| Length | Weight | Diameter | Price |
| 33 mm | 112 gr. | 35 mm | 140€ |
Apex it is the Renthal handlebar stem, an object that exudes quality and technology. It is one of the shortest stems on the market, as the version for 31,8mm handlebars measures only 31mm! The version tested is the 33mm, the shorter size for handlebars with a diameter of 35mm.
Renthal Apex is made from full through CNC machining and has a very aggressive line: the exclusive 240° handlebar clamps allow you to remove a lot of material from the body of the stem but maintaining the resistance and rigidity required by gravity handlebars. It is available in 4 lengths: 31 (only in the 31,8 version), 33, 40, 50 and 60mm. All sizes have a +/- 6° Rise.
FEATURES
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Offset | 33 mm |
| Rise | + / – 6° |
| Stack Height | 40 mm |
| Diameter | 35 mm |
| Clamp Width | 46 mm |
| Steerer Clamp | 28.6 mm |
| Weight | 112g (inc. screws) |
The handlebar stem is characterized by high quality aluminium: present the 2014 alloy (Avional) and the 7075 (Ergal), the latter used to lighten the structure but not lose strength. This leads to a low weight of 112g including screws. And it matches perfectly with the Renthal Fatbar Carbon handlebar, also giving a very convincing aesthetic sense (read the test here).
This weight also makes it competitive for use on road bikes cross country, despite its intended use being gravity disciplines. Renthal components are famous for being used even by non-officially sponsored DH World Cup riders.
INSTALLATION
Installation proved to be slightly more delicate than a standard combination, thanks to the 240-degree locking surfaces. From the front, the two arches must be removed from the stem and the handlebar must be inserted in the true sense of the word by sliding it from the outside to the centre. And in this situation it is very easy to make some signs (ATTENTION). In fact, the central body of the attack acts as a real handhold. At this point it is possible to tighten the lower screws to the stop and then the upper screws (always respecting the 5Nm of torque).
FIELD TEST
Renthal has been building mountain bike handlebars for several years, with a strong background in motocross. We also got to use the attack in combination with the Fatbar Carbon handlebar.
The compatibility between stem and handlebar is exceptional, both on a graphic and functional level. But, of course, it is compatible with any handlebar other than Renthal. It should be noted that I had to go beyond the 5Nm recommended by Renthal to prevent the handlebar from rotating slightly.
Being a handlebar stem, it is difficult to do other objective analyses: it does what it has to do... and it does it with style.
| Particular signs | BACKGROUND The product exudes racing and, for lovers of the genre, it is an irresistible attraction |
| + | Light. Ergonomic. Quality materials. |
| - | It's easy to make some marks on the handlebars during assembly. You must go beyond the maximum recommended tightenings (5Nm) to avoid rotating the handlebars. |
HOW MUCH DOES APEX RENTHAL COST?
The model under test is offered, in all lengths, at the price of €140, in both the 35mm and 31.8mm models.
MORE INFORMATION TO THE OFFICIAL SITE
