Let’s face it. Stems are one of the most boring components on a bike, but they’re among the most important. Every bike has one, and it serves as the necessary connection between your handlebars and your steerer tube. But for as critical as they are, there’s really not much to them, and performance differences are subtle at best. For the most part, the stock stem on any bike does the job well enough to never give it a second thought.
The main reasons most people upgrade their stems are to improve bike fit or personalize aesthetics. To that end, Race Face’s Turbine stem has been a popular choice for years, with several lengths and a range of anodized colors to choose from. Now, Race Face has updated the Turbine with a sharper look, sizes optimized for modern mountain bikes, enhanced retention, and the same bombproof reliability.
Race Face Turbine Stem Details
Last year, Race Face introduced the Turbine SL stem with an angular, modern look and a flippable design allowing for +/- 6mm of offset. The new “standard” Turbine follows in the SL’s aesthetic footsteps, with a similar, squared-off, and more angular design.
Like the Turbine SL, the Turbine is also CNC-machined from 6000-series aluminum to maintain a low weight, and Race Face says it’s “designed for the abuse of all-mountain and enduro riding, even full-power eMTBs.” Since we all hate rusty stem bolts, its bolts have been updated with a new finish, which is claimed to be more corrosion-resistant. Additionally, the bar and steerer tube clamp interfaces have reportedly been re-engineered for better retention.
Dimensions, Sizes, and Color Options
While the previous Turbine R stem was offered in five lengths, Race Face has narrowed that down to three options. Now available in 32mm, 40mm, and 50mm lengths, Race Face says, “the new Turbine is optimized for modern geometry, fit adjustments, and steering precision.”
It comes in a 35mm bar clamp diameter only and has a 48mm clamp width. The stack height is listed at 42mm, and it has a flat, 0-degree rise. It comes in a rainbow of 8 anodized colors, matching the options of the recently updated Atlas alloy handlebars and other Race Face components.
Race Face Turbine Stem Specs
- Material: 6000-series aluminum
- Lengths: 32mm, 40mm, 50mm
- Clamp diameter: 35mm
- Clamp width: 48mm
- Rise: 0-degree
- Stack: 42mm
- Steerer tube diameter: 1 ⅛”
- Claimed weights:
- 32mm: 115g
- 40mm: 126g
- 50mm: 135g (confirmed)
- System weight rating: 331 lbs. (150kg)
- Colors: Black, Silver, Red, Orange, Kashmoney, Blue, Turquoise, Purple
Race Face Turbine Stem: Pricing and Availability
The new Turbine stem comes with Race Face’s lifetime warranty (crashes included) and retails for $127 USD / $135 CAD. It is available now through the Race Face website or your favorite Race Face dealer.
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