Straitline SSC Stem - Fashionable and Functional

by Jordan Holmes
Mar 9, 2009

Straitline is known for having functional, and strong components, and the new SSC Stem is no different. CNC'd 100% in Canada, Straitline is keeping it local with this stem, and they are keeping it ridiculously light. Reach options, a low stack height, and an extremely light design makes the SSC stem a top contender this year.

Check it out!

Straitline components is a Sidney British Columbia based component company that has earned a reputation of making high end, strong, well manufactured components for your two wheeler. More famous for their pedals and brake levers, Straitline also makes nice looking stems. Their newest stem is the SSC stem. What does SSC stand for? Split Steerer Clamp, and it means exactly what it says. The rear portion of the stem that would clamp onto the steerer portion of your fork has been split, simply to keep the weight of the overall unit down.


CNC Machined 100% in Canada Straitline has tried to keep this stem as local as they could. They have combined a very unique stylish design, with a traditional pinch clamp design to bring you a very functional stem. The stem holds its torsional rigidity due to its extremely wide boxy cross section, and the fact Straitline uses high strength alloy steel fasteners. Straitline has also incorporated some classy speed holes in the side sections of the stem, creating an exceptionally fast looking stem.


Even with steel fasteners the SSC stem is still incredibly light. Offered in 35mm and 50mm reach options, the weight of the 2 stems only varies 22 grams, from the 164 gram weight of the 35mm version, to 185g for the 50mm reach version. Both reach options come in a 0 degree rise. Also, the SSC Stem is offered in multiple colors, Red, Blue, Bronze, Black, Pink and Ti Grey. There is also a 1.5" steerer version available in 50 mm lengths and it weighs in at 187 grams.


Want the carpet to match the drapes? Straitline also makes custom Headset Spacers, for awesome color matching abilities. The SSC Stem retails for $125 Canadian, and you should be able to get a hold of it through your local bike shop. If not, check out Straitline's Distributors page.

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57 Comments

  • + 10
flag nicolai-helius-freerider (Mar 9, 2009 at 0:31)
 there so smart and mint i have a straitline stem
  • + 8
flag RM-Flow2Rider (Mar 9, 2009 at 1:53)
 one hell of a nice stem
  • + 4
flag combee (Mar 9, 2009 at 6:25)
 Nice stem, but why those ugly cheap-ass bolts? i have the some bolts screwed into my toilet
  • + 0
flag hobbnobs (Mar 9, 2009 at 9:03)
 i nearly bought one of these but i did'nt have enough money and cba savingRazz
  • - 26
flag jamesgoslingphotography (Mar 9, 2009 at 9:33) (Below Threshold) show comment
 WHy they called st8line wen ders so mny curves in it...
  • + 0
flag hobbnobs (Mar 9, 2009 at 9:52)
 wow you dont make it obvious your a photographer...
  • + 0
flag danellis92 (Mar 9, 2009 at 10:52)
 straitline ftw
  • + 4
flag Terrafire (Mar 9, 2009 at 15:27)
 Maybe straightline bacause they're located near Georgia straight? Iunoo. Who cares, dope parts, light weight. Makes for a good ride.
  • + 1
flag mrobinson (Mar 9, 2009 at 18:29)
 ahha i love the 100% made in canada eh!
  • + 1
flag iamamodel (Mar 9, 2009 at 22:14)
 Combee, maybe they couldn't find some nice Canadian bolts, eh?
  • + 1
flag combee (Mar 10, 2009 at 7:43)
 apparantlySmile
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag showpony (Mar 9, 2009 at 2:18)
 I love the "100% Made In Canada b>Eh!/b>"

that's hilarious.

hot stem too.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Johnalmasmith (Mar 9, 2009 at 5:17)
 I've always been a Thompson man, but thanks to the wondrous power of advertising on PB, I am the proud new owner of one of these bad boys!

Thanks PinkBike! (insert huge faulty grin and thumbs up here)

...Seriously though, it's a really good stem. Super happy with it
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag glas4d (Mar 9, 2009 at 0:48)
 Great Canadian product right there.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag gogoc (Mar 9, 2009 at 18:19)
 nice lookin stem but i think part that is tightening steerer suffers when you tighten star nut.. if u understand what im sayin, see theres empty space in rear porton of the stem and when you tighten star nut its pushing it down so it could crack maybe, dunno
  • + 1
flag iamamodel (Mar 9, 2009 at 22:13)
 Yeah, good thinking there. I see what you mean but I don't think it would be a problem because you don't tighten that top bolt too much, only enough to stop play in the headset. Any tighter and you crush your bearings.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Coburn (Mar 9, 2009 at 0:48)
 an advert put up to help the cyclist improve/compare his or her bike part. not the same as a "buy this" advert.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag smeckma (Mar 9, 2009 at 17:31)
 Beautifull though it is, I personally find it a bit to heavy for a 35mm long stem (mine's 65mm and weighs in at 170gm on a scale).
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag geebeebee Plus (Mar 9, 2009 at 15:17)
 Just got to wait for Hotlines to get off their arses and import some 1.5" stems and spacers into the UK! God they're slow, and the UK price has risen by nearly £25 since these were announced...c'mon Hotlines!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mudd (Mar 9, 2009 at 8:11)
 A quality product!
Side "exhaust ports" are a nice touch!
100% Canadian....eh!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag hardtaildh08 (Mar 9, 2009 at 9:22)
 made in canada eh! cant get much beter u guys no how to do it lol
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag ridersrtrue (Mar 9, 2009 at 18:24)
 it would be really sweet it they made a direct mount stem for a 888 cause they stuff they drop out of the factories are pretty damn sweet
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag crazy-canuck (Mar 9, 2009 at 5:05)
 Well I like my F.U.N.N. stem but its time to try something new, and I just found it! Smile
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag saint888 (Mar 10, 2009 at 9:23)
 last pic is awesome Big Grin 100% made in canada EH! Big GrinBig Grin nice stem
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag madeincanada (Mar 9, 2009 at 10:55)
 damn i love straightline, i want to go all straitline comps on my next bike.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag henrytgreene (Mar 9, 2009 at 12:07)
 That's a sexy ass stem. I might get myself one of those.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag smeckma (Mar 10, 2009 at 10:38)
 What does EH stand for? Anybody?
  • + 0
flag spoiledgoods (Mar 10, 2009 at 10:44)
 Eh is just a term canadian's are known to use frequently, eh.
Its kind of an acknowledgment, like ya know, or yah dig.
  • + 0
flag smeckma (Mar 10, 2009 at 12:13)
 I knew, but I could not believe it: I am a Spaniard myself and we do say the same thing for the same reason in Spain (it just did not quite fit in my English dictionary in a way, but very clever a remark though [as in "it" being meaningful I mean]).
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag jakeami (Mar 11, 2009 at 20:26)
 their pedals look good too..
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag sam-davies (Mar 9, 2009 at 1:12)
 Wasn't there already a blog about this stem?
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag slaythebeast (Mar 9, 2009 at 11:25)
 stem
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag downhillscotty (Mar 9, 2009 at 7:40)
 siccccck that would mach my black market 357
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag DJDrysdale406 (Mar 9, 2009 at 18:25)
 why didnt they compare this one to the Twenty Six? the Twenty Six is way cooler.....go Montana!!!!!!
  • - 1
flag will-burr (Mar 9, 2009 at 20:38)
 Twenty Six looks like a copy of the "ORIGINAL" PointOne Direct Mount Stem.

Point One's are light...
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag DaZarter85 (Mar 9, 2009 at 5:55)
 i had the vertical wedge straitline at my freeridebike,
at my hardtail i would put this sexy thing! its so beautiful...
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag dh-kevin-dh (Mar 9, 2009 at 15:56)
 eh!
love that
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag bigjames (Mar 9, 2009 at 9:08)
 thats why Canada is the best and is the best for biking!!
  • + 2
flag mudd (Mar 9, 2009 at 10:08)
 Wish I was Canadian!
  • - 7
flag time-bomb (Mar 9, 2009 at 10:13) (Below Threshold) show comment
 really, is that why they have so many WC racers right now?
  • + 4
flag madeincanada (Mar 9, 2009 at 11:01)
 lets see here, USA has about 350,000,000 people while canada has 30,000,000 people. that means there are 320,000,000 more people to become mountainbikers and when you break it down to ratios of population/mountainbikers you should get about 1:11 canadian bikers to american bikers. my numbers are not accurate but still speak for themselves.
  • - 1
flag time-bomb (Mar 9, 2009 at 11:26)
 yeah, i am not trying to start a fight and notice that i didn't say anything to brag about The States either. every country has something outstanding about it and there is nothing wrong with a little national pride whether it about products or riders or trails or whatever. i am just saying that to make a blanketed statement that something is the best and not have anything to back it up is ignorant. my comment above was only to prove a point that they aren't the best in that particular category and therefore not "the best". i am not saying the US is either, just saying.
  • - 1
flag mudd (Mar 9, 2009 at 13:32)
 My governor can beat up your prime minister!
  • + 2
flag matthew13sanderson (Mar 9, 2009 at 17:08)
 not trying to brag or anything here but british columbia is probablly one of the biggest biking attractions there is. british columbia has a bit of everything in it for biking...
  • + 0
flag l-lellraiser (Mar 9, 2009 at 18:46)
 and americans are BIG on McDonalds
  • + 0
flag unisycho56 (Mar 10, 2009 at 5:19)
 f*ck you Time-bomb!!!
  • + 1
flag time-bomb (Mar 10, 2009 at 7:18)
 seriously, anyone that is getting upset about this is a pu$$y. i wasn't the one bragging. i have been to Canada and I love the riding there and the people too. i just think the comment wasn't arrogant and unfounded so i was just proving a point. there was no disrespect to anyone or any country in any of my comments (except for this comment directed at the overly sensitive people with blinders on). Matthew13 - I agree with you and well said. mudd - thanks for keeping it light hearted and adding some humor. the rest of you need to relax a little. anyway, say what you want, it doesn't make sense to put more time into something so trivial.
  • + 0
flag matthew13sanderson (Mar 13, 2009 at 11:10)
 i agree with time bomb. all you guys are arguing about canada and usa debating on who is better at what. our two countys are like the biggest allies in the world. there is no need to fight against people for talking shit about you country when we both are like neighbors.
  • + 0
flag l-lellraiser (Mar 13, 2009 at 14:08)
 wouldent id be f*cking kool to see all the world leaders, presidents, and priministers fight UFC style

obama vs. the pope
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag rattlehead (Mar 11, 2009 at 12:55)
 s'one got it on a double crown (88Cool (pic)?
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag Adam-92 (Mar 9, 2009 at 16:52)
 ah iwant this im looking for a blue stem but this is kinda steep
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag Neily03 (Mar 9, 2009 at 4:16)
 Nice!
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag hodges (Mar 9, 2009 at 13:27)
 i think its uggers
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag will-burr (Mar 9, 2009 at 20:39)
 http://www.pointoneracing.com/
[Reply]
  • + 9
flag lancer85 (Mar 9, 2009 at 7:26)
 Where else are you going to learn about good product for your rig?

If you bought a magazine all you see is adverts, at least here, these is a decent review of the product.

I would rather have a decent product review then learn about yet another dude wiping out going down a hill! Razz

(oh nice product by the way, it looks good on my 4hun)
  • + 3
flag freerider-666 (Mar 9, 2009 at 14:43)
 nice agreed
[Reply]
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