134g.

Yours,
David
Superstar Customer Service


I guess the 103g quoted is for the body only. Sneaky! 8)

by Weenie


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rpenmanparker
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by rpenmanparker

Nefarious86 wrote:
rpenmanparker wrote:I have a 110 mm FSA OS-99 stem that weighs 125 g. I can't sell it for $25.00 on ebay. What is wrong with this picture? Also a 120 that doesn't weigh much more.

Link to 120?;)


http://www.ebay.com/itm/201443227342?ss ... 1555.l2649
Robert

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