[chickenboy]

I was always a little suspicous, but I found out yesterday that yep....I can't fly. Some friends and I went to an offroad park yesterday that has trails, MX and flat track. First of all I've been waiting for my nerfs for ever and could have used them. Second of all this quad jumps really well. I was shocked at how forgiving it is on landings. Last but not least, I was on the flat track oval taking some laps when I hooked a rut. I flew about as well as a one flippered penguin. I found nothing major wrong other than the front fender brace was bent and can be pushed around with no problem. However, today I took the bike apart looking for signs of a cracked frame, fractured ball joints and bent tie rods (you know...all the "this is gonna break" stuff.) I found nothing wrong with those items, but did find the stearing stop was bent from going full lock on the flip. I thought to myself, "self....oh crap...this is gonna suck...taking the stem out to bend it back." But to my delight...and dismay....and disapointment...I found I could just push on the bars really hard and bend it back. Although it's straight....I don't like that idea at all. So to my point...I've seen people talk about an aftermarket stearing stem....so who makes it, who's tried it, how much is it, and what do you think of it?

 

[rngmstr]

Rath has a much stronger steering stem available, it is the anti-vibration type with the urethane bushings under the clamp. $295 I have not replaced mine yet, but have definitely noticed how the stock one flexes.

 

[chickenboy]

I just looked it up and it looks like it would do the job....thanks for the info.

 

[robg]

BUT... a new stock stem is under $60. So when I replaced mine (which turns out I didn't need to -- long story), I chose NOT to spend over four times as much on the Rath piece.

Rob

 

[rngmstr]

The stock stem is a-lot cheaper...but as with anything you get what you pay for. The anti-vibration clamp drasticly improves the feel of the bike. It will absorb a-lot of the jolts from the front wheels so you don't have to. Also, a steering dampner helps quite a bit too.

 

[chickenboy]

For 60 bucks I may just pick up a stock one and throw it in the trailor (just in case) and save the money for the CDI. Although I do like how beefy Rath's is, there are a couple go fast parts I want pretty bad.

 

[speedy]

I had a local motorcyle shop make me a a chrome-moly stem for 75 bucks.

 

[justincredible]

How much more does that chromoly weigh than stock steering stems?