PRO - Atherton Star Series - First Look!
by Simon Paton
Oct 29, 2009
PRO - Powers your performance, well that's what they tell me!
PRO is now acknowledged by Shimano Japan, for the first time in the brand’s history. The 2010 products are now subject to Shimano’s strict MPAN QC testing procedure, arguably one of the toughest and most stringent in the industry.
Now if it's good enough for the Athertons then it is good enough for you!
PRO is now acknowledged by Shimano Japan, for the first time in the brand’s history. The 2010 products are now subject to Shimano’s strict MPAN QC testing procedure, arguably one of the toughest and most stringent in the industry.
Now if it's good enough for the Athertons then it is good enough for you!
First off none of these products have been tested by myself. This is a first look, in fact some of the items are pre-production only. Not for riding. That's how hot these items are.
The Atherton Star Series Direct Mount Stem.
Stems $119.99 / £79.99 / 84.95 euros
The Atherton Star Series Threadless Stem.
Claimed weight 160grams, actual weight 195grams.
$119.99 / £79.99 / 84.95 euros
The Atherton Star Series Handlebars.
20mm is spot on for the racers out there. 50mm for the dirt jumpers and 4x riders or those that still insist on 75 spacers under their stem!
Low rise weighed in at 316grams, the claimed weight was 315grams.
High rise weighed in at 325grams, the claimed weight was 320grams.
Riser Bars $79.99 / £54.99 / 69.95 euros
The Atherton Star Series Seat.
7mm Titanium Rails
260mm long x 130mm wide
Seat $69.99 / £49.99 / 58.95 euros
The Atherton Star Series Seat Post.
Claimed weight is 135grams for the 27.2 version. Is that a printing error? As the Pinkbike.com scales come in at 246grams for the 31.6 model.
One 5mm allen key tightens all. Your seat will stay in place even on the biggest case of a jump thanks to the splined clamps. Remember the Funn seat posts? This is a lighter, neater style. Not sure how long before I would loose those square springs. They are the same as those ones you get on your skewer for a conventional wheelset.
Seat Posts $84.99 / £54.99 / 59.95 euros
The bolt on the enclosed end of the grip is the tighten/loosen bolt for the lock-on wedge (think ODI bar end cap) which is inside the grip (should be visible looking down the inside of the grip). It’s an exclusive design that PRO came up with especially to suit the needs of Gee. He likes to grip right at the end of the bars and became irritated by the outer lock-on collar interfering on conventional grip designs. PRO designed an enclosed end, full length grip but still managed to retain the wedge that means it will resist spinning/moving.
Grips $26.99 / £17.99 / 18.50 euros
What does Hensley say?
We are going to see the Pro brand grabbing market share from the likes of Race Face, Funn, Easton, Sunline etc. With Shimano behind them and the Athertons on board and quality testing you and they are onto a winner. Those grips look and feel like a great idea. Let's see who copies that design! All Pro need to do now is spend a few more Yen on some quality scales.
What's next? Will we see the Athertons putting their name to other components, clothing ranges? Or will they start to produce their own products under their own label? Only time will tell so keep it locked to Pinkbike.com and we'll bring you the low down first.
To find out more about Pro click this link
Many thanks to Albert at Madison for flying these items straight into Pinkbike.com. If you've been a good boy or girl then write to Father Christmas now and get these on your list. Can't wait till Christmas? Then go checkout Madison the UK distributor for PRO and find your nearest dealer!
Stay Unclipped!
Si Paton..
Descent-Gear.com
U.Ks Largest Stockist of TLD 2010 Helmets, pre order now with free postage Worldwide
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| Fully machined Boxxer/Fox 40 Direct Mount Stem |
 |
| Made from AL7050 Alloy |
 |
| Low Profile 2 Piece Design |
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| Published weight 125grams. Actual weight 134grams excluding four mounting bolts |
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| You are going to see a lot more of this logo |
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| 5mm Allen Key Bolts |
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| 45mm Extension and 31.8mm oversize bars only |
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| Non Rideable Sample |
The Atherton Star Series Threadless Stem.
 |
| Why not make it a flip flop design so you could have two different rises |
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| Extensions: 35mm,50mm and 60mm |
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| Suitable for 1 1/8th Steerer Tubes Only |
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| 31.8mm Oversize Only. |
$119.99 / £79.99 / 84.95 euros
The Atherton Star Series Handlebars.
 |
| 20mm and a 50mm rise. |
 |
| Personally I would have lowered the bar, see what I did there. To a 40mm option but what do I know |
Low rise weighed in at 316grams, the claimed weight was 315grams.
High rise weighed in at 325grams, the claimed weight was 320grams.
 |
| Cutting indicators from 640 to 720mm is a super nice touch. Other manufacturers take note please |
The Atherton Star Series Seat.
 |
| Claimed weight 220grams, actual weight is 218grams. |
260mm long x 130mm wide
 |
| Kevlar reinforced nose and bum cheeks for anti-rip |
The Atherton Star Series Seat Post.
 |
| Available in 27.2x250mm and 31.6x250mm |
 |
| Made from 7075 Alloy with CNC Machined Head |
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| Looks fiddly? Quite easy actually |
Seat Posts $84.99 / £54.99 / 59.95 euros
 |
| No claimed weight, my scales say 125grams for the pair |
 |
The bolt on the enclosed end of the grip is the tighten/loosen bolt for the lock-on wedge (think ODI bar end cap) which is inside the grip (should be visible looking down the inside of the grip). It’s an exclusive design that PRO came up with especially to suit the needs of Gee. He likes to grip right at the end of the bars and became irritated by the outer lock-on collar interfering on conventional grip designs. PRO designed an enclosed end, full length grip but still managed to retain the wedge that means it will resist spinning/moving.
Grips $26.99 / £17.99 / 18.50 euros
What does Hensley say?
We are going to see the Pro brand grabbing market share from the likes of Race Face, Funn, Easton, Sunline etc. With Shimano behind them and the Athertons on board and quality testing you and they are onto a winner. Those grips look and feel like a great idea. Let's see who copies that design! All Pro need to do now is spend a few more Yen on some quality scales.
What's next? Will we see the Athertons putting their name to other components, clothing ranges? Or will they start to produce their own products under their own label? Only time will tell so keep it locked to Pinkbike.com and we'll bring you the low down first.
To find out more about Pro click this link
Many thanks to Albert at Madison for flying these items straight into Pinkbike.com. If you've been a good boy or girl then write to Father Christmas now and get these on your list. Can't wait till Christmas? Then go checkout Madison the UK distributor for PRO and find your nearest dealer!
Stay Unclipped!
Si Paton..
Descent-Gear.com
U.Ks Largest Stockist of TLD 2010 Helmets, pre order now with free postage Worldwide
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83 Comments
- - 1
KonaKane
(Oct 29, 2009 at 0:07)
these are nice!
yeah they look cool but anyone other then a top rider with the words PRO written on their bike will look a bell-end to me 
Almost seems like you have to be pro to afford it...but what's even sadder is I checked CRC and pricepoint to get a baseline price for bars and seats ect. What has our world come to?! Everything is so expensive. So perhaps a 30% increase in price from normal alluminum parts isn't too bad.
yes, i think they are overhyped! look at the claimed weight and compare it to the actual weight. then look at the price! you can get better parts for less money, even if they don´t have such a "pro" label...
ya that is so true. it would take an amazing product to pull me away from easton, or sunline. and im not sure id be willing to put this tacky looking stuff on my bike.
mcrippa: Deity is a bit poor tbh, trend setter products really, but I too am running a sunline stem and deity bar atm. My Reverse style76 bar that I have on my xc bike feels a lot nicer than the deity dirty30 imo. Anyone tried the raceface atlas bar against something like the Reverse style76/Fli XXL bar? I'd be interested to know which feels better without having to spend the cash!
well if they are not wide enough, don't buy them! Don't go and sulk to us because no one cares. just a stupid comment.
no its not a stupid comment dip shit, pritty much all the down hillers i know are going over to 720 + and u rarely see serious racers with shorter either, so stop trying to be a cocky dick and shut for face
good quality stuff, think they'll be the worthy competition on my new bike build up. lets hope CRC get them in stock soon enough!
Uh, right - spelt is fine if you are talking about wheat, but the past tense of spell is spelled. (Which is ironic for someone pointing out spelling errors.)
But anyway, who gives a sh*t?? This is pinkbike! I guess I'm just as guilty as you for wasting my time on something so stupid.
[Reply]
Everything looks nice, but I have to wonder why anyone would by one of the stems (not DM) over a Thomson. As far as I can tell, they're heavier and more expensive. And not Thomson.
because unfortunately the athertons never use 1.5 forks and this is their signiture stuff, i got the same problem so im just gonna get the kit for my 4X bike
and perhaps because this standard slowly goes to the history books as the invention that helped to develop a tapered tube which has same stiffness as 1.5 and the compatibility of 1 1/8 
whatever people say about the manitou: thank you for taking it for the team and putting onepointfive and post mount into the market
whatever people say about the manitou: thank you for taking it for the team and putting onepointfive and post mount into the market
yeah the tapered headtube has DEFINATELY outfased the 1.5 sadly but manitou do kick ass for making it in the first place and the post mount will live on :-)
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caught a glimps of some of this kit when the sales rep from the shop i work in brought us some samples to look at and i must say its tasty stuff, the products themselves are awesome but i think the designs could be a touch better
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Lolled pretty hard on few of those claimed weights 
For prices like this, split second stem and burgtec bars are more valuable...
For prices like this, split second stem and burgtec bars are more valuable...
Flopper,
Thanks for the reference though any Madison dealer (a shop that sells Shimano) will have stock. Go in and see the product in the flesh and support your LBS - local bike shop!
Thanks for the reference though any Madison dealer (a shop that sells Shimano) will have stock. Go in and see the product in the flesh and support your LBS - local bike shop!
So its cool if you have components with Athertons family all over your bike. Its same shit like monster pants or jersey. And i almost forgot famus Monster drink in one hand. If you dont drink Monster drink you are not rider.
This components are seriously uncool.
This components are seriously uncool.
Looks great, I love the design. However bars, stems and especialy the seat post are way too expensive for how much they weigh. Just compare it with Easton which is lighter and cheaper.
[Reply]
the bars arent wide enough, the both stems look like sunline, the seat post is too short for my bike, and the saddle is unremarkable. Only the grips seem worth buying.
Also, why is the arrow pointing uphill? surly thats just wrong!
Also, why is the arrow pointing uphill? surly thats just wrong!
why would you spend 18 quid on grips when other brands like odi are selling for 12 quid and dmr for 10
This stuff looks so cheap! The graphics and finish look like these parts should be on a Walmart bike.
nice looking stuff, a bit pricey but light.
but im sorry, i just don't like the little Atherton logo, and the name pro?
back to the drawing board with this one.
but im sorry, i just don't like the little Atherton logo, and the name pro?
back to the drawing board with this one.
[Reply]
You may not be homophobic, but you are quite blind. The silhouettes are clearly modeled after the ones you see on signs for public bathrooms, construction areas, crosswalks, etc.
[Reply]
everything looks like sunline coz thats what Gee has been riding for ages and feels at home on. The bar is nearly an exact copy of one of the sunline bars but with 1mm less rise. The Grips are really nice though and the direct mount stem is pretty sweet too
[Reply]
[Reply]
Could the claimed weight be off because these are not the production produst and be made of a cheaper alloy or not machined as much?
nice parts but Thomson x4 Stem still lighter strong and nicer looking. the direct mount sucks, there is no Marzocchi or Boxxer fit.
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Advert FAIL!, what a complete waste of hard earnd cycling dollars, the brainchild behind this line should be fired, anyone caught riding this junk without their names on it should be beaten, they shoud of named it SUCKER or hype instead of PRO, these products are for the consumers of marketing.....not quality, there are better products for less money and weight for every product in the line, complete failure! shimano fails for producing it and the costomers fail for consuming it....even the pro's using this junk fail because there are better products available for less money.....anyone think of Crusty Brand form the simpsons?
[Reply]
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