by Joe Lindsey
Weight: 158 grams (120mm)
Sizes: 1-1/8-inch threadless only; custom rise and reach
Colors: Brushed titanium; custom paint available
Buy it if: The idea of a fully custom titanium stem appeals to you.
Forget it if: You put more emphasis on the performance/cost ratio than anything.
Contact: 617/923-7774
If you’re not familiar with Seven Cycles, here’s a quick rundown: the company makes steel and titanium bikes and are the only bike maker fully immersed in the idea of mass customization: the creation of each and every frame as a distinctly original unit, but built with the same standardized processes to ensure quality every time. No two Sevens, not even two titanium hardtails built for 5-foot-9 riders, are alike.
That design philosophy extends to Seven’s line of components, which at this point includes stems, seatposts and mountain bike handlebars. The Seven stem, built from 3Al/2.5V titanium, is a custom job only—any rise, any extension length, road, mountain, whatever. The only caveat is threadless inch and an eighth steerer only—no quill or 1-inch models. It’s not cheap, but the Seven stem does dispel some of the theories about titanium stems, like they’re noodly.
You can choose from three stiffness levels: S1, for riders under 140 pounds, S2, for a stiffness approximately the same as a good aluminum stem, or S3, for big riders or those who want the stiffest stem possible. I chose an S2 mountain, 120mm, zero-degree rise stem and it is an exceptional piece of equipment.
The S2 proved plenty stiff for my needs, even with a pair of torque-happy 23-inch wide riser bars. It steers well, installed easily and the quality is top-notch. Weld passes are smooth and even, and the stem, like the company’s frames, arrived with a note identifying its welder and polisher—Seven’s way of noting pride of workmanship and accountability. And it comes with a lifetime warranty.
For 2002, Seven is looking into offering a detachable faceplate mountain stem, which would alleviate the only concern I had with the stem: the older single-bolt clamp wasn’t as friendly to install riser bars with. It worked with most risers, but some 2-inch rise models with a sharp bend weren’t easy to pass through the clamp. The Seven is exorbitantly priced; more so than a stem has a right to be. But this isn’t about having the lightest or the best performance on the dollar—there are lots of good stems for much less than this. The Seven is about having the best, and like their bikes, if you want to pay the price, you’ll get a great stem.