Industry Nine A35 Stem [Rider Review]

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Let's face it, as mountain bikers, we love high-quality bike parts that are crafted so well that they're like jewelry. The I9 A35 stem is just that. See what our customer thinks about their new A35 stem!

Overview

The i9 A35 looks beautiful, but it has one feature that really sets it apart from other CNC’d stems. The clamp has an 8mm offset, which means the bar is moved 8mm higher than even with the stem. This is the equivalent of having an 8mm spacer under the stem, raising the bars. However, you can also flip the stem upside down and get an 8mm drop. This is great because you can very easily customize the height of your bars without adding extra spacers, creating a very clean look to your cockpit while also giving you a very optimized fit. For example, let’s say you want to add a little rise to your stem to increase stack height, but you like the look of a slammed stem with no spacers, no problem. Just put the stem on in the plus 8mm orientation and slam it down. Similarly, you can combine the drop with 2.5mm, 5mm, and 10mm spacers to get your stem in exactly the right orientation while still looking nice and clean from the front. 

From a weight standpoint, this stem is also incredibly light, coming in around 128g with the optional Ti hardware. I like that it has a bold, beefy look, but in actuality is quite light.

And let’s not forget that i9 mills and anodizes all their parts here in America in their North Carolina facility. If buying American matters to you, i9 is a great choice. And they don’t just make in America, they support their local community. During the North Carolina hurricane, they set up their warehouse to shelter evacuees, and they donated a portion of all sales for the following month to hurricane relief efforts. 

Lastly, there’s the color. Originally, the bronze was a limited edition i9 color option, but now it’s in the line permanently, and for good reason. If you’re looking to complement a bike that already has some Kashima on it, bronze is a great option. It’s not a perfect match, but it lives in a similar universe and gives the bike a classier vibe than going with gold parts that can look exceedingly yellow against Kashima. If you’re up for spending the money, it looks great with the matching hubs. The one downside, if you want the matching look, is that i9 does not make seatpost clamps, so you’ll have to make do with another color there. Burgtec does make a slightly darker bronze color that looks pretty good, and for certain bikes, they have a bronze axle as well. 

One other thing to consider is that i9 makes excellent headsets for all headtube types, and these can be matched to the stem with matching spacers and top caps. They’re easy to install and come in either 5mm or 15mm rise options. Very slick. 

For performance, I’ve never had an issue with bolts coming loose as long as they’re torqued to spec and there is plenty of surface area in the clamp that makes contact with the bars, where you can use a friction compound for extra grip. This is especially good for carbon bars where you don’t want to over clamp them, but you do want them to stay in place. 

Final Thoughts

So if you’re looking for a premium American-made headset that is lightweight and a rad color, with some clever adjustability, this stem is a great choice. With most stems, you’ll only check one of those boxes, but there is a reason I always come back to the A35 when I’m building a bike. It’s the best stem out there.