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The Easton EA90 SL is the lightest and most costly stem in Easton’s aluminium vary, utilizing titanium bolts to assist drop the burden even additional. It is accessible in a variety of lengths and is designed for various kinds of driving. However there isn’t any getting away from the worth, and you actually must need these titanium bolts to make it a worthwhile buy.
Easton has an extended affiliation with high-quality aluminium elements, with a naming format that makes it easy to know the element’s place within the vary – the upper the quantity, the upper up within the vary the element is. The A within the title tells you it is product of aluminium, with Easton utilizing the EC prefix for its carbon stems, which have the identical higher-the-better numbering system.
At this form of value, you possibly can in fact purchase a carbon stem such because the Prime Primavera, however even within the professional peloton some riders favor an aluminium stem (and handlebar) over carbon for the metallic’s potential to outlive a high-speed pile-up, which are not briefly provide in professional races.
The take a look at stem is the EA90, the highest mannequin within the vary, with SL standing for Tremendous Gentle. The one distinction over the usual EA90 mannequin is the addition of titanium bolts. These bolts drop the burden by roughly 10 grams, with our 90mm take a look at stem weighing 110g.
The EA90 SL is barely accessible with a 7-degree angle, however there’s a good vary of lengths, from 70mm to 120mm.
> How to choose the best stem length
The stem has a clear, minimal look, with steerer tube bolts able the place they do not protrude too far, which ought to assist stop any knocks in your knees once you’re climbing.
I discovered the set up easy, as you’ll hope and anticipate can be the case, with the advisable torque measurements clear to see. The titanium bolts have deep heads for a safe match with the hex key once you’re tightening them. All of the bolts are the identical 4mm dimension too, which could sound primary and apparent, however some stems require different-sized bolts for the completely different places or an odd-sized fixing bolt. None of that right here.
The faceplate has what Easton calls ICM, which lets you match an out-front laptop mount, which might be helpful should you’ve solely acquired restricted room in your bar. The faceplate isn’t too broad both, which is essential for some aero handlebar designs the place house may be restricted.
As soon as put in there was little to report: the stem felt completely tremendous, there was no flex regardless of the low weight, and no creaking or some other noises. It was a stem, plain and easy, though a really costly one…
Worth
At £150 the EA90 SL is dearer than some other aluminium stem we have examined. The non-SL version, with metal bolts as an alternative of titanium, will prevent £50 with a weight penalty of simply 10 grams.
Round 50 quid cheaper nonetheless is the Easton EA70 that prices £49.99, weighs in at 140g and I liked it for all the identical causes I appreciated the EA90 SL – the clear seems and deep recessed hex keys – however there are loads of different high quality choices round this value, a lot of them coming in at an identical weight too. This contains the 115g Genetic STV that Stu rated when he examined it lately.
For a extra radical silver look, which will not work with all our bikes, Zipp makes its Service Course Stem, which Stu found stiff and thought it appeared stylish. It solely prices £56 however is slightly heavier at 165g.
Conclusion
With its rounded end and delicate anodised graphics, I feel the Easton stem seems nice, and primarily based on its efficiency there’s little to not like. It is gentle, sufficiently stiff for nearly all of us, however you should actually need titanium bolts to make it a worthwhile buy.
Verdict
Clear-looking light-weight aluminium stem with titanium bolts, however at a value to make you wince
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Make and mannequin: Easton EA90 SL stem
Inform us what the product is for and who it is aimed toward. What do the producers say about it? How does that evaluate to your individual emotions about it?
Easton says:
Extraordinary power, featherweight management.
Your stem could appear inconsequential, however it’s the level of switch between your expert dealing with and the bike itself. A formidable refinement of our in style high degree Easton alloy stem, the 2019 EA90 stems have a bigger increase diameter for elevated stiffness and, by using our highest high quality alloys, we have been capable of take away extra materials for much more weight financial savings. We have additionally created a customized Garmin mount that’s suitable with all our stems for cleaner traces and improved aerodynamics. With lengths starting from 70mm to 130mm we will accommodate suits for all sizes of frames and riders.
We shaved our new EA90 right down to 120 grams for a 100mm stem, whereas the EA90 SL stem makes use of Ti bolts for an additional weight discount to 110 grams.. With weights like these, we surpass a lot of the alloy and carbon competitors available in the market, whereas supplying you with the sturdiness, confidence and management you anticipate from Easton.
Inform us some extra concerning the technical features of the product?
Easton lists:
SPECIFICATION
End: Black Ano
WEIGHT: 110g (100mm)
RISE: +/- 7°
LENGTH: 70 / 80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120mm
CLAMP DIAMETER: 31.8mm
STEERER: 11/8″
MATERIAL: EA90 Alloy / Titanium Bolts
Charge the product for high quality of building:
8/10
Charge the product for efficiency:
9/10
Charge the product for sturdiness:
8/10
I would anticipate no issues with the stem, and one good thing about titanium bolts would be the materials’s resistance to corrosion.
Charge the product for weight (if relevant)
9/10
Weight weenies take notice! These titanium bolts will prevent a whopping 10 grams. Woohoo!
Charge the product for worth:
3/10
Easton has taken what’s already an costly stem, the £90.99 EA90, and added titanium bolts that value you an additional £50.
Inform us how the product carried out total when used for its designed goal
The stem was straightforward to put in, and becoming the bar was easy with the torque markings straightforward to see.
Inform us what you significantly appreciated concerning the product
Loads of stiffness, and low weight.
Inform us what you significantly disliked concerning the product
Nothing… besides the fee.
How does the worth evaluate to that of comparable merchandise available in the market, together with ones lately examined on street.cc?
The EA70 version weighs 30g extra however is £100 cheaper. The carbon Zipp SL Sprint stem is heavier and costlier however it is rather stiff.
Did you get pleasure from utilizing the product? Sure – it is stiff, gentle and simple to put in.
Would you take into account shopping for the product? No – the advantages simply aren’t value the additional value.
Would you suggest the product to a buddy? No – except they’ve an enormous factor for titanium… and cash to burn.
Use this field to clarify your total rating
By way of efficiency the stem works effectively, and it proved stiff sufficient for each sort of driving I used it for. However the fee is tough to justify, even for probably the most ardent weight weenies amongst us.
I normally trip: My finest bike is: Cannondale SystemSix
I have been driving for: Over 20 years I trip: Day by day I might class myself as: Professional
I commonly do the next kinds of driving: street racing, cyclo cross, sportives, mtb, Numerous gravel type driving
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