Found – Hit N Run AXIS Direct Mount System
Having a publicly available email address means tons of spam. I often find myself cleaning out our BikeRumor email box and trashing everything from messages in foreign languages to press releases that have nothing to do with cycling. However, once in a while we get a gem in the inbox. Today I came across a pretty cool note from Mike Ahrens of Ahrens Bicycles in Scotts Calley, CA.
Mike works with Travis Kaschalk of Hit N Run Designs to produce his WiseCracker LITE bottle openers. Travis has a couple of his own products as well. The newest of which is the AXIS Direct Mount System.
For the full details and another image you know what to do.
The AXIS Direct Mount System is a direct mount stem designed for use on a single crown forks. It has a super short stack height at just 19mm to help keep the front end of your bike as low as possible. The design is lightweight too, coming in at 187g for the setup. The lower plate clamps to a standard 1 1/8th steer tube using a single M8 pinch bolt. Once in place, the Direct Mount stem clamps are held in place with four M6 stainless bolts. As Mike points out in his blog, one nice benefit of this system is that it frees up the center of your bar to mount your light, computer, GPS, etc. Also, as it has a wider clamp section, it seems like a good way to keep things stiff for those that run a wide bar.
As for the rest of the numbers, the clamp section comes in at 31.8mm (35mm may be on the horizon?). The length from the center of the steer tube to the center of the bar is 45mm. Cost is set at an introductory price of $90 for the AXIS Direct Mount bottom plate, and $70 for the 45mm Direct Mount Stem Clamp. If you wait until after January, prices go up to $120 and $100 respectively. For ordering info head over to the Ahrens blog post.
Comments
Stem is nice. But the adapter is just ugly and unnecessary, a product just for the sake of it.
I agree with Jon. Defeats the whole purpose of direct mount stems in the first place. No added benefits come from this seeing as the plate is still clamped to the steerer tube.
this is the ugliest stem i’ve seen for single crown forks.
They might want to rethink those stainless bolts, stainless steel/aluminum is about the worst combination for galvanic corrosion you can get.
@rico suave: ss bolts in aluminum are fairly standard. First, most aluminum (bike) parts are anodized. Second, as long as the bolts are greased properly this is a non issue regardless of anodization.
As with the others here I find this stem utterly pointless with all the looks and none of the benefit of a proper direct mount stem. To top it off the clamps are not open and therefore need to be slid on from one side.
Dear lord thats a bad idea! Does anyone else hear think that there is a bloody good reason traditional stems bolt onto more than 10mm of steerer, using at least two bolts? The leverage this thing would apply to your steerer is horrible. Whoever designed this, seriously…go back to engineering college. If you ever went there in the first place. I dont mean to be rude, but this needs to be said. This system will almost certainly result in someone getting a jagged torn off steerer implanted directly into their face. Please, please do not put this on the market. Some idiot may buy one and you will be in for the lawsuit from hell.
The actual stem itelf looks quite nice. Ill give you that. But that direct mount adapter…just, no.
Final post i promise.
First a correction: I see it bolts onto 19mm of steerer. Although this is more than the 10mm I previously mentioned, it is still not nearly enough. Not even close.
Secondly, after looking at your website I see you already have a hell of a disclaimer set up. For those who havent seen it, here it is:
“HIT-N-RUN DESIGNS makes no guarantees or representations express or implied, regarding the fitness of its products for any particular purpose, further HIT-N-RUN DESIGNS makes no guarantees or representations express or implied, regarding the extent to which its products protect individuals or property from injury or death or damage.”
Haha, no guarantees regarding the fitness of this product for ANY purpose. Well, Im glad thats clear. IMO calling something a stem is in itself an implication that this is fit for the purpose of holding your bars on. Had you called it the “Hit n Run Axis Direct Mount Paperweight” I would have felt no need to comment.