The Kalloy UNO stem might be the best lightweight bike stem on the market. Before we started Litebike, we had been building bikes in our garage for over five years for racing and touring around Europe and northern Africa. At some point after testing different parts at different prices the penny dropped and we realised that buying from established brands or paying high prices did not guarantee quality. Lots of shiny gimmicks. Some good. No guarantees.
We’re on a mission to find the very best lightweight bike parts at affordable prices and to share what we’ve discovered with others and build a lightweight cycling community.
Back in 2019 scrolling through Weight Weenies we came across this article. Lightweight enthusiasts were raving about this lightweight alloy stem called the Kalloy UNO stem. One user, Ishmael, praised the Kalloy UNO stem for being lightweight and strong. Another user, ‘yongkun’ described how he had used a Kalloy UNO stem for years and could also attest to its reliability. ‘Rudi’ went a step further describing the UNO Kalloy Stem as the holy grail of lightweight bike stems. Light, strong and cheap.
We had to check out the Kalloy UNO stem for ourselves. We initially bought one and put it on an early build in 2020 just before the pandemic and then bought on another project over the winter.
We were impressed. The first thing that stands out about the Kalloy UNO stem is just how light it is. It's made from 7075-AL aluminium (we’re not carbon or bust), which is a light-grade alloy. The 100mm version we put on our winter build weighs 90g. Weights can be quite abstract and relative, and it’s really only when you hold the stem in your hand that you appreciate just what a lightweight bike stem feels like. The brain screams “something this size shouldn’t be this light!”
But the Kalloy UNO stem isn't just lightweight. It's also strong. The stem has a two-piece faceplate that keeps it fixed to the handlebars. The aluminium feels very durable. We've now been riding with the Kalloy UNO for a few years on various builds and never had any issues with it feeling wobbly or unstable even on very lumpy gravel paths.
Then there’s the price. Another reason we love the Kalloy UNO stem is that it is affordable and we’ve been able to upgrade our bikes without breaking the bank. Compared to other lightweight stems we have tried like the Deda Superleggero RS or the Zipp Service Course for us it offers much better value for money.
Overall, for these reasons we feel like this is one of those very rare occasions where I’ve found the holy grail of lightweight alloy stems. It hits the mark on all fronts. It’s lightweight bike stem, it’s affordable and having put it through its paces is also strong. If you’re in the market for a super lightweight alloy stem we would definitely recommend you consider the UNO Kalloy stem.
