Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Stems
Easton EA50 Aluminium StemEaston EA50 Aluminium Stem

Easton EA50 Aluminium Stem

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Sat, Aug 10, 2019 09:51

First Published Aug 10, 2019

1
£34.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Cost effective, good looking budget upgrade if you want to save some weight
Weight: 
137g
Contact: 
www.silverfish-uk.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The EA50 Stem may be part of Easton's entry-level range but it does everything you'd want it to and comes in a huge range of options when it comes to length and angles. It's light too for the money.

  • Pros: Hardwearing paint finish; looks more expensive than it is
  • Cons: None really stand out

The stem is a simplistic bit of kit really and to be honest even the cheapest do a pretty decent job of setting your handlebar the correct distance away from the head tube, so why pay loads of money for one? Well, there are all sorts of factors: the material used, the finish, weight or lack of it...

> Find your nearest dealer here

Saying that, though, the EA50 makes a pretty good case for achieving all of those. True, it doesn't look quite as pretty as some of the others I've tested, the £85 Ritchey WCS C220 84D or the Genetic STV stem that'll set you back £49.99, but it's hardly going to look out of place on a decent bike.

The black finish is hardwearing and stands up well to knocks and scratches well, plus I quite like the understated graphics. The addition of black bolts gives it a more expensive, stealth look, too.

As you'd expect for an aluminium tube, it's fully up to the job of dealing with sprints and other hard efforts yanking on the handlebar, and tolerances are good too with no slippage at either the bar or steerer end.

It is available in a range of lengths from 70mm through to 120mm, and this 110mm version weighs an impressive 137g, lighter than is claimed on Easton's website. 

> 9 top tips for setting up your new road bike

It comes in two angles as well, a pretty standard +/-7° or, if you want that pro slammed stem look, a +/-17° variant is available to cancel out that head tube angle.

> 9 ways to make your bike more comfortable

When it comes to value the EA50 is priced about where I'd expect it, at £34.99, having a lot in common with the likes of the Pro LT stem for the same money and similar weight.

It's a fair bit lighter than the Prime Doyenne Alloy Stem too, albeit a fiver more expensive.

Overall, the EA50 is a quality piece of kit for those who want a stiff, light stem on a budget.

Verdict

Cost effective, good looking budget upgrade if you want to save some weight

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Easton EA50 Aluminium Stem

Size tested: Clamp Diameter: 31.8mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Easton says, "The EA50 gives you incredible options for fitment with both +/- 7° and +/-17° in sizes from 70mm - 120mm."

It's a decent stem that does everything it needs to for not a lot of money.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Easton:

FINISH BLACK ANO

RISE +/- 7°, +/-17°

CLAMP DIAMETER 31.8mm

STEERER 1 1/8"

LENGTH 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120mm

MATERIAL EA50 ALLOY

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Does everything a stem needs to do.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

A good weight for the money.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There isn't really much to dislike.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's around the right money for a stem of this quality and performance.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Nothing to really set the world alight in terms of stem performance but it does the job while looking good and not costing much.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

Easton EA50 Aluminium Stem 2019
Easton EA50 Aluminium Stem
Easton 2019
Easton
Stu Kerton

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

I realise that aluminium makes a lovely stem.  This one is nice, it's good value and strong.  Everything you want in a stem (Though, I'd probably go for the EA70).  But for my new Ultimate commuter I fancy something in steel, to go with the steel frame and forks.  I also love the retro looks.  I have found this one-

https://www.sim.works/collections/stems-simworks-by-nitto/products/rhond...

I fancy it in 70mm and in black.  Doesn't it look lovely.  Pic at the bottom.

What I would like to know is, does anyone else have any other recommendations?

BTBS has previously posted a steel frame builder who makes lovely scrolled lugged frames and matching stems but ONLY for the frames he makes.

It will not be for a while, I could do with being a little more solvent, and for the pound to be not quite so low against the Euro and Dollar.  And for the shops in the States or Germany to get them in stock.  I can get straight from Japan, if I get desperate, but I think the States or Germany might be easier (Maybe Germany before Halloween too).

I thank you for any help you may give.  Ta.

Latest Comments