Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I have since come across numerous cracked head stems and know of a number of serious accidents that have occured when the head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious and another has been left with large scars on all of his limbs.
Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should replace it as soon as possible. With the current trend of powder coated head stems it is very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. The cracks occur on the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld.
If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a forged headstem and not a welded headstem.
When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded head stem, tell them that they can expect the headstem to experience catastrophic failure.
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I have since come across numerous cracked head stems and know of a number of serious accidents that have occured when the head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious and another has been left with large scars on all of his limbs.
Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should replace it as soon as possible. With the current trend of powder coated head stems it is very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. The cracks occur on the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld.
If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a forged headstem and not a welded headstem.
When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded head stem, tell them that they can expect the headstem to experience catastrophic failure.
Can you give us some evidence to support your claim?
Just replaced mine this week on the Giant OCR-1 2003.. the default was an adjustable quill style creaky POS.. In my quest to make the bike a better fit, I've installed a 90mm stem with a quill to ahead converter.. not the ideal solution, but the setup is now better fitting and lighter..
From what I saw in my research, those welded stems were ass ugly so I stayed away..
cheers, gpl
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I have since come across numerous cracked head stems and know of a number of serious accidents that have occured when the head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious and another has been left with large scars on all of his limbs.
Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should replace it as soon as possible. With the current trend of powder coated head stems it is very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. The cracks occur on the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld.
If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a forged headstem and not a welded headstem.
When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded head stem, tell them that they can expect the headstem to experience catastrophic failure.
Originally posted by Marty Wallace "xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I have since come across numerous cracked head stems and know of a number of serious accidents that have occured when the head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious and another has been left with large scars on all of his limbs.
Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should replace it as soon as possible. With the current trend of powder coated head stems it is very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. The cracks occur on the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld.
If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a forged headstem and not a welded headstem.
When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded head stem, tell them that they can expect the headstem to experience catastrophic failure.
Can you give us some evidence to support your claim?
Marty
If you have a look at every bike that has a welded aluminium head stem you will soon see that a very high percentage of them have developed cracks.
I can also name two people who have crashed when the head stems have failed.
Originally posted by xbgs351 Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I have since come across numerous cracked head stems and know of a number of serious accidents that have occured when the head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious and another has been left with large scars on all of his limbs.
Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should replace it as soon as possible. With the current trend of powder coated head stems it is very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. The cracks occur on the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld.
If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a forged headstem and not a welded headstem.
When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded head stem, tell them that they can expect the headstem to experience catastrophic failure.
What's the difference in cost these days to go with a good Ti stem instead? For a relatively simple piece like a stem I'd expect it to be quite feasible for a lot of people.
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Marty Wallace said:
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1rAyc.-
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Quoted message said:
e28.usenetserver.comnews:[email hidden]-
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Quoted message said:
rver.com... > Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an > alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had > a 15mm crack in the weld. I
have
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Quoted message said:
> since come across numerous cracked head stems and > know of a number
of
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> serious accidents that have occured when the head > stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious > and another has been left with
large
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> scars on all of his limbs. > > Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should > replace it as
soon
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Quoted message said:
> as possible. With the current trend of powder coated > head stems it
is
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. > The cracks occur
on
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld. > > If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a > forged headstem and not a welded headstem. > > When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded > head stem, tell them that they can expect the > headstem to experience catastrophic failure. > Can you give us some evidence to support your claim? Marty
If you have a look at every bike that has a welded aluminium head stem you will soon see that a very high percentage of them have developed cracks.
I can also name two people who have crashed when the head stems have failed.
Oh ok, sounds like pretty good evidence to me. I expect we'll see all welded head stems taken off the shelves in the next few days.
Marty
I guess I shouldn't hold my breath either then Marty?
I've never heard of stems breaking in such a way. Nobody I know has ever heard of it either. I'd estimate a collective 180,000+ kms of riding in which nobody I know has had a stem break.
I've mostly had well known brands - 3TTT, ITM & Deda, so maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for? Although I've never been convinced that the name stamoed on the side guarantees any particular quality.
I'd be very curious to see some actual evidence too.
Who are these two people? HOw old/used were the stems? What sort of riding? MTB or road? etc...
Bikes with Tri bars seem to be far more prone to developing cracks.
My head stem cracked when I had tri-bars on. I weighed approx 65kg at the time. The crack was noticed after approx 20,000 km although it may have been present for a long time.
Have have heard but can't confirm, of a headstem failing after only six weeks.
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Marty Wallace said:
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1rAyc.-
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
e28.usenetserver.comnews:[email hidden]-
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
rver.com... > Welded aluminium head stems have been failing at an > alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old head stem had > a 15mm crack in the weld. I
have
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> since come across numerous cracked head stems and > know of a number
of
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> serious accidents that have occured when the head > stems have broken. One cylist was knocked unconsious > and another has been left with
large
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> scars on all of his limbs. > > Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem should > replace it as
soon
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> as possible. With the current trend of powder coated > head stems it
is
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> very difficult to inspect the welds for cracking. > The cracks occur
on
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the weld. > > If you are buying a new bike make sure that it has a > forged headstem and not a welded headstem. > > When you see somebody who has a bike with a welded > head stem, tell them that they can expect the > headstem to experience catastrophic failure. > Can you give us some evidence to support your claim? Marty
If you have a look at every bike that has a welded aluminium head stem you will soon see that a very high percentage of them have developed cracks.
I can also name two people who have crashed when the head stems have failed.
Oh ok, sounds like pretty good evidence to me. I expect we'll see all welded head stems taken off the shelves in the next few days.
Marty
I guess I shouldn't hold my breath either then Marty?
I've never heard of stems breaking in such a way. Nobody I know has ever heard of it either. I'd estimate a collective 180,000+ kms of riding in which nobody I know has had a stem break.
I've mostly had well known brands - 3TTT, ITM & Deda, so maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for? Although I've never been convinced that the name stamoed on the side guarantees any particular quality.
I'd be very curious to see some actual evidence too.
Who are these two people? HOw old/used were the stems? What sort of riding? MTB or road? etc...
-- Nick [/B]
mmmmmm....there has been no evidence provided but i was shaking my head in agreement all through the initial email. Only because the same has happened to me twice. Of course, this is no reason to NOT buy those stems and everyone has had their personal experience with these stems and then, an opinion. Unless there is a widescale recall on a certain type of stem or product, it makes it difficult to state "do not buy those stems". Anyhow, for the record: Both stems were ITM, though i have since bought a forged ITM stem and have had no problems for 2 years. I weigh about 85kg and used them on my courier bike, avanti corsa, , so lots of curb popping and track stands, etc. I would only buy a forged stem from now on and would recommend that to anyone over 80kgs.
"xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:pPVy- c..usenetserver.comnews:[email hidden]- enetserver.com...
>Marty Wallace wrote: > > "xbgs351" <[email hidden]> wrote > > in message
news:1rAyc.-news:1rAyc.-
> >
e28.server.comnews:[email hidden]-
> > rver.com... > > > Welded aluminium head stems have been failing > > > at an alarming rate. Upon inspection, my old > > > head stem had a 15mm crack in the weld. I
have
> > > since come across numerous cracked head stems > > > and know of a number
of
> > > serious accidents that have occured when the > > > head stems have broken. One cylist was knocked > > > unconsious and another has been left with
large
> > > scars on all of his limbs. > > > > > > Everybody with a welded aluminium head stem > > > should replace it as
soon
> > > as possible. With the current trend of powder > > > coated head stems it
is
> > > very difficult to inspect the welds for > > > cracking. The cracks occur
on
> > > the rear weld in the corner and radiate up the > > > weld. > > > > > > If you are buying a new bike make sure that it > > > has a forged headstem and not a welded > > > headstem. > > > > > > When you see somebody who has a bike with a > > > welded head stem, tell them that they can > > > expect the headstem to experience catastrophic > > > failure. > > > > > Can you give us some evidence to support your > > claim? Marty > > > >If you have a look at every bike that has a welded >aluminium head stem you will soon see that a very >high percentage of them have developed cracks. > >I can also name two people who have crashed when the >head stems have failed. >
Oh ok, sounds like pretty good evidence to me. I expect we'll see all welded head stems taken off the shelves in the next few days.
Marty
I guess I shouldn't hold my breath either then Marty? I've never heard of stems breaking in such a way. Nobody I know has ever heard of it either. I'd estimate a collective 180,000+ kms of riding in which nobody I know has had a stem break. I've mostly had well known brands - 3TTT, ITM & Deda, so maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for? Although I've never been convinced that the name stamoed on the side guarantees any particular quality. I'd be very curious to see some actual evidence too. Who are these two people? HOw old/used were the stems? What sort of riding? MTB or road? etc... -- Nick
mmmmmm....there has been no evidence provided but i was shaking my head in agreement all through the initial email. Only because the same has happened to me twice. Of course, this is no reason to NOT buy those stems and everyone has had their personal experience with these stems and then, an opinion. Unless there is a widescale recall on a certain type of stem or product, it makes it difficult to state "do not buy those stems". Anyhow, for the record: Both stems were ITM, though i have since bought a forged ITM stem and have had no problems for 2 years. I weigh about 85kg and used them on my courier bike, avanti corsa, , so lots of curb popping and track stands, etc. I would only buy a forged stem from now on and would recommend that to anyone over 80kgs.
--
That's interesting.
Maybe a contributing factor is the drive towards lighter parts at the same time that a lot of people don't use their bikes much - I mean that manufacturers probably don't expect most people to ride many thousands of kms on one bike?
Anyone else got some direct experience to offer here?
"NickZX6R" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Maybe a contributing factor is the drive towards lighter parts at the same time that a lot of people don't use their bikes much - I mean that manufacturers probably don't expect most people to ride many thousands of kms on one bike?
Anyone else got some direct experience to offer here?
I remember reading an article (tried googling but can't find it) about ITM "THE" stems failing at the bolt holes. They would split because there simply wasn't enough material to hold the thing together. Does this mean we should also stop buying forged stems?
I have a welded steel stem, welded alu stem, and some forged alu stems... I'll let you know which one dies first, just so long as they give me a laptop w/ 'net in hospital! 😉
Sidenote: I vaguely remember THE tem costing ~$500+!!
