Bontrager Race XXX Lite bar/stem – in brief review

Though light and well priced for a carbon stem, the threads needed chasing out on the Bontrager Race XXX Lite. It’s something a bike shop will do when fitting, but we’d expect better. 

The curvy, compact handlebar has a comfortable widening radius, drop and reach are pretty spot on, and a sharp transition from top to drop means no clearance issues in the drops. 

The thin top section is flat-fronted, making cable placement easy. Performance is good – it can’t match the smoothness of some other options, but it’s impressive for the money.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.