Originally Posted by
Lascauxcaveman
.... The shot of the bottom and wedge makes it look pretty lightweight (thin walled). Is that a good thing? How hefty do you need your stem to be?
Is it a good thing? Maybe... it means it weighs less, and some bicycle riders are into that. And less material means less cost. It's hard to say if it effects the strength of the stem in a negative way. First, not many of stems I've experienced fail across that section. Usually, they fail near the bolt common to the handlebars, or in the cutouts near the wedge bolt (to allow them to expand just a wee bit). We need a Classic and Vintage Institute of Greater Knowledge and Stuff (C&VIGK&S), so we can get these things tested. If I had one in hand, I could give it a FAR Test along the theory of SOYPE, which stands for "Feels About Right" test per Seat of your Pants Engineering. Too light, or tell tale signs of poor quality in other features usually sets off the cautionary spidey senses, and for good reasons.