Race Face Diabolus Stem Reviews
Reviews of the Race Face Diabolus stem.
Winner of BIKE magazine's Editor's Choice Award, the Diabolus stem has made thousands of freeriders and DH racers realize how badly they needed a new stem. Featuring Herculean strength and stunning graphics, the Diabolus stem has spawned an entire line of DH/FR products - complete with a cult-like following.
Media Reviews:
www.pinkbike.com July 2007
I have a confession to make. I've grappled with an affliction for most of my life, starting with my first Schwinn BMX at 6 years old and on through decades of cyclelogical obsession. The truth is, I'm a bona fide Gearhead.
I'm not only on the eternal quest for stuff that works and won't break. In my opinion, that's the baseline for any company touting itself as a purveyor of "freeride" quality today. To the point, I'm a stickler for the nuances of high performance and - I must admit - a sucker for bike bling.
While I'm always looking to enhance the foundation of my ride, be it a fork, shock, tires and the like, most recently I made a shift from satisfactory to the superfly with the addition of a entirely new front end of Race Face components. Like Superman stripping in a phone booth, within moments my ride went from a mild mannered mountain cycle to a super action hero - or at least it looks the part - ready to stomp the fear out of all evil trannies.
Race Face is synonymous with durability. It sits at the round table of high-quality aftermarket manufacturers, sophisticated in their approach and refined in every way. And not only are they durable and dependable, they've got a distinctive style that ups the ante when you're at the purchase point.
For the past two years I've been sporting the front end from my stock Specialized Demo 8. Certainly Specialized specs its bikes well, which is why the pieces are tried, true and found a worthy place at the helm of my most recent delight, the Specialized SX Trail. But this makeover isn't just about utility, it's also about style.
For this transformation, the Diabolus line of components were used. Diabolus is, as Race Face calls it, "the ying" to their lighter, all-mountain Deus series' "yang." Its intent is specifically downhill and for "extreme freeriders looking for the ultimate in strength, stiffness and of course, flash." And flash it has...
Diabolus Stem: (available in 11/8th, onepointfive and 31.8mm) This little delight is perhaps the crowning jewel of the Diabolus line up. It has unquestionable strength, a classy machined look and the trademark flame graphics that really make it stand out. Available in 30, 50 and 70mm versions, this 6060-T6 aluminum beauty has enhanced functionality as well. The four-bolt bar clamp does holds true, while the "interlocking u-shaped handlebar faceplate" eliminates "stress risers," which Race Face says causes bars to bend - reassuring to say the least, especially if you've experienced handlebar failure and lived to tell the tale. Oh, and a lifetime warranty...
While I still need to cut down my steer tube to match the lower height of the stem, I have managed a few hours at the helm of my freshly pimped ride. There is a slight weight saving, it's stiff and inspires confidence - never would failure cross my mind. But perhaps least important of all but sinfully satisfying are the comments and head-turning of fellow riders. It does look all that. As they say, the devil is in the details...
MBR Magazine October 2006
One of the few CNC-machined stems on test, it features a unique bar clamp - the bar fits deeper into the stem body and is secured via an interlocking faceplate. This provides a 360-degree fit and significantly reduces stress on the handlebar. On the rear clamp there's a bias cut slot with recessed and opposing Allen bolts. These distribute the clamping stress to different areas of the steerer. The Diabolus gets a machined front plate and chamfered clamp edges.
MBR Verdict: An excellent clamp system and a top quality finish - 9/10
Mtbr.com and RoadbikeREVIEW.com were created to get the real feedback of real cyclists on products and equipment that they use. Good, bad, bottom line, is it worth it? Those are the top questions they pose to each of their users. Every year, they try to find the best products from the site that consistently win the praises of you guys, the riders. Hence, the 2005 CHOICE Awards!
Winners were selected by the highest rated products that met a minumum number of reviews for each category.
This year, there are repeat winners and there are also new surprises. Some manufacturers we all know very well, while others are under the radar and new to the public eye. That's what makes this award unique. If the product works and performs well, then the consumers will reward it no matter how big or small a manufacturer. And winning the CHOICE Award is a phenomenal achievement for Race Face, here are a few snippets from the reviews received;
"No other stem out there matches killer stiffness and strength with such hot CNC machining, it's the last stem you will ever have to buy"
"Wicked stem, definetly worth the price. For a FR stem this thing rocks. This is another example of a raceface part you can throw on your bike, and not have to worry about if its going to hold up on a drop/gap. Lets you focus on doing the stunt, which is what its all about. Go for it"
"Are you in to Freeride or DH, you canīt go wrong with this piece of work ! i got the 50 version and can really feel the connection with the ground thru this stem. LOVE IT"
"Best stem out there, wont slip or squeak...this stem is the sh*t...perfect for FR or DH. the Ultimate Stem! i give it 5 flamin hot peruvian peppers of death and all that is doom!! Have a nice day!"
"Buy this stem! They are worth every penny and it will definitely outlast any frames you mount it on for a long time to come"mtbr.com CHOICE Award 2005 (awarded Jan 2006)
The Diabolus bar and stem are a true combo as they both share the same, love it or hate it, 'hot rod flame' styling. The Diabolus stem is certainly one for those who like a bit of bike jewellery with its extensive machining and etching. Function wise it does have a unique bar clamp with lipped edges, which considerably reduce stresses on the bar, this would be even more useful if you chose to use a carbon bar. In use the stem was certainly stiff, but considering the one we tested was only 30mm long there wasn't ever going to be much room for flex. Having said this, the overall build leads you to believe the 50 and 70mm would be just as stiff. The combined strength and stiffness of the Diabolus stem and Diabolus bar is going to be more than enough for even the craziest giants.
Dirt July/August 2005
Singletrack May/June 2005
Available in 30mm to 70mm lengths and compatible with oversized 31.8mm bars the stem is CNC'd from a block of 6061-T6 Aluminium. A four bolt, interlocking, U shaped clamp takes care of bar gripping duties while two opposing bolts grab the steerer tube. The stem is incredibly stiff especially if you combine it with the solid Diabolus bars too.
Singletrack Verdict; Clearly aimed at the hardcore end of the bike market, the Diabolus components have lived up to their reputation and suprised us at how well they've kept their good looks too. Well worth a look if you're in need of solid dependable parts and aren't afraid of an extra few grams.
Mountain Biking
What can we say? The clamping mechanism on all parts worked extremely well, especially the U-shaped bar clamp seems to keep the bars in position easily without having to squeeze the juice out of your bolts. Even though the stem is hollow, it's clamping surface seems to be wide enough and doesn't have any rough edges to scratch or hurt any bar. If anything on your cockpit flexes, it's definitely not the stem.
Mountain Biking UK
Remember that little Race Face stem that everyone wanted but few could afford - the one with the flames on....Well the designers have now brought out an oversized stem, bar and seatpost all with the flame theme. The 620mm bar features an oversized 31.8mm diameter bar clamp surface, which increases the impact strength by 25% and makes the bar twice as stiff. The new stem will now accommodate the bigger bar.
Mountain Biking
Race Face has been a long time player in the sport of downhill mountain biking and freeriding. Based in Vancouver, BC, home to the North Shore and some of the most challenging trails in the world, Race Face has witnessed the evolution of freeriding right in its own backyard. The new Diabolus bar and stem combination from Race Face is a direct result of designing components in such close proximity to these demanding environments.
Guy Kesteven 10/10 MBUK February 2005
Race Face has pulled out all the stops to make the Diabolus the ultimate stem for riding like a demon. The unit is machined from heat-treated 6061 T6 alloy in a super-broad box section with deeply buried opposing clamp bolts, an interlocking/overlapping stress-relieving bar clamp and etched flames for good measure. As you'd expect for such a big block piece, it showed no signsof any movement on trail or BendO-Meter and it'll lock down the cockpit of any bike without adding excessive weight.
The Diabolus also comes with a lifetime warranty and is available in versions to fit standard or oversize bars and 1.5" or 1 1/8 steerers. Colour options available are Bad Ass Black and Shiny Silver polish.
For total rigidity in every size and shape, a lifetime guarantee and flames there's nothing to match the Race Face Diabolus.
NSMB Magazine - 23/01/04 - It looks fly; that's the first thing you notice. Before you know whether it's going to be strong, stiff or functional, you realize the Race Face Diabolus stem will make your bike look several notches more pimped than your buddy's. Hardly a ride went by without someone saying, "cool stem."
This is a great product. I like the fact that the main body is machined from a solid piece of 6061 aluminium. The lack of welds means that even my overactive imagination has a hard time breaking the Diabolus. Race Face's literature says that the Diabolus is the "stiffest, strongest stem on the market." On the same page we also learn that it's "just as stiff as an oversized stem/bar set-up, without incurring a significant weight penalty." While this info is a little contradictory, you get the picture. In fact Race Face claims their testing machine will break before the Diabolus does. Despite all this burl it weighs in at 250 grams - reasonable for a DH/freeride specific unit.
If you like or need the security of a really tough stem, and you have a weakness for trick components, you may be able to give the Diabolus a happy home.
To read the nsmb.com review in full, please click here
Bike April 2003 - 'The Race Face Diabolus stem inspires so much confidence, it could reincarnate as a motivational speaker and charge 50 bucks for a pep talk and a high five. The bombproof build of the Diabolus radiates invincibility like Popeye at a spinach farm. It's stout, it holds a handlebar tightly and it looks hot-like something a tattoo artist would create.'
MBR August 2002 - 5/5 '250 grams for a stem with a lifetime warranty, not bad when you consider its intended end use... devishly designed and hot as hell...it is arguably the most stylish handlebar/fork interface.'
Mountain Biking June 2002 - 'One hell of a stem...this stem is screaming beat me into submission...killer looks, great clamping, strong.'
MBUK May 2002 - 5/5 'The clamps are particularly excellent...worth it for the flames alone.'
To purchase Diabolus components please visit our Race Face Authorised Dealers
Published Thursday 10 March 2005
|
