Engin Cycles was started by Drew Guldalian in 2005 to make what he couldn’t find – even through his own bike shop, Wissahikon Cyclery. A similar need led to their own components including a seat collar that would provide the proper amount of torque to keep dropper posts from binding, but keep the post in place. Now, Engin Cycles is unveiling their second component available for direct purchase – a stem for 35mm bars.
Wanting to make a stem that would match the form of their seat collar, the 35mm MTB Stem uses similar design language with a asymmetric details.
Anyone can make a ‘stem’, but for Engin it had to be precise and provide the exact torque needed to hold, but not crush, carbon bars. To that end, Engin uses a “no gap” style face plate that is supposedly easier to properly tighten than stems that require you to maintain an even gap. The design is also said to “spread clamping forces evenly around the bar clamp, holding firmly, with less risk of crushing high end carbon bars”.
Like the seat collar, the stem is made from domestically sourced 6061 aluminum and machined at Engin Cycles HQ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
As usual, Drew has focused on every detail including form tapping each hole for improved strength and longevity over standard threads, and optimizing both bores for all bars and steerer tubes. Engin also points out that they have chosen a Class 12.9 zinc steel bolt instead of the typical stainless steel used on most high end stems. Why? They claim that Stainless has a lower tensile strength than alloyed steel while its hardness properties present the opportunity for deformation at the tool interface. The zinc coated bolts still have high corrosion resistance while better resisting ’rounding out’ at the bolt head.
Finally, the stems have been extensively tested by Engin staff as well as independently tested through ACT labs.
Offered in four anodized colors to match the seat collars, Engin has added two new colors this time around with Lime Green and Matte Brown. Riders will have their choice of 32, 40, and 50mm stem lengths, all of which are priced at $195 and available directly from Engin Cycles.
Specs
- Steer Clamp: 28.6mm
- Stack Height: 40mm
- Bar Clamp Width: 50mm
- Handlebar clamp: 35mm
- Steerer clamp: 1 1/8″
- Offset: 5mm +/-
- Bolt Torque: 5nm MAX
- Weights: 32 mm – 135g, 40 mm – 147g, 50 mm – 181g
- Material: 6061 Aluminum
- Made in: Philadelphia, PA
