Tech features:
PNW’s Loam stem is precision CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum with a zero-degree rise, 31.8mm and 35mm-clamp diameters, and in 32mm or 40mm lengths. It also has a zero-gap one-piece faceplate and zinc-coated bolts with 4mm heads. It is available in both 31.8mm and 35mm clamping diameters along with 32mm or 40mm lengths, depending on your preference and riding style. PNW offers the Loam stem in five different anodized colors—blackout black, dark silver, lightening (light silver), blood orange and fruit snacks (purple).
The Gen 4 Range handlebar is crafted from 2014 aluminum and features a 10-degree backsweep and 5-degree upsweep. It is available in 31.8mm and 35mm diameters with 25mm, 38mm, and 50mm rise options, and measures 800mm in width. The bar is only offered in black, but it is available with decal options in all of PNW’s nine colors.
Field test results:
Mounting PNW’s bar and stem combo is about as easy as it gets, thanks to the use of all 4mm bolts and the zero-gap face-plate top. Alignment marks on the stem and bar match up perfectly for simple centering, too.
Trimming the bar is easy, too, thanks to easy-to-read markings. We tested a 40mm stem matched to a 38mm-rise bar in the 35mm diameter.
We had to drop a few spacers to get the bar height in the same place as previous setups, but we really like the look of the lower stem and higher-rise bar combo. It just looks right and better than a low-rise bar with spacers under the stem.
On the trail, the bars felt like a step up from most standard-spec alloy bars in terms of flex and comfort but maybe a small step behind the best carbon offerings.
The biggest difference in these and other PNW bars is their 10-degree backsweep when most are closer to 8 degrees.
The greater backsweep is polarizing; test riders tended to either love it or hate it. But, with so many straighter bars on the market, PNW offers something that’s different and in a high-quality yet affordable and good-looking package.
Weight: 311 grams (bar, 38mm rise, 35mm diameter), 168 grams (stem, 40mm)
Price: $69 (bars), $99 (stem)
Contact: www.pnwcomponents.com