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tend to agree, it doesn't seem like a great approach. I suppose they could minimise the effect by making tolerances very low but then it may not fit over some steerers where tolerances are all to cock!

Have you thought about writing to Brooklyn?

I can't see that having the bolts there would be any less effective than having them at the back. The effort required to tighten around the steerer tube is going to be significantly more than the effort require to flex that piece of aluminium in front.

Ignoring the amount of torque that screws can exert (which, due to thread pitch, can be huge) which is going to be the bigger source of resistance there, the small hole with something in it, or the bigger hole with nothing in? I know which I think is more likely. given that the bolts are (be they at the front or back) trying to stretch that aluminium round the steerer, instead of just flexing the body of the stem.