The Integra is the first direct-mount stem from Renthal and has been tested at World Cup level by the likes of Sam Hill, Fabien Barel and Troy Brosnan. It uses a two-piece design and is made from extensively CNC machined 6082 T6 alloy. With bolts, it weighs in at just 137g.
Despite its slender weight, the Integra is as stiff as they come thanks to the wide U-shaped clamp and there are helpful etched markings so you can align your bars properly. It's been cleverly designed to offer either 50mm or 45mm of reach via double drilled mounting holes, which is handy on today’s breed of ultra-adjustable downhill bikes.
At nearly £100 a pop, it’s not exactly cheap but it’s not the most expensive direct-mounter out there either. The build quality is second to none, so this is a stem that'll be with you for a long time.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine.