DEDA Newton

Price Paid:  $30.00 at ebay

Bike Setup:
carbon road racer with ultegra/neuvation

Summary:
Very light alloy stem, but recently developed a crack in the steering tube
clamp. Deda said it's from overtightening
but I use a small hex and am very carefull
so as not to crack the carbon steering tube.
Not covered by warrenty. I think these super
light alloy stems are too delecate. I am
a light rider too, so little stress.

Strengths:
light

Weaknesses:
easily cracked

Price Paid:  $80.00 at The Bike Gang (lbs)

Favorite Ride:
around Crystal Lake in Frankfort, MI

Bike Setup:
Riding a storck absolutist 0.9. Well now I'm using an old specialized stem from a tarmac I have. Think I'll get a 3T stem. Good product, and not overpriced like so much crap that's being marketed as high tech. A stem is a stem. It just needs to be relatively stiff and strong.

Summary:
I went about installing the stem. I greased the bolt threads and tightened bolts using a torque wrench in an X pattern. Never got a chance to ride with the stem though as the bolts cored out the threads of the stem.

Strengths:
? I wouldn't know. The product failed.

Weaknesses:
I honestly beleive this to be a case of the torque specs being too high. If I had used my better judgement I would have simply used the same torque specs as most other stems I have used. But what I just followed the manufacturers reccomendation.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized, easton, ritchey, bontrager

Price Paid:  $192.00 at bikepro melbourne

Favorite Ride:
no cars

Bike Setup:
Time Edge, Trek Madone 5.9 and Specialized Roubaix Comp, but not relevant for this review

Summary:
this is review for Newton 31-86 stem, i.e. 4 degrees not the Newton 8 degree. i have 3 of these: 100mm, 110mm and 120mm for different bikes. great stem, excellent angles, compatible with non-Deda 31.8mm O/S bars. i dont know why others dont make +-4 degree stems, they are perfect for less flexible riders who may find 6 and 8 degree stems too steep.

Strengths:
4 degree angle is less steep then usual 6 or 8 degree so you need fewer spacers flipped down and if flipped up it looks better in +4 position compared to +6 or +8 stems.

Weaknesses:
price is very high for a small aluminium part. alloy is not rocket science! hence average 3/5 value rating.

Similar Products Used:
BBB, Bontrager, Specialized

Price Paid:  $1.00 at Two Wheel Transit

Favorite Ride:
All and except cold rain

Bike Setup:
Very nice.

Summary:
I have used the Newton Stems since they have come out and never bothered to read the reviews until today and was surprised. I am 6'1" and 200+ sprinter/TT sorta racer. I have never experienced the problems mentioned and have four of the stems in various lengths and ages that get swapped around a bit.

I do grease the threads when first out of the box and am careful with getting the bolt tension even, although I use feeler gauges to set even spacing as my torque wrenchs are for bigger stuff.

Strengths:
Light. Been reliable for me.

Weaknesses:
None that I have found.

Similar Products Used:
Think of a high quality stem over the last 35 years and I have used it.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Two stems, both of them have broken. It's time to move on to something safer and more reliable.

On the first stem the face plate cracked. That was replaced. Then the steere clam cracked.

I made the mistake of purchasing another Deda stem. This one has lasted just ovre a year and again the steerer clamp has cracked.

And yes I have a torque wrench and follow manufacterer's guidelines.

Strengths:
Good ads and pro sponsorship which provide cover for the junky products they release.

Weaknesses:
Two stems in four years. It's a ratio I can't afford to maintain. Time to move to another manufactuere.

Similar Products Used:
Richtey. These components appear very solid and will be my choice moving forward.
Cinelli