FIRST GLANCE
Hope’s Gravity Stem just dropped through the door at Misspent Summers.
I think it’s fair to say that longer travel trail bikes are getting ever-closer to becoming pedalable downhill rigs (which is, of course, fantastic).
Hope says it saw the need for a stem that could keep up with the requirements of trail riders taking on steeper and rougher terrain, higher speeds and bigger hits: they wanted to make something light enough to not feel like a brick but stiff enough to inspire confidence when pointing your bike down stuff that you wouldn’t even walk down.
The result is Hope’s Gravity stem.
The stem is CNC machined from a solid billet of 2014 T6 aluminium, it’s available for both 31.8mm and 35mm bar diameters and in lengths of 35mm and 50mm, accommodating for pretty much anyone (I know there are some fussy buggers out there). And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Hope component if it didn’t come in a myriad of colour options. In this case there are seven to choose from, starting with the understated and classic black (as pictured) to the eye-catching Orange.
At 156 grams, it’s not going to win any featherweight titles. But let’s face it, if you’re speccing out a heavy hitting enduro bike and fussing over stem weight, you’ve got bigger problems to worry about – like explaining to your mates why you needed to buy it in the first place.
Hope’s legacy of quality products that are made to last might be just the excuse – sorry, reason – you need to upgrade your steering.
First look by Archie Bromfield @archiebrommers
Available at Hope.
£110
