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THE MANGLER
03-21-2007, 11:20 AM
I Am Having A Hard Time Finding A Stem Length That Is Appropriate For My Size. I Have Tried Hope (i Love The Stem) But Its Too Short. I Am Wondering If A Thomson Will Be Strong Enough. Your Oppinions Have Always Helped, Let Me Know What You Think.

6' 2-3" (190cm)
280lbs (127kg)
eturt9
03-21-2007, 12:23 PM
it will be strong enough.
length/rise will depend more on your bike set up... bb height, length, a little from riding style,
free_rideman
03-21-2007, 01:20 PM
If any stem will be strong enough, it will be a thomson.
rush
03-21-2007, 04:46 PM
The Australian National Champ rode a thomson stem for about 3 years. No problems at all.

That said he is pretty light and smooth.
perkins
03-21-2007, 07:56 PM
I have been riding Thomson stems for the past seven years or so... with no problems at all. It will be strong enough for you. You can get the X4 and use a 31.8 bar... or if you're looking for more than a 10 degree rise, you can get the X2. That's their road stem... but again, it will be strong enough... and that will take a 31.8 bar, too. I have been riding one for the past year and love it. That will get you a 17 degree rise and a bunch of lengths. So yeah, get a Thomson...
linz
03-21-2007, 09:11 PM
iv'e been running a 130 mm thompson stem for about a year no problems
i'm 6'4" , 87kg
pan man
03-21-2007, 09:51 PM
I dont think you'll have any problems with breaking a stem. Thomson makes the best stems (weight/strength)
THE MANGLER
03-21-2007, 11:14 PM
Awesome!
stpatr3k
03-22-2007, 09:54 AM
I dont think you'll have any problems with breaking a stem. Thomson makes the best stems (weight/strength)

I've seen 3 local XC riders break their properly torqued Thomson stems.
carnagr
03-22-2007, 10:27 AM
I have a hard time believing that.
Sir_Crackien
03-22-2007, 11:07 AM
i have a very hard time beleaving that myself. if it did happen that where not torqued right for sure. also on the ones that i have onwed i never used a torque wernch and i never had any part ever break
goose
03-22-2007, 11:19 AM
how does an XC rider break a stem?
stpatr3k
03-22-2007, 09:11 PM
Design flaw probably, all three were using the elite...all three were bike geeks that uses a torque wrench and followed instructions well. All three were warrantied but the two opted to buy hope stems instead of waiting for the warrantied stem.

Two broke above the locking thing, one on the lower part.

Maybe you guys should get the X stem thingie. The one that bolts on the back.
Free-Ride-Junkie
03-23-2007, 12:01 AM
I have been running a Thomson Elite on my Urban and XC bike for the past 3 years now. Never had a single problem. They look amazing as well.
THE MANGLER
03-23-2007, 09:36 AM
I Used A Thomson On My Old Dh/fr Bike With No Issues. However; In The World Of Trials One Does Not Have The Luxury Of Suspension, Thus, More Stress Is Put On The Stem. I Already Knocked My Front Teeth Out Once (the Bridge Is Beautiful, You Can Even Tell They Are Fake), I Don't Want To Do It Again.
perkins
03-23-2007, 10:28 AM
"The Thomson X4 is stronger and 30 grams lighter than the Thomson Elite 25.4 mountain stem." "Thomson stems are the strongest in the industry" - from the Thomson site. I have used the Elite, X2, and X4... the X4 is the way to go. The clamp on it is so much nicer than the Elite. I have been using a 100 x 17 X2 on my trials bike for the past year... Thomson doesn't recommend the stem for downhill or freeride, because it's their road stem. I haven't had a single problem with it... yeah, it's a road stem, but I still trust it a lot more than the other trials stems that are on the market. If you want to keep your teeth, get a Thomson...
free_rideman
03-23-2007, 03:30 PM
I had a friend that used an X2 on his trials bike, and there were no problems. I myself use an X4 for my trials bike and love it.
mikeschiavone
03-23-2007, 08:29 PM
I've seen a few broken faceplates from the Elite stem. I've haven't seen anything bad from the X2 or X4.
chronic
03-24-2007, 01:22 AM
I used to have a thomsom stem a couple years ago. It was really nice, it looked burly. And for the price, it should be pretty strong.
Cole
03-24-2007, 06:12 PM
Does anyone else think that they blow?

While thomsons look great and might be very strong, I can't get over how gay the steerer clamping system - small bolts and ineffectual clamping system. I've always gotten slippage...
carnagr
03-24-2007, 11:54 PM
I have gotten zero slippage on mine, and it's fantastical.
stpatr3k
03-25-2007, 07:42 AM
This is one of the ones I know, he claims he was using a torque wrench.

The other one has cracked at the bottom (from a different guy).

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/j_a_p/IMG_0002.jpg
Acolyte
03-25-2007, 09:11 AM
I have gotten zero slippage on mine, and it's fantastical.
.
trialskid14
03-25-2007, 10:00 AM
I have been on a tour through the thomson factory. There stems dont just break riding along. If your that worried just buy a Ritchey WCS and save weight by loseing teeth and blood.
free_rideman
03-25-2007, 10:56 AM
If it slips you are not getting it tight enough. Use common sense.

Thomson ftw!

Does anyone else think that they blow?

While thomsons look great and might be very strong, I can't get over how gay the steerer clamping system - small bolts and ineffectual clamping system. I've always gotten slippage...
perkins
03-25-2007, 03:49 PM
"all three were bike geeks that uses a torque wrench and followed instructions well" For someone who is such a "bike geek", he doesn't seem to take care of his bolts, since the one in the picture is rounded... most likely from not putting the correct torque on the bolt... or not using grease. If he did everything right, his bars should have snapped before the stem.
pan man
03-25-2007, 05:22 PM
That bolt doesnt look rounded at all, that's how they come.
perkins
03-25-2007, 08:28 PM
Huh, none of mine came with bolts that look like that...
stpatr3k
03-25-2007, 10:58 PM
"all three were bike geeks that uses a torque wrench and followed instructions well" For someone who is such a "bike geek", he doesn't seem to take care of his bolts, since the one in the picture is rounded... most likely from not putting the correct torque on the bolt... or not using grease. If he did everything right, his bars should have snapped before the stem.
I dont know about the bolts if there were problems he wouldn't have had it warrantied...I'll will try to show the 3 month old Thomson stem if I find it.

@Perkins I found the perfect stem for me, its in the very front of your photo...very nice. Whats the specs on that
perkins
03-26-2007, 09:13 AM
That's the X4 - it's a 110 x 10. I got it for my MBK, but it was a little too low for me. It would be nice on a 0 to +20 frame... my MBK is +30, so I use a 110 x 17 on that, but with the X2. Both stems work with a 31.8 bar... and the clamping system is much nicer than the regular Elite stems.
THEDEMOLITIONMAN
03-26-2007, 10:43 AM
I Am Having A Hard Time Finding A Stem Length That Is Appropriate For My Size. I Have Tried Hope (i Love The Stem) But Its Too Short. I Am Wondering If A Thomson Will Be Strong Enough. Your Oppinions Have Always Helped, Let Me Know What You Think.

6' 2-3" (190cm)
280lbs (127kg)


I run a 115mm/10deg thompson stem and its held up for a while now..and I'm 6'2"-3" 240lbs. I just like there stems, because my knees don't smash into any bolts and there smooth..lol

THEDMAN
durkie
03-26-2007, 10:50 AM
Does anyone else think that they blow?

While thomsons look great and might be very strong, I can't get over how gay the steerer clamping system - small bolts and ineffectual clamping system. I've always gotten slippage...

i used to think the same thing about mine...it would just slip a whole lot and i didn't understand why.

my problem was that i didn't think about how tightening one bolt makes it a lot easier to tighten the other clamp bolt, as compared to other stems. so i would tighten both bolts to the right torque, but tightening the second bolt meant that the first bolt was now significantly under-torqued, and then tightening that bolt meant the second one was now under-torqued, so you just have to go back and forth a couple times with tightening, gradually approaching the right torque value.

but this also might not be at all related to why you had slipping...
free_rideman
03-26-2007, 11:39 AM
^^ I found this to be true. I don't use a torque wrench but I found that if you are scared of over-tightening the bolts you might under tighten them. I use a normal allen key for tightening and you basically feel when you approach the correct torque.

Also watch out for what the above poster stated. You have to be sure that both bolts are at the correct torque, and make sure the faceplate is evenly spaced from one bolt side, the the other.