Anyone Else Use an Angle Adjustable Mountain Bike Stem?

radderfire · 28 Aug 2015 at 20:15

Hi Guys

I've just fitted an angle adjustable stem to my mountain bike, it's made by System EX. It's good, but one concern is that the angle is held in place by a single allen key bolt, and I wonder if this could ever fail badly. I would not want the handlebars to flop down when I am flying down hill. Has anybody else got one and have you ever had any issues? Am I worried about nothing?

Thanks

SoliD · 28 Aug 2015 at 22:02

radderfire said:
Hi Guys

I've just fitted an angle adjustable stem to my mountain bike, it's made by System EX. It's good, but one concern is that the angle is held in place by a single allen key bolt, and I wonder if this could ever fail badly. I would not want the handlebars to flop down when I am flying down hill. Has anybody else got one and have you ever had any issues? Am I worried about nothing?

Use one on my tt bike. Never had an issue. I believe it has a locking mechanism sort of like a spigot in the middle to keep it in place with just the one Allen bolt.

uv · 28 Aug 2015 at 23:32

Your brakes are held in place with a single Allen bolt, it's nothing to worry about

weescott · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:37

Why bother with one in the first place? Set up your bike properly and you won't need to adjust your stem. Yes it could break. It's a high stress area.

One More Solo · 29 Aug 2015 at 15:56

weescott said:
Why bother with one in the first place? Set up your bike properly and you won't need to adjust your stem. Yes it could break. It's a high stress area.

Probably because adjustable stems cover more angles than fixed ones? I have to run a -60 degree adjustable stem on my track bike to get it usable for pursuits. You can't buy a stem like that AFAIK.

radderfire · 29 Aug 2015 at 20:32

I'm guessing the designers have thought about safety when designing the product, I was just wondering how they might have achieved this.

moogle · 29 Aug 2015 at 21:20

radderfire said:
I'm guessing the designers have thought about safety when designing the product, I was just wondering how they might have achieved this.

Maybe it's indexed like gears (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=9...QMMkA&biw=2219&bih=1177#imgrc=cq_-pPGpzaexBM:) so when you tighten the bolt it locks them tight?

Sort of like a single bolt seatpost usually has notches so the seat can only sit at certain positions.

neil_g · 31 Aug 2015 at 11:38

radderfire said:
I'm guessing the designers have thought about safety when designing the product, I was just wondering how they might have achieved this.

depends what sort of riding you're using it for. i cant imagine it holding up to a lot of abuse.