PRO LT Stem

The LT is Pro's entry-level offering in the road stem market and while it may not be the lightest or cheapest out there, there is no reason I can find to dismiss it. Its subtle looks will match any bike, it's easy to set up and it weighs just over 10g more than its big brother, the PRO Vibe, which costs a cool £99.99.

Stems are probably the most difficult part of a bike setup to test; after all, they are pretty much all the same when it comes to design, especially the aluminium alloy ones: a tube with a couple of clamps attached either end.

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But I have tested so many bikes over the years, and switched components on others way more times than anyone should in a lifetime, that I know there are tiny little differences to how they feel that you do pick up on.

And my conclusion of the PRO LT is that... it feels pretty much like any other alloy stem of this price point, the kind of stuff you find fitted to most bikes up until the £1,500 price point.

It's plenty stiff enough and you do get that rigid buzzy feel that alloy is renowned for, especially cheaper stems. I was using the LT with a carbon fibre Cinelli Neos bar and the difference in ride quality over the Bontrager carbon stem I'd replaced was noticeable. It's not uncomfortable, just that you notice that road noise a little bit more.

You can get cheaper stems that'll do the same job in terms of clamping your bars tight and offer plenty of stiffness, so it really comes down to details.

A lot of stems at this price have plated steel bolts which look nice and shiny when everything is new, but after a bit of use they can soon start showing signs of rust. The LT uses anodised alloy bolts in black, which should stay looking clean, although they are softer so you need to take care so as to not round them off.

The steerer clamp is designed, as you'd expect, for a 1 1/8in tube, and something I do like is that the clamp is solid in design rather than having a cutout that shows the fork steerer. It may be a tiny bit heavier like this, but to my mind it is much better aesthetically than having an unpainted alloy steerer showing through, at odds with your bike's paintjob.

The front uses a single clamp piece for holding the handlebar in place, which is easy to fit and tighten without needing three hands. There is also a handy painted centre marker to align your bar with.

We've got the +/- 6° version here in a 100mm length; the range covers 60mm to 120mm in 10mm increments.

According to PRO's website it also makes a +/- 17° option for those who want the professional slammed look, or a +/- 35° for track riders or those who want a more upright position if you flip it. It doesn't look like you'd be able to get either of these in the UK, though, at least not without a special order.

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Looking at value, when you take into account everything that the LT has going on I'd say it's fairly priced. The cheapest price I could see was £29.99.

The ITM Ergal 7075 is quite a bit lighter at 117g compared to the LT's 153g, and although it was just £27.99 when it was reviewed, the 'best deals' table at the bottom of the review shows prices have edged up to the £35 mark.

Going the other way, there is the 3T Arx II Pro with an RRP of £52.99, though you can find it online for around £35 too.

In conclusion, the PRO LT is a well-made, nicely finished stem that does the job at a decent price.

Verdict

A sensibly priced stem offering good looks and rust-free fixings