Redshift Sports releases lighter-weight version of ShockStop suspension stem
Remember that Redshift Sports ShockStop suspension stem that I reviewed a couple of years ago? That thing that I was sure was just some silly gimmick, but whose 20 mm of elastomer-controlled travel turned out to be remarkably good? Redshift has yet to release the carbon model some had anticipated, but the company has announced a more premium version of the original that lops off a fair bit of weight.
The new ShockStop Pro stem starts with the same 6061 aluminum forgings as the standard version, but the stem clamp, steerer clamp and inside of the extension are more aggressively machined to remove unnecessary material. All of the steel hardware — including the bulky bits at the pivot point — are replaced with titanium ones, too, and then the whole thing is dressed up in a nicer-looking polished-and-matte finish that should be a better visual match for higher-end frames.
Claimed weight for the longest ShockStop Pro is an impressively respectable 254 grams as a result, for a savings of 48 grams relative to the standard version. The shortest one, meanwhile, tips the scales at 227 grams, which is 29 grams lighter.
While the initial forgings are identical, the more aggressive machining on the Pro version (at right) lops off an impressive amount of weight.
Redshift Sports is offering the ShockStop Pro in the same range of lengths — 80-120 mm, in 10-mm increments, all in +/-6° angles — and it’s meant to pair with 1 1/8 in steerer tubes and 31.8 mm handlebars. As with the standard version, five different elastomer inserts are included for fine-tuning.
Retail price is US$230, with initial deliveries slated for February.
More information can be found at www.redshiftsports.com.
A look at the Pro (left) and standard (right) ShockStop stems reveals just how much more minimal the Pro version is.
All of the hardware on the Pro version is also titanium instead of steel. And while RedShift could have gone even further by machining away the entire center section of the stem faceplate, there are thankfully still bridges at the top and bottom holding everything together so that you don’t have to contend with extra pieces.
The polished and matte finish looks more upscale, too.
The pivot area is arguably still a touch clunky-looking, but the polished finish there goes a long way.
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