It’s a tough, timeless and beautiful way to clutch your bars tight and set you apart from the clones. Handmade in Taiwan, the Clutch is a brazed steel stem that’s built strong. It’s made to last, and finished in Bristol with powder coat colour options to match any Starling frame, including legacy colours and that lesser-spotted Raw IPA finish. This isn’t a stem for weight weenies or marginal gainers. There’s no CNC wannabe-wizardry. No shaved grams. No Robocops or Johnny Fives. It’s made by a bloke in a workshop with his hands.
It’s tough, it’s simple, it looks totally different to anything aluminium, it’ll clamp your bars tight for decades. It even has a pair of beautiful, understated and stainless Starlings on the faceplate as a subtle nod to the brand. And we’re making just 50 of them in this first batch. Available on a first come, first served basis.
How tough is it?
The Clutch is rated for enduro use. Get it clamped on and go hammer and tongs, no bother.
How much does it weigh?
Who cares. Compared to a CNC stem, it adds fewer grams than that squashed banana you’ve got strapped to your frame.
How stiff is it?
43% MOAR STIFFER. Just kidding. We’ve got no idea. It feels great though. Don’t overthink it.
Why build a stem?
“Because no one else was making one that quite fits the Starling style,” says our founder Joe McEwan. “Everything else out there is built to meet marketing specs or chasing pointless weight savings. We wanted something that felt like one of our bikes. Handmade, unique, built to last and the perfect match for your Starling frame.”
Standout features include:
Full custom colour-matching: Every stem can be ordered to match current or past Starling frame colours, and RAW IPA finish.
Refurb repaint support:
If you ever refurb your Starling frame, we’ll repaint the stem for free.
And save 10% with a Refurb:
Order a frame refurb and stem combo and we’ll knock 10% off the price. This is the best way to guarantee a perfect colour match, and you’ll get a fresh coat of paint on your frame and new bearings with your new stem.
Steel spacers:
Matching 1.5mm-thick stainless spacers are available separately for the cleanest possible cockpit.
The numbers:
35mm length | 0° rise
31.8mm handlebar clamp
1-1/8” steerer clamp
40mm stack height
Heat-treated, brazed steel construction
Supplied with M8x20mm bolts (top cap and spacers sold separately)
This one’s about grabbing your bars, not keeping the marketing bods stoked. If you ride a Starling, or just want your bike to feel less C3P0, this is the stem for you.
Learn more about the Clutch Stem: https://www.starlingcycles.com/components/clutch-handmade-steel-stem/
