Any experience with Easton EC90 SL Stem and EC90 SLX3 bars?

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xnavalav8r
Posts: 2594
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:09 pm

by xnavalav8r

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! I have that combo on all my bikes except my English which uses a proprietary stem, but still the SLX bars.

The line shown in the photos above is normal. It's on my bars too.

I can't say enough about these bars and the stem. My only ever complaint was the hardware on the stem will rust over time. I replaced my hardware with titanium bits.

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Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

Since I first responded to this post, I have switched stems to the EC90 SL. (Still using the EC90 SLX3 bars)
The combo is very nice and seems plentry stiff to me.
The clamp of the EC90 SL is round and fits the bars perfectly. the "top-lock" construction method really seems superior. I am surprised everyone doesn't do it. here is really no reason to leave gaps at both the top and bottom of the clamp.

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Getter
Posts: 848
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:30 am
Location: So Cal

by Getter

Rick wrote:In another thread, I wrote about how I had this problem with a 3T stem. The clamp area was not truly round, so I honed it out slightly using fine sandpaper wrapped over a 31.6 seatpost scrap. Worked perfectl;, no bite marks


Since this thread came back up. I'll reply to an old reply. :mrgreen:

My bite marks also came from a 3T stem. Another person on Road Bike Review also had bite marks on his bars from a non round 3T face plate.

thisisatest
Shop Owner
Posts: 1980
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Location: NoVA/DC

by thisisatest

i'll reply to your reply of an old reply:
the 3t face plates start out properly shaped, but are too thin, especially near the "ears" that the bolts go through. the bolts end up trying to bend the ears towards the stem, and the inside edge of the face plate bends into the bar. so it creases the bar.
this is also why the ti bolts break on these stems- area around the bolt head is no longer flush, it forces the bolt into a bend.

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Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

The Ti bolts on 3T stems are just plain defective. When I replaced mine with Ti bolts from Pro-Bolt, I didn't have a single one break.
5 n-m just isn't that much stress. They should withstand that with an enormous safety factor.

I have mixed feelings about 3T. Their designs are very elegant and I like them. But with my problems with their Ti bolts and out-of-round clamps, I just won't buy anything else from them if there is a good alternative. Their quality control seems suspect. Any manufacturer can have a defect, but I have never had so many problems clustered on one.

I actually have 2 3T ARX stems, and in another thread I wrote about how I accidentally found out how to easily remove all the graphics by wiping it with the solvent MEK. Good news for some I guess, but really none of my other graphics on other parts by other manufacturers wipe off so easily.
{BOTH 3T stems had breaking bolts and out-of-round clamps, by the way. I am still using one with aluminum bars, so the bite doesn't seem like as big a problem. Designing things so they will be round IN THE INSTALLED-STRESSED CONDITION is not that tough.}

jmsp
Posts: 43
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:45 pm

by jmsp

xnavalav8r wrote:LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! I have that combo on all my bikes except my English which uses a proprietary stem, but still the SLX bars.

The line shown in the photos above is normal. It's on my bars too.

I can't say enough about these bars and the stem. My only ever complaint was the hardware on the stem will rust over time. I replaced my hardware with titanium bits.


Thanks :thumbup:
Now I can ride in a more relaxed way and enjoy my stem/bar combo, without being worried about that "line".

RMcC
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:25 am
Location: Scotland

by RMcC

How does the SLX 3 bars and SL stem compare with a setup that has a 90mm stem with -6 deg and bars that have 125mm drop and 80mm reach?

My current setup is comfortable for me when riding on the hoods which is what I do most of the time and I dont want to alter it too much but its heavy fsa kit and needs upgraded. Will I have to go for a different length stem or move my seat forward or backward?

reeses
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 10:37 pm

by reeses

Sorry to revive an old thread but I have a question regarding the bite marks on my EC90 SLX3 bars... looks like this:
Image

Is this a bite mark or a crack? When I press my thumb nail on it, there isn't any movement.

boots2000
Posts: 1393
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:28 pm

by boots2000

I have to say that the SLX3 is my favorite bar. I have been using it since 2008- I keep trying other shapes and keep coming back to this one.
I think that if it had a longer flat on the bottom of the bar (like classic bars) it would be the perfect bar.

JackWalk
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:29 am

by JackWalk

How much does a pair of these go for?

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