The Cusp stem from Box Components is a no nonsense stem designed to work hand-in-hand with the company’s “X” 35mm carbon bars. I’ve been running this stem on my 29er for several weeks now and here’s what I’ve learned.
Box offers this stem in 3 lengths: 45, 55, and 65mm. I consider myself an XC rider so I chose the 65mm version to get a little extra extension, and it’s worked really well for me. The Cusp has an angular profile and is made from 6061-T6 aluminum alloy that’s been 3D cold forged. Because it’s forged (and not milled) the piece has a nice smooth finish that I really dig. While milled (CNC machined) parts look really cool, I find it tough to clean all the dust and dirt out of the tiny tooling grooves. The Cusp, on the other hand, wipes down clean with a dry rag.
The Cusp stem features an oversized 35mm clamp on the bar side for added strength and rigidity. Some riders complain a 35mm clamp produces a ride that’s too rigid and harsh on the trail, but that hasn’t been my experience. At the other end, the stem mounts to standard 1 1/8″ steerers with two opposing bolts.
The 4-bolt faceplate sports a hex-shaped cutout that lines up with hex marks printed on Box’s bars, making it simple to get everything aligned. Installation was a breeze, but that’s no surprise–installing a stem is one of those jobs anyone can do themselves in 5 minutes or less.
All told, my 65mm stem (with bolts) weighs 164g, which seems to be about average for an aluminum stem at this length. The Cusp is offered in 4 finishes (black, gunmetal, red, and blue) and retails for around $99.
Thanks to Box Components for providing the Cusp stem for review.
