Full Speed Ahead K-Force Stem

The FSA K-Force Light stem, isn't the lightest, especially considering the hefty price, but it is incredibly stiff, making it perfect for powerful cyclists and sprinters.

The stem gets the high price on account of the fact it is entirely made from unidirectional carbon fibre. That helps keep the weight down despite its impressive girth. At the front it features a reverse carbon covered aluminum faceplate - they've removed the metal inserts from the stem body and located them in the faceplate.They've also removed metal threads from the steerer clamp too, and instead the Allen bolts thread into opposing bolts, requiring two Allen tools to tighten them up. All the bolts are titanium to further keep the weight down.

It weighs 172g. FSA's own SL-K stem is only a smidgen heavier and a heck of a lot cheaper. However, it's clear from the massive size of the K-Force Light that producing the lightest stem wasn't a key design criterion. Instead, the stiffness of the stem is impressive especially when compared to several other regular, and spindly in comparison, stems I compared it to. It reminds me of the Cavendish Pro signature stem and Zipp SL Sprint stem, also designed for Mark Cavendish, and it's obvious that's the sort of stem they're trying to offer here.

The steerer clamp is a 1 1/4in size, using a slim collar to space it out to fit a regular 1 1/8in stem. This means it'll fit a Giant with its OverDrive 2 setup or a Canyon, two of the big players using the oversized steerer tube at the moment. This small measure does future-proof the stem against any frame and fork upgrades, and in case any other manufacturers also adopt the larger tapered steerer tube size.

Fitting the stem is a bit more involving than a regular stem. The bolts securing the faceplate into position aren't as easily accessed and you'll struggle with a typical multi tool. A longer ball-ended Allen tool is preferable. Likewise for the steerer clamp bolts, you'll need a pair of Allen tools to tighten them up.

Testing the stiffness of a stem in the real-world isn't filled with accuracy, but it was clear that my bike with the K-Force stem fitted produced a stiffer feeling front end. I've been using it in a range of situations and it's in racing with the frequent out of the saddle accelerations and sudden changes of direction that the stem makes a difference. Admittedly it's a small difference, but it is noticeable - there's less flex at the ends of the drops when you're heaving heavily on them. That will be more important to some cyclists. If you're racing such a benefit is appreciated, but at the high price of this stem you might decide it's too costly a benefit.

The aesthetics of a stem are also important, as they are with handlebars and the seatpost. Many cyclists will readily admit to buying these components based purely on how they look over any weight or supposed performance gains, and critically how they look on their bike. The K-Force Light stem is a chunky piece of kit and didn't look too out of sorts on the Supersix Evo it was tested on, but on anything with skinnier tubes it could look a bit top heavy. It certainly won't satisfy all aesthetic preferences.

If you're a big powerful cyclist and want a stiff, yet light, stem, or a racer with sprinting as your trump card, the K-Force is well worth a look. For most cyclists there are more affordable stems that function just as well.

The K-Force Light is available in 100, 110, 120 and 130mm lengths with a 40mm fork clamp stack height in unidirectional carbon finish with a choice of red or black graphics.

Verdict

Impressively stiff stem but it's not the lightest and it's far from a cheap investment