The e*thirteen Plus 35 stem is a light, super-solid stem made of high-end, ultra-strong alloy. It offers refined aesthetics and details and it does all you need in a stem for harder riding. The price is as expected for the build and design quality but how does it fare among the best mountain bike stems?
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e*thirteen Plus 35 Stem - Technical details
Using an AL-7050-T7 alloy for the construction, e*thirteen claims the Plus 35 stem is ultra strong. What is clear is that the stem has a very high level of design and detail - all the edges are nicely chamfered and the machining is of a high quality.
> Buy now: e*thirteen Plus 35 stem from Tredz for £85
Using two highly polished clamps as opposed to one face unit to hold the bar in place, it can be tightened down to a zero gap closure at the top, and then a small gap as usual on the lower bolts. This design creates a solid contact area.
The clamps are available in a few colour options such as Stealth Black, Bronze, Naranja (orange), Eggplant (purple) or Intergalactic (Oil Slick), the result of which should match most bikes.
Coupled with the total width of the clamps (which is 55mm wide), the extra material on the outer edges all contribute to providing a firm base to secure the bars. There are also measurement indicators on the stem to help with bar rotation and positioning.
Round the back, clamping the stem onto the steerer are two opposing bolts with a nicely sculpted cutaway section. e*thirteen claims that these ‘132-degree recessed opposing steerer clamp bolts deliver optimal knee clearance while maintaining alignment during tightening.’ In use, I found it easy to line up, with no issues with the stem being off after clamping down to 5-7nm.
The bolts are all T25 with rounded heads which reduces the chances of knee contact and, if you do happen to strike a knee, there are fewer square edges to cause issues. I tested the 40mm with a 0-degree rise. There is also a 50mm version available.
e*thirteen Plus 35 Stem - Performance
The e*thirteen Plus 35 stem is a tough little unit. I loved the finish quality and the fact it was easy to line up. The bolts didn't affect the position when tightened on the fork steerer. The two clamps held the bar firmly and it was easy to get my preferred position set quickly using the indicator marks on the clamps.
In use, the steering felt spot on. There was no twisting feeling and no issues with bolts loosening. The stem kept the bar supported and clamped in place and offered a connected and communicative feeling. Any degree of movement was due to the bar flexing, and steering was direct and responsive when riding along rough, rocky downhill trails.
I had no problems with knocking my knee when climbing or making sudden moves up climbs. The stem's rounded, low-profile design helps keep it out of the way. The bolts are Torx T25 that seem to resist rounding off. They are still rust-free and have little signs of wear on them.
e*thirteen Plus 35 Stem - Verdict
The e*thirteen Plus 35 Stem is relatively light, very nicely designed stem. Coming in at £95, it sits with higher-end options such as the 9point8 Stout stem. The Plus 35 is a sturdier stem, but a little heavier than the 9point8 and only comes in two lengths. I’d rather have the weight and strength, plus the reassuring steering. PNW Components Range Stem Gen 3 stem that Liam reviewed cost £69 but is a notch heavier.
The e*thirteen Plus 35 stem is spot on for harder riding, and e*thirteen has come up with a tough, good-looking design for it. It's well worth the money - and my favourite one to date.
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