i recently updated my cockpit on the 2011 Demo with a Havoc DM stem and Havoc carbon bar. Recently, i had to bail off a 4ft high wooden "skinny" while freeriding. I let go of the bike and did a tuck and roll. After the dusting myself off and inspecting the bike i noticed a few things.
1. the HAVOC direct mount stem has relatively small clamping area compared to some of the other stems on the market
2. stem faceplate and stem body has sharp 90degree leading edges
3. the direct mount bolt holes are slightly out spec
these observations along with the inherent flexi-ness of the carbon bar and the low stack height caused damage to the Havoc carbon bar. there is a cut edge in the center corresponding to the right leading edge of the stem/bar interface. the resulting combination of the DM stem actually rotating relative to the fork (about 1-2mm) and flexiness of the carbon bar allowed the bar to contact the machined top cap of the dorado fork during the crash. the metal top cap put a sizeable gouge in the bar thru a few layers of carbon.
all bolts were torqued to spec indicated. at rest, there was about 1.5-2cm of clearance between the bar and the fork.
i guess the PSA is that with the low stack height craze, folks are bound to have close distances between the bar and the fork. just be mindful about this should you be running a carbon bar as opposed to an aluminum one.
i was hoping (altho a small one) that Easton would offer a free warranty replacement, but they only offered a 30% discount when i called. Still alittle bummed that $150 went down the crapper with a crash that most aluminum bars would have shrugged off.
nevertheless, should i go thru with the replacement, i'm reverting back to my E.13 stem.
1. the HAVOC direct mount stem has relatively small clamping area compared to some of the other stems on the market
2. stem faceplate and stem body has sharp 90degree leading edges
3. the direct mount bolt holes are slightly out spec
these observations along with the inherent flexi-ness of the carbon bar and the low stack height caused damage to the Havoc carbon bar. there is a cut edge in the center corresponding to the right leading edge of the stem/bar interface. the resulting combination of the DM stem actually rotating relative to the fork (about 1-2mm) and flexiness of the carbon bar allowed the bar to contact the machined top cap of the dorado fork during the crash. the metal top cap put a sizeable gouge in the bar thru a few layers of carbon.
all bolts were torqued to spec indicated. at rest, there was about 1.5-2cm of clearance between the bar and the fork.
i guess the PSA is that with the low stack height craze, folks are bound to have close distances between the bar and the fork. just be mindful about this should you be running a carbon bar as opposed to an aluminum one.
i was hoping (altho a small one) that Easton would offer a free warranty replacement, but they only offered a 30% discount when i called. Still alittle bummed that $150 went down the crapper with a crash that most aluminum bars would have shrugged off.
nevertheless, should i go thru with the replacement, i'm reverting back to my E.13 stem.
