I recently reviewed the SL-K Carbon Wheelset from Full Speed Ahead, or FSA, and loved it. FSA was kind enough to send me the matching SL-K cockpit set up (handlebar, stem, and seatpost) to match the set, and I’ve put these suckers to the test as well.
The SL-K handlebar measures out at 740mm with 18mm of rise. This makes for a really comfortable feel on longer days while still allowing the bars to put you in an aggressive position fit for XC race scenarios. The bars weigh a light 235g and are priced at $130, which is a pretty fair price for what you get. The SL-K handlebars are just a smidge heavier that their superior, the K-FORCE model, but are a whopping $70 cheaper. The bars have a 31.8mm clamp diameter which fits perfectly into the SL-K stem.
Unlike the SL-K bars the SL-K stem is made of CNC machined alloy instead of carbon, though the stem faceplate is carbon. The stems have a 6 degree rise and come in a variety of lengths from 70mm-130mm. The 100mm stem weights in at 134g, which makes this stem neither the lightest nor the cheapest stem on the market. That being said, it is very solid and does exactly what a stem should.
The SL-K seatpost comes in two different models, the SB20 (seen here) with 20mm setback and the SB0 with no setback. FSA revamped the SL-K seatpost and managed to drop the weight down to just 222g while still making it stiff and durable. It measures at 350mm long and fits into a 27.2 seatpost tube. The seat clamp is made of alloy and features an SBS clamp system, which is extremely nice because it has a wide range of adjustments for position and fit. At $90 this carbon seatpost is a great deal.
Overall I think the SL-K cockpit set up is great. The carbon bars and seatpost are light, durable, and absorb a lot of vibration. The stem is a bit over priced for the weight but it does all you need a stem to do. When the whole set is put together it looks great and I think Full Speed Ahead knocked it out of the park yet again.
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