Gravity’s Grid stem has a classy, black, sand-blasted finish and an oversized ‘G’-branded faceplate.

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It looks big and beefy, but compared to other 35mm clamp stems is actually pretty lightweight.

The upper faceplate uses a no-gap design, which means alignment is easier, and the round-headed black steel bolts are well tucked away on opposite sides of the steerer.

The brand has been in the oversized bar game long enough for us to have used the Grid extensively, including in the Alps, where the stem was hammered on enduro bikes using ski lifts for two weeks without skipping a beat.

In terms of both looks and function, it just gets on with it — both fixing points lock tight and silently with no creaks or groans, and bars and fork remained true even after a couple of minor crashes.

There’s nothing to complain about here — Gravity’s price is fair, the finish is good and performance is right up there in terms of stiffness and bar response.

In common with a few other stems on test that we’ve rated highly, consumer choice will come down to looks and brand loyalties, because other models do the same job for a lower price while carrying less weight.