AX Lightness Zeus

Within the scope of our manufacturer portrait of AX-Lightness, managing director Axel Schnura presented us exclusively the new fabricated stem called Zeus, which was introduced as a concept study at last year´s eurobike in Friedrichshafen. The 67 gram light pre-production model ( 110mm length; 26.0mm diameter ) with an angle of 7 degrees will be available to the end-consumer in april 2007.

The final weight will be approximately 30% under the “benchmark” of light aluminium models like Syntace F99 or the different models in the product range of Extralite. By using different carbon fiber cases (inside diameters of 25,4 mm or 26 mm), which accurates the roundness of the clamp, the stem will also be usable on Mountainbikes and not only road bikes. Lengths of 90, 100 & 110 milimeters are intended, a stem with 120mm might follow. A version with a clamp diameter of 31,8mm for oversized bars is not planned at present, because of high tooling expenses.

The fastening parts on the shown pre-production stem are not final and will be revised. The combined threaded parts which can be seen in the picture are specified individually and thus additional 4,5 grams are saved. As it can be seen on the pictures the front clamp is constructed with an aramid carbon fiber mix inlay, which will be replaced by pure carbon fiber in the final version.

So much lightness also has an adequate price - about 760€ ! We were convinced by an impressive load test of the enormous stem stability. Prototype testing by AX-Lightness:

(left in the picture: Axel Schnura; right: Benjamin Larisch (development stem))

Parallel to the first copies for the trade, we´ll get a steam for a detailed practice test.
More information about AX-Lightness, Axel Schnura and an outlook on the future of AX, is available here.