Pro PLT stem

Pro are doing an excellent job of supplying top quality, attractive components to bicycle lovers everywhere and with the PLT stem they have continued in the same vein. It's a very good looking and lightweight stem from Shimano’s component arm but for an alloy offering this isn’t cheap.

A lightweight alloy stem (125g for 110mm length) suitable for 1 1/8 inch steerer tubes, the PLT is supplied with an additional shim to take that down to 1” should you need it. Pro retail this stem at £49.99 and for that you get a stem with an interesting faceplate, instead of being a one piece unit this has two clamps that wrap vertically around the bars and are screwed into place top and bottom. Fiddly? Yes. Weight saving? Yes. Necessary? I’m unsure.

A stem is there to do a job, I don’t really buy into the ‘everything must be carbon’ culture because for what a stem does, alloy does that very well. Carbon doesn’t tend to handle the various stresses put through it as well as an alloy design does and the weight differences are mostly non-existent. Look at this stem: its very light at just 10g more (and over £70 less) than the Carbon fibre version you really can’t complain.

When being ridden there were no signs of flex or stress and no telltale clicking sounds of stems that don’t like what they’re going through. The gentle rise on this added to the comfort too but with the flexibility of it being reversible this could certainly appeal to speed seekers and those looking to get as low as possible.

Verdict

A very usable stem, for £50 an alloy stem should be good and the PLT is. Nothing exceptional but a solid performer with classy looks that should see it able to grace any bike (mountain bikes included, say Pro)