Renthal Apex35 V2 stem

After an awfully long time on the market, the Renthal Apex stem has seen a near-complete redesign. Now, the Renthal Apex35 V2 brandishes a sleeker look, a more durable design, and all of the weight savings physically possible. That’s not without sacrificing stiffness and general performance, either. But one thing hasn’t changed: its comparatively lofty price tag.

Renthal Apex35 V2 – Technical details

Renthal says that the Apex35 V2 is built to combine strength, stiffness, and lightweight, and although its design takes leaps away from the older shape, it still uses the 240-degree handlebar clamp design that made the original Apex stand out from the crowd. Of course, it features a zero-gap lower interface.

This somewhat unique design allows the stem’s engineers to shave away material throughout the stem, but without sacrificing stiffness and strength. In fact, the amount of material cut away from the stem is pretty huge. Holes are cut into the stem’s interior faces, and there’s even a little divet cut into the underside of the stem, added for no reason other than to save weight.

As for that construction, the stem is forged, and then CNC machined from 2014 aluminium, which makes all of these weight savings possible. As for the clamps, they’re built from 7050 aluminium, and both materials have been heat-treated with a process chosen especially for the stem to boost strength and durability.

The biggest change found on the Apex35 V2 is in the arrangements of its steerer clamp bolts. Rather than following the tried and true pattern of having them where you would expect, they’ve been moved ‘tangentially’ to the steerer tube. Renthal reckons that this provides more efficient clamping and a higher clamping load.

This change also means that the stem’s rear surface is round, so there are far fewer sharp edges to knock your knees against.

As for measurements, the stem provides a five-degree rise, 40mm stack height, and a 52.5mm clamp width

Last up, the stem is available in two colours, Renthal’s classic AluGold and black, as well as an all-black colourway. There are then 35mm and 31.8mm clamp diameters and 33, 40 and 50mm lengths on the Apex35. The 31.8mm-going Apex trades the 33mm length for a 31mm option. For its intentions, that range of lengths is spot on.

Renthal Apex35 – Performance

For my test with the Apex35, I chose the 33mm length, and installation is a little more involved, but nothing to really fuss about. Rather than simply placing a face plate over the bar, the dual face plates need to be slid along a handlebar before being bolted down. The tolerances are super close, too, as it takes a notable amount of effort to slide the stem onto the steerer. This could be seen as a positive, as the stem provides a more secure hold without any torque applied to the bolts, but it takes a little more force to get it into place.

But once nipped up, the Apex35 solves all of the issues I came across on the older stem. There are white markings stamped onto the same, which makes handlebar centring and alignment super simple. There’s even a note for the recommended torque underneath the face plates, so I’ve not had to hunt through Renthal’s website to figure that out for myself.

The Apex35 is a super sleek-looking stem. Moving to a rounded stem clamp just makes it look super tidy. Then, the brand’s effort in shedding weight is super clear, as there are holes everywhere where material isn’t needed.

Don’t let that lead you to believe that this isn’t a stiff or durable stem, though. It’s far from it, in fact, as when combined with aluminium and carbon handlebars, its stout stature delivers just the right level of stiffness and compliance, making for a comfortable but direct feeling cockpit.

Durability has seen a clear increase, too. The previous iteration of the Apex35 was a favourite, until I unexpectedly stripped a steerer clamp’s thread before reaching the correct torque, leaving a rather pricey stem destined for the bin. But with the Apex35 V2, the new steerer clamp bolt arrangement gives the bolts more to hang onto. So with this stem, I’m much more confident when fettling with it.

Though with its performance being top-notch, I feel like the Apex35 V2 is more about its lightweight, and Renthal has managed to hit the mark here. Weighing a svelte 122.5g, it’s lighter than Pembree’s 174g GCS stem and OneUp Components’ 155g Stem in its shortest length.

Renthal Apex35 V2 – Verdict

Although lighter than much of its competition, the Apex35 V2 is one pricy number at £116.95. Now, with stems all pretty much doing the same thing and being similar in performance, the main benefits that this one brings are its lightweight and Renthal style.

Other stems to take a look at are PNW Components’ Loam Stem. It’s heavier at 166g in its 40mm length and 35mm clamp, but it’s available in a similar number of sizes, and more anodised colours. This stem will set you back £90.

If you’re looking to save more money, Race Face’s Aeffect R stem might not be as pretty, nor as light, but it’s £60, and it’s available in more lengths.

But then there’s the aforementioned Pembree GCS stem. At £130, it’s certainly a looker, but its length offering is limited to just 35mm. Then, its high recommended torque ratings can make on-trail tweaks tricky.

Although rather pricey, the Renthal Apex35 V2 is still a crowd pleaser thanks to the range of lengths and diameters available. It’s easy to use and set up, though the close tolerances require more effort. But the jewel in the Apex35’s crown is its weight-to-strength ratio, of which few other stems match.