>The Atlas AM provided a very stiff and solid feel while the shorter length also increased the steering stability of the bike. We loved the sleek style of the Atlas AM stem, plus the fact that it is Canadian made doesn't hurt either. If you are looking for a tough yet light stem for your all mountain or aggressive trail bike, make sure to have a look at Race Face's new Atlas AM.

> Most stems these days are forged, so it's somewhat surprising that Race Face's new Atlas AM stem is machined. But according to Race Face there are several reasons for this: "We can control the tolerances more accurately compared to forging, we wanted to produce this stem in our Canadian facility, and we wanted a specific aesthetic with sweeping blended chamfer cuts and sharp, crisp lines." Fair enough, and as all-mountain stems don't need to be that light the heavier CNC'd construction is not a problem. Plus it's relatively easy to change the shape without having to invest in new tooling. The Atlas is actually made from 6061-T6 series aluminium and gets a shot-peened finish, which pre-stresses the material, improving the fatigue life. It also has the familiar interlocking faceplate that provides a continuous clamping zone around the handlebar, reducing compression loading. If you do over-torque the bolts there's also a bottom-out function built in. On the scales the Atlas is a good weight; it's also reasonably stiff and well priced. We also like the shape, especially in the shorter lengths.

> The chunky octagonal body is relatively thinwalled while the big square head is formed from an almost flat front plate interlocking into the deep cupped body. The faceplate is scooped top and bottom with small thin wings spreading across the bar, while the rear clamp is thickwalled with twin bolts. The result is a seriously stiff and direct stem with an ultra secure bar fit but a very competitive weight and price with comparable top end gear.