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XStem Project

Pre-Order Update. Honest Numbers.

Published 14 days ago • 1 min read

May 2026

XStem Project Update

Where Things Landed

The pre-order window for the first XStem production run closes this weekend.

The 25-unit minimum wasn't reached. No deposits were collected, so there's nothing to refund and no commitments to unwind.

I want to be direct about what this means and what it doesn't.

What it means: The retail price of $499, driven by the economics of small-batch domestic CNC at 25 units, is above what this market will support. That's a clear signal and I'm not going to argue with it. Moving to a new manufacturing partner will also mean putting parts through ISO validation and rider testing again.

What it doesn't mean: The project is not dead. The design is validated. The ISO testing is documented. The engineering work carries forward to any future production path. None of that effort has been wasted.

What's next:

I'm shifting focus to manufacturing partners that can deliver a lower per-unit cost without compromising the quality or validation work that's already done.

To help figure out the right path forward, I put together a short pricing survey (4 questions, under a minute). If you have an opinion on what this stem should cost and where it should be made, this is how that opinion shapes what happens next.:
​XStem Headshok Pricing Survey – Fill out form​

I appreciate every one of you who followed this process, gave feedback, filled out surveys, and kept these bikes on the trail. That hasn't changed.

- Bruce

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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XStem Project

The XStem Project is a build-in-public effort to create a modern stem for vintage Cannondale HeadShok bikes and modern setups alike. Subscriber feedback directly influences what gets designed, tested, and produced next, with small-batch parts supporting continued development.

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