Bike Setup: Soloist, Superprodigy, Scapin S2, and "No-Name alu", all with 9sp Dura-Ace
Summary: Bummer! I just bought a second one of these, and now, having read these reviews, I suspect my other one does creak!!
After my 2nd purchase, I Googled the stem just to see if I got a bargain, and these reviews came up. I guess my other Solido does creak, but it didn’t dawn on me that it was the stem; I assumed it’s just that I didn’t have enough grease where the stem attaches to the heavily-lacquered steerer. It’s not really a ‘creak’, it’s more of a ‘click’, and it’s intermittent. Ah well, it’s not that bad, and my new one does NOT creak. The comment below about uneven wear under the cap is very interesting, and something I didn’t know -- I’ll check mine some day soon.
I have no slipping problems.
Apart from that, these stems are fine; they look fantastic, they are on a steep enough angle (most stuff around here is 6 degrees), not too expensive, and they seem to me to be as stiff as my other stems (mostly Easton EA50s and ITMs), but I’m not a sprinter, so I don’t really mash the bars.
Summary: I never had any problem with creak or slipping (I have been using the Solido/Solida Stem/Bar combo. Performed fine for a long time, but last week one of the Ti bolts sheared off after hitting a pothole in a race on a downhill. I managed to slow the bike significantly before the second bolt broke. I've been careful with the torque, and after reading some of the other reviews, I would highly recommend ditching your Ti bolts for steel ones if you are currently riding this stem. Overall, this stem survived many years of poorly paved urban roads, but it only takes that last pothole to cause it to fail, so be careful.
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Bike Setup: Seven Odonata frame. Lotsa other stuff
Summary: No problems with this stem so far. Maybe I lucked out and got a better-machined version of this stem than previous reviewers. Bars don't rotate. Don't notice any flex from the stem. From my experience it's been a reliable, light component that does it's job without me noticing...which is a good thing. If I noticed the stem I suppose it would be due to a problem. No complaints here.
Strengths: Light weight. No problems after about 2 years of use.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Similar Products Used: Ibis Ti quill. Ritchey WCS.
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Bike Setup: Specialized M4 Road with Campagnolo Record, Mavic CXP rims, Look pedals, Cinelli B-Groove bars, Look Ergostem.
Summary: After using this stem for some time i'll never buy a two bolt stem again. First problem was the handlebars slipping in the stem. I tried to tighten the bolts but this didn't help much. I cured the problem by using some sandpaper on the inside on the stem. After that the stem performed fine until one of the titanium bolts snapped. Luckely i managed to stop without crashing. Replaced the titanium top bolts by some steel ones, after that it worked ok.
Strengths: Looks, flip-able, comes with 1 inch adapter.
Weaknesses: -Two bolt system, when one snaps you're lucky not to crash. If you need a stem get a four bolt design!
-Titanium bolts for end cap, these snap too easily.
-Slippery inside of the stem, they should roughen it up a bit.
-Price, it's too much, comparable stems could be had for 50%.
Bike Setup: Colnago CT1, mixture of Record and Chorus 10spd components
Summary: I can not recommend this product- I have used Cinelli for years and bought the stem together with Solida bars for their looks and light weight. Right from the start I found it impossible to tighten the bar clamp enough to prevent the bars from slipping down if I hit the slightest pothole. Then recently while riding along a smooth stretch of road the head of one of the bolts sheared off, leaving me with wobbly bars, and nearly causing a crash!
Strengths: Light weight, good looks
Weaknesses: As above, lack of security even with the correct bars, leading to failure of one of the bolts.
Similar Products Used: Various Cinelli and ITM quill stems, Colnago (ITM) ahead stem (perfect so far)
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