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review

PRO LT Stem

7
£34.99

VERDICT:

7
10
A sensibly priced stem offering good looks and rust-free fixings
Weight: 
153g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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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.

PRO LT Stem - side.jpg

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.

PRO LT Stem - detail.jpg

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.

> 9 ways to make your bike more comfortable

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

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road.cc test report

Make and model: PRO LT Stem

Size tested: 100mm, 6 degree

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

PRO says: "The LT Stem is made from 3D forged 6061 aluminium, which provides high strength and excellent resistance to corrosion. This versatile Ahead stem features a reversible + or - 6° rise and is compatible with 1-1/8" steerer tubes. Installation couldn't be easier thanks to the four-bolt removable faceplate."

The LT is PRO's entry level stem and it does a good job being easy to fit, competitive on price and weight.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Material: Anodised 6061 aluminium alloy, 3D forged

Angle: +/- 6 degrees, +/- 17 degrees, +/- 35 degrees

Length: 60-120mm, 60-120mm, 70 & 90mm

Handlebar: 31.8mm

Steerer: 1 1/8"

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It held the handlebar tight and didn't flex.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The single piece front plate is easy to fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There are cheaper out there that'll do the same job.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The PRO LT is a decent no-frills stem, if a little on the heavy side. With the inclusion of things like black anodised bolts it'll stay looking good even when it's seen plenty of British weather.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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2 comments

Avatar
macrophotofly | 6 years ago
0 likes

The Pro LT above is good and I used to love the design of the Pro Vibe (also mentioned above as the expensive big brother) until they messed with it this year and made it" just another 4 bolt stem", but the sweet spot in the range (IMO) is the Pro PLT. Not much more than the LT (about £10 more) and lighter than the Vibe - it also has a more open front with graduation markings to make aligning the bars easier

Avatar
Vejnemojnen | 6 years ago
0 likes

Uno from ebay for 15 quid, 130mm exactly 122 grams in -17 degree.

 

available in 6-7-17 degree and 60-130mm length.

 

lighter-cheaper

 

see this for example

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNO-Logo-Aluminum-Alloy-31-8-x-110mm-Road-Bike-B...

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