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Submitted by
tdolinka
a Triathlete
from Date Reviewed: August 2, 2010
Strengths: Great looks, excellent top bar grip for climbing or relaxed ridingWeaknesses: If yours is cracked (void in carbon) like mine would you want to take a 40 mph switchback descent with it? This bar (at least mine) could kill you.Bottom Line: A heads-up if your looking to upgrade to FSA Plasma bars for your road bike. I bought a pair used. With-in a week it developed a hairline crack in the clear coat about 4 mm long. After 6 weeks the crack spread and began to take on the shape of the carbon weave.
Since it was used neither the seller or FSA wanted to know. Without a return option I was curious so I sanded it down to see how far past the clear coat the crack went. What I found was a void in the carbon lay-up about 1 cm long and 5mm wide at it widest. Seems to me it was a FSA made manufacturing defect.
I went so far as to buy a carbon repair kit. Since the void is on the top and the bar is reinforced on the bottom with a cable guide I'm betting the bar will hold up. On the other hand I'll always know the void exists...covered or not...why take the risk? I have the aluminum bars back on and am worry free.
In the end I've bought a carbon frame, wheels and a seat post in the past and been satisfied with those products from Argon, HED and Easton. I'll steer clear of FSA going forward.
Favorite Ride: SavageMan!
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At: ebay
Bike Setup: Argon Helium
HED 3
Ultegra/DA mix
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Dolinka
a Triathlete
from Date Reviewed: August 2, 2010
Strengths: Looks great, clean integrated design, well thought top bar gripWeaknesses: poorly formed carbon-very dangerous to goof on a handlebarBottom Line: A heads-up if your looking to upgrade to FSA Plasma bars for your road bike. I bought a pair used. With-in a week it developed a hairline crack in the clear coat about 4 mm long. After 6 weeks the crack spread and began to take on the shape of the carbon weave.
Since it was used neither the seller or FSA wanted to know. Without a return option I was curious so I sanded it down to see how far past the clear coat the crack went. What I found was a void in the carbon lay-up about 1.5 cm long and 5mm wide at it widest. Seems to me it was a FSA made manufacturing defect.
I went so far as to buy a carbon repair kit. Since the void is on the top and the bar is reinforced on the bottom with a cable guide I'm betting the bar will hold up. On the other hand I'll always know the void exists...covered or not...why take the risk? I have the aluminum bars back on and am worry free.
In the end I've bought a carbon frame, wheels and a seat post in the past and been satisfied with those products from Argon, HED and Easton. I'll steer clear of FSA going forward.
Favorite Ride: SavageMan
Price Paid:
$375.00
Purchased At: used
Bike Setup: Argon18-Hed3-Ultegra/DA mix
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Snakebitten
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: June 7, 2009
Strengths: looks, feel, looks, strengthWeaknesses: NoneBottom Line: Beautiful bar. Love the feel. It absorbs road vibes beautifully. Upgraded from Ritchie aluminium bar and stem and the difference is ridiculous. Very strong. Im 6'6" and 250lbs and these bars dont feel wobbly under my weight. Just wish they discribed the handlebar angle in all the ads. I should have gotten the 90 degree bend so the bar looks level with my top bar. Its kinda angled up and it bugs me. Otherwise absolutely beautiful bars.
Favorite Ride: Prospect Park
Price Paid:
$340.00
Purchased At: Ebay
Similar Products Used: First carbon bar/stem combo
Bike Setup: 09 Immortal Spirit, Look Keo pedals, Fizik seat and bar tape, Fulcrum racing wheels and skewers, Hudz hood covers, xlab wing, FSA Plasma and seat post, Miche seatpost colar.....
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andrew Considine
a Road Racer
from Date Reviewed: February 20, 2009
Strengths: looks
weight is good
feel on the hands is amazing!Weaknesses: nataBottom Line: Got these guys off of ebay and really have loved them! They look great and feel amazing. The color combo is awesome! I would suggest these to anyone looking to upgrade there ride. Did a review with couple photos here http://bikeandgadget.blogspot.com/ Hope you enjoy!
Favorite Ride: PCH
Price Paid:
$220.00
Purchased At: Ebay
Bike Setup: Trek 2.1 frame
Dura ace
Zero G brakes
Easton EC90 SLX fork
Race X-lite wheels
Overall Rating: Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sheik Yerbooti
a Recreational Rider
from Date Reviewed: October 2, 2008
Strengths: -incredibly stiff
-carbon!
-wow factor
-ergonomics
-bullet-proof
-internal routingWeaknesses: -price
-absolute un-adjustability
-don't like bumps near the brake hoods
-finishing quality can be even better
-soft threading/bolts are too easy to stripBottom Line: After trying to skimp on bars for the longest time on this and other bikes, I finally came to my senses. If bars, saddles, (and pedals) are really the only contact points a rider has with the bike, shouldn't these components be as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. No sense trying to skimp for these parts! This bar has been worth every penny in this respect. (Only my K-Sword has been able to top these bars.)
When I first got them, I couldn't help being impressed by how beautifully sculpted it was. I used to think no other bars could compare to Cinelli's timeless but uber-pricy Rams. It's a pity the press pic that FSA always uses is shot at a bad angle. You have to see this bar in the flesh to really appreciate its beauty. Its design is truly well thought-out, unlike most of FSA's otherwise generic designs.
Overall, they seem to be very well manufactured but when I first got them, I could hear something lodged deep inside the bar when they're rattled, but after installation, the rattling seems non-existent now. Likely some carbon scraps from the manufacturing process but for this price, I expect them to be flawless. Also, the threading for the included computer mount that bolts into the bottom of the stem part got its threading stripped (like every single other FSA part I've ever bought!) and then it came loose within the stem. Now it's just stuck in there and now I only have one good bolt for the mount.
The first ride certainly didn't fail to impress either. This is the first bar that I've used that doesn't flex under power, not even slightly. Yet it's stiff without being uncomfortable; it absorbs all road shock. I can't think of any aluminium bars that can compare. The only thing that annoys me still is the tops ending in a bump near the brake hoods, unlike the Ram or K-Sword where it's smooth in that area. Since I spend most of my time gripping that area of the bars, its design is critical. Others are understandably concerned about their un-adjustability but for me, the integrated bars' angles, lengths and drops are spot on. (I guess I'm just too average size-wise?!) No complaints there! I'd suggest trying them out in person first and not just mail-ordering them.
Favorite Ride: anything Italian with 4 wheels ;P
Price Paid:
$300.00
Purchased At: LBS
Similar Products Used: -ITM K-Sword (even better!)
-ITM Carbon
-cheaper Cinelli, ITM, Easton...
Bike Setup: Felt F1C, DA, Zipp 404's, SL-K mega-exo cranks
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Reviews 1 - 5 (8 Reviews Total)
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