Gear Shots #29 - Straitline Components

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Full details on the bash ring, bar end caps, pedals, and stem from Straitline Components. Check it out (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/gearshots29_02_07.php).

And stay tuned for the long-term review on the pedals. :)

[ChunkyMonkey]

$180 for a stem:damn:

Is that a typo?

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Nope, no typo. That is MSRP, though. Retail price will likely differ.

[DaveM]

Straightline makes an incredible product. I have their levers and absolutely love them.

But $180 stems and $64 bar ends? Is there a market for another boutique cnc parts company?

At least with Straightline you can see they have actually built a better product for that money. I just wonder if parts like that really need to be that good.

I was loving that stem and ready to buy until that pricetag kicked me in the junk.

[shorelocal]

I just wonder if parts like that really need to be that good.

I was loving that stem and ready to buy until that pricetag kicked me in the junk.

Totally agree ... for that kinda money I'd rather just buy something cheap and take my chances. If I have to replace it in a year or two, I'm still ahead in the pocketbook.

[Rexthespeedster]

The review also says the pedals are $160. When I was talking to the Straitline marketing guy (Greg Parish) at the Outdoor Show he said they'd retail for $125...I wonder what's up with that difference?

[stuart@nsmb.com]

The review also says the pedals are $160. When I was talking to the Straitline marketing guy (Greg Parish) at the Outdoor Show he said they'd retail for $125...I wonder what's up with that difference?

Both of those numbers came from Greg. It's the same deal as the stem. Companies need to set an MSRP, which is what's in the article, but if retailers don't feel they can sell the item (pedals, stem, whatever) for that much then they won't.

MSRP is based on cost plus a desired profit per item. Retail pricing isn't necessarily tied to those factors, because consumers don't like the idea of paying $180 for a stem or $160 for pedals. They don't care if the company makes $5 or $35 profit (or whatever the real numbers are). And that's why the pedals will likely retail for $125.

[Couch_Surfer]

64 dollar bar end caps.... target market (http://bb.nsmb.com/member.php?u=20120)

[connor]

64 dollar bar end caps.... target market (http://bb.nsmb.com/member.php?u=20120)

hahaha they are "the best" and made of Ti though..

[DrewM]

Their brake levers are gorgeous and the pedals are pretty slick (although I think if you are going to buck up that much for a set of pedals then you can't beat the Dark Cycles Scarab pedals for looks).

The stem is a sweet concept too, but I wonder, at least in terms of MSRP, if they are pricing themselves out of the competition with RaceFace (BC made RaceFace anyways), Thomson and other high-high end stems.

The only part I have a hard time getting excited about are the bar end caps. There is nothing new or exciting about another set screw equipped bar-end cap. They are prone to over tightening, dig into your bar, and they don't spread clamping force around the grip at all (something the stock ODI clamps do very well).

I'm not really suprised that another company is marketing set-screw style clamps (they have to be by far the easiest to make). I am just a little suprised that a company that is obviously quite innovative went that route. Especially when they have gone to the pains of designing a stem that spreads clamping load around 360 degrees of the steer tube and are marketing it at a premium based on this feature (and colour options?)

[shirk]

64 dollar bar end caps.... target market (http://bb.nsmb.com/member.php?u=20120)

Thats funny.

[Sethimus]

how much are the levers?

[corey@nsmb.com]

Interesting gear.

I think its kinda funny how full circle the "bash ring" has gone. Way back in the day when they used to be annodized blue or red etc, they had these funny looking shark teeth on them, which evolved into a lower profile, yet rough edge. Then they went smooth, and now here we are back again with something that we had years ago.

Nice looking gear, but the MSRP's are a bit scary. Stu is right, they really are "suggested" prices that they are putting out there (ie: "safe" prices that will keep shops buying them so that they have room for their margin). But when you look at the example of a suggested price of $64 for bar end caps, its pretty scary!

[connor]

But when you look at the example of a suggested price of $64 for bar end caps, its pretty scary!


Those are the Ti ones. Ti bolts can run you $5-10 each and up.. that's not that far out there..

[Straw]

I think it's important to note that the goods seem to be made in BC. Some will pay for that, others won't.

If you think about it, you're doing the environment a favour by buying them. It took less fossil fuels to get you the Straightlines than say, some VPs made in Taiwan.

Maybe the government can start buying Straightline and claiming they're showing enviro responsibility because of it.

[cruzer]

I think it's important to note that the goods seem to be made in BC. Some will pay for that, others won't.

If you think about it, you're doing the environment a favour by buying them. It took less fossil fuels to get you the Straightlines than say, some VPs made in Taiwan.

Maybe the government can start buying Straightline and claiming they're showing enviro responsibility because of it.



the government tried getting custom aluminum parts made and we ended up the the fastcat disaster

[pachamama]

The only part I have a hard time getting excited about are the bar end caps. There is nothing new or exciting about another set screw equipped bar-end cap. They are prone to over tightening, dig into your bar, and they don't spread clamping force around the grip at all (something the stock ODI clamps do very well).

I'm not really suprised that another company is marketing set-screw style clamps (they have to be by far the easiest to make). I am just a little suprised that a company that is obviously quite innovative went that route. Especially when they have gone to the pains of designing a stem that spreads clamping load around 360 degrees of the steer tube and are marketing it at a premium based on this feature (and colour options?)

Very well said. I recently ditched my dangerboy end caps for the reasons you mentioned above and ordered the aluminum odi 'thug plug'. Another nice end cap is the hope, but they should have made the outside diameter larger in my opinion (they just cover the hole, not the entire end).

[mudpuppy]

those thug plugs are pretty sweet....how much they set you back?

[Wayne P]

You guys are complaining...but ya know what's funny? Straitline can't keep this stuff in stock. They make a lot of product and it sells out in weeks. They're not there to compete with Axiom, they are there to produce high end product, ala Chris King (who also sells a lot of product). Its for people who want it, not people who don't.