Profile Racing Helm Stem - Review
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![Profile Helm stem review]()
Profile Racing Helm Stem
Probably best known for their three piece DH cranksets, Profile Racing also manufactures hubs, stems and chainrings at their machine shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Helm stem is the latest addition to the company's lineup, intended for everything from downhill to enduro race applications. CNC machined from 7075 aluminum and then laser etched, the stem is available with 0° of rise in 40, 50, and 60mm lengths for 31.8mm bars. The clamping mechanism is designed to work with the top two bolts tightened until the faceplace and the body of the stem make contact, and then the lower two bolts are tightened down to secure the handlebar. There are nine different anodized color options (black, silver, matte black, red, blue, gold, green, aqua, and purple), and the 40mm stem tested here weighed in at 150 grams. MSRP: $115 USD. www.profileracing.com
![Profile Helm stem review]()
Pinkbike's Take:
Profile Racing Helm Stem
Probably best known for their three piece DH cranksets, Profile Racing also manufactures hubs, stems and chainrings at their machine shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Helm stem is the latest addition to the company's lineup, intended for everything from downhill to enduro race applications. CNC machined from 7075 aluminum and then laser etched, the stem is available with 0° of rise in 40, 50, and 60mm lengths for 31.8mm bars. The clamping mechanism is designed to work with the top two bolts tightened until the faceplace and the body of the stem make contact, and then the lower two bolts are tightened down to secure the handlebar. There are nine different anodized color options (black, silver, matte black, red, blue, gold, green, aqua, and purple), and the 40mm stem tested here weighed in at 150 grams. MSRP: $115 USD. www.profileracing.com
Short and strong, the Helm stem is a worthy step up from the long house-brand stems that many new bikes still come with.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | A few years ago it was difficult to find a stem shorter than 50mm, but recent changes in bike geometry and riding styles have brought about the introduction of more and more options in the 35-45mm range. The Helm is an eye-catching entry, and garnered multiple trailside comments from riders who were impressed by the stem's well-finished look. The big silver hex head bolts (5mm for the body and 4mm for the face plate) snugged down securely, and never emitted any creaks or groans during our time on the trail. As far as the shape goes, there aren't any overly sharp edges or corners, a welcome sight for anyone familiar with the pain that comes from smacking a stem due to a slipped pedal or skipping chain. There wasn't any noticeable flex either, even when pushing hard into corners on a set of 785mm wide bars. You can't really ask for anything more from a stem, can you? Good looks, a reasonable weight, no creaking, and the fact that it's made in the USA makes the Helm stem a solid contender in the world of short stems. - Mike Kazimer |
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I've got 2 sets of hopes and love them.
Profiles are just so doggone expensive or else I'd pick up a set.
1. Bbecause the customer can see what grade the bolts are.
2. Immediately commercially available with high quality and relatively low cost.
3. They are less likely to strip out when being ham-handed by those that don't read instructions or insist on doing everything with a multi-tool.
4. They will probably never fail (the stem is made in the Land of the Free and Home of the Litigious after all).
If Thompson can keep their X4 stems under 100 dollars, than anyone can.