This Grid stem is cold forged from 6061 aluminium before being CNC’d for a smoother, more detailed finish. What this means is the metal is crushed under massive hydraulic pressures to a form close to the finished product.
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It’s a manufacturing process that helps align the material’s grain structure in directions that mimic the finished shape and is proven to increase overall strength and resistance to twisting and stress forces.
Whether it’s the way Gravity’s product is made or not, the broad stem is totally solid and flex-free; something that I reckon is great in stems, but not always the best in handlebars.
Steering response feels immediate and precise, and the Grid held bars completely firm during testing. The stem uses a design whereby the 4mm Allen head bolts clamp down hard on the top side – this not only looks neat, it means it’s a bit easier to check torque settings when installing. The Grid’s weight is at the chunky end of the spectrum compared to some you’d use for trail riding, but this is a good-looking stem with a solid feel and nice finish quality.
