The AVA bars which have a bad reputation are almost completely unengraved, with sometime a tiny AVA in a diamond in the center, where it is often covered my the stem clamp. I have later extensively engraved AVA's that are completely different. Even the reputation of the "death bars" is probably exagerrated. They do break, although probably not a huge percentage, and usually not catastrophically. I removed a pair which showed a long hairline crack, before they failed. Of course one catastrophic failure in a million is too many if you are that one. I still ride these AVA's where they are original, although I take care to inspect them regularly. And I will confess, when using nonoriginal French bars, I'll usually choose Pivo, Phillipe, Atax or Belleri over AVA.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Doug Van Cleve <dvancleve@gmail.com> wrote: Howdy folks.
I have an Ava bar and stem off of a lowish mileage (I'm guessing) PX-10. I don't know if some Ava were okay and other bad news or if they were all bad news. I am under the impression that the one I have really shouldn't be used. If nobody else can come up with a picture I can post one later...
Doug Van Cleve Chandler, AZ
On 1/12/06, Howard Darr wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> Could I prevail upon the group for a picture of a death stem?
>
> I checked the archives for
>
>
> I found a thread referencing an ebay auction that was no longer
> accessible.