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Looking at an integrated carbon stem/bar.
Anyone had or using one - any good or bad experiences?
Might take the plunge and get one but grateful for folks thoughts?
Tks
Mtb or Road/gravel?
I had the syncros hixon on a Scott genius Mtb. It came with it. I actually liked it, seemed a sorted shape and sweep to me.
But just as well as clearly you can’t rotate the bar and so less setup options than separate.
Looks maybe not to everyone’s taste. Specific spacers and top cap needed so if need more than comes with you need go buy specific ones.
Not convinced 100g weight saved or whatever it was is that big a deal.
Would I buy one? Nah.
Personally, I think they are one of the dumbest ideas the bike industry has had and the industry has a rich history of dumbs ideas.
Not quite as dumb as routing cables or hoses through the stem though...
Almost but not quite in the same category as i-spec mounts for me – much rather have the freedom to mix and match components without the faff of (inevitably) having mismatching standards. I fiddle around too much to tolerate an integrated bar and stem.
For the MTB it also compromises the ability to place both lights and GPS units as standard mounts don't fit
It's for my HT.
I like the clean look and simplicity of the design, not to mention the carbon drool factor but as pointed out it's not as simple as bolting on all the existing hardware and hoping for the best. The practicality of making it work could be difficult.
Appreciate the insights, thanks.
Don't see the point unless you are racing at a very high level.
Don’t see the point unless you are racing at a very high level.
I'd take that further and say only "useful" (in a marginal gains way) for a track cyclist (with no cables to worry about) and the bar/stem can be made to measure your exact size/bike fit requirements
I really like the hixons off my Genius tuned that now live on my spark.
Probably better than every other bar/stem I've had over the years and I'm waiting on the 780 Hixon IC's for my new spark. I get the least sore hands off the hixon than my other setups
Of note, Syncros have 31 sku's in their 1-piece IC cockpit, 40mm-100mm...740, 760, 780, 800. -40deg to 15mm rise..
Their non integrated bar/stem range is only 8 skus deep though
I also really like having the cables hidden away, I have the Syncros Creston on my Addict.
Yes an absolute PITA threading the hoses through the stem and not looking forward to working on it again…that said it’s been two years since I built it and I’ve not needed to undo anything in that time so I’m happy to have the occasional hassle.
Headset bearings will be an issue where the hoses run through them, not so bad on a ‘summer’ road bike where I expect they’ll last years but maybe not so much on a mtb?
Someone selling syncros integrated on here I see.
https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/syncros-hixon-ic-780-60mm-integrated-carbon-cockpit/
My new commuter/urban bike has one (Boardman HYB 8.9) and I don't really see the advantage.
Not quite as dumb as routing cables or hoses through the stem though…
I just bought a gravel bike with this. Stem and bars are separate, so doesn’t help the OP at all but I really like the all internal routing. I’m sure the practicalities are a pain but how often do you change brake hoses?
Apparently routing things internally saves me 32g of drag, which would be great if my belly didn’t add significantly more than that. More importantly without cables and hoses everywhere the bike looks damn pretty!
More importantly without cables and hoses everywhere the bike looks damn pretty!
What a sack of absolute shit. I shall curse you every time I have to do my internal cable routing.
( NOthing personal, obvs)
Of note, Syncros have 31 sku’s in their 1-piece IC cockpit, 40mm-100mm…740, 760, 780, 800. -40deg to 15mm rise..
Their non integrated bar/stem range is only 8 skus deep though
Point is, if you have 4 stems and 4 bars, that gives you 16 different combinations so you'd need 16 1-piece skus to cover that, more if you can flip the stem for negative rise. Plus, if you have bars that can be cut down, you multiply it again. Probably 3 bars (flat, 20 mm rise, 40 mm rise) and 7 stems (40 to 100 mm in 10 mm increments with 15 degree rise) would cover that full range of 31 1-piece skus.
if you are absolutely confident in your size requirements then why not, they do look the business (and lets face it...thats what its about).
If you must, the only one I've ever not-disliked are the latest Bontrager one.