Using a shorter stem
gives the bike quicker handling characteristics and a more responsive feel
. A longer stem shifts your body weight towards the front of the bike and puts you in a better pedaling position, especially on those steep climbs.
Is a shorter MTB stem better?
Shorter stems correctly orientate a rider’s forward-leaning weight directly over the front axle
, which has a range of benefits by mass-pressuring the wheel when descending. The result is truer steering response and better tyre grip in dusty or muddy terrain.
What does a shorter bike stem do?
A shorter stem will result in
snappier steering
, a longer stem will produce slower steering. Adjusting the stem length can be used to tailor the handling. That’s generally why cyclocross races use a shorter stem, and long distance road cyclists opt for a longer stem.
Why do old mountain bikes have long stems?
Longer stems and shorter top tubes tend to produce quicker handling bikes that are biased toward better climbing
. Shorter stems and longer top tubes create bikes that are more stable and biased towards going downhill.
Does a shorter stem affect handling?
The shorter stem definitely gives the bike a more responsive feel on the trail
, and is well suited to aggressive riding. When jumping the bike or hitting drops, a shorter stem puts you in a better position to confidently hit these sort of features (that often have painful consequences if we don’t ride them well).
Does a shorter stem shorten reach?
What a great question.
A shorter stem and/or bar with more setback (horizontal distance from stem clamp to the grips) will indeed shorten your bike’s reach
and potentially improve your RAD (Rider Area Distance – distance from bottom bracket to grips) situation. Many of us need to do this on these modern, longer bikes.
How long should my stem Be MTB?
On most modern mountain bikes you should be aiming for a stem length somewhere
between 50mm and 80mm
. Long stems are more stable when climbing using narrow handlebars. That’s it.
Does lowering stem increase reach?
Registered. No, dropping the bars does not effect the position of your seat. Your seat should be set by leg length and position behind the BB.
Dropping the bars will lengthen your reach
but to fix that you would get a shorter stem.
Does stem length affect bike handling?
Stem length is one of a number of factors, along with head tube angle and fork rake, that affects a bike’s handling. Generally speaking,
a shorter stem will result in faster handling, while a longer stem will result in slower, more predictable handling
.
How does stem height affect handling?
Registered.
A longer stem tends to slow down handling a bit
, shorter stems the opposite (think about the stem as a radius going through an arc — a longer stem swoops a larger arc for the same angle). This has a small effect for much riding, where bike lean does most of the steering.
Why do pro cyclists use long stems?
Shorter Top Tube = Longer Stem
To compensate for the shorter top tubes on smaller frames
, cyclists use longer stems.
What is considered a short stem MTB?
A stubby stem isn’t for everyone, but it can be a good upgrade for those looking for a little extra on the descents.
A stem less than 50mm long
is considered short these days, and there is no shortage of them out there.
Does stem length affect reach?
Yes.
Add in your stem length when calculating your functional Reach and to compare it to your current ride
. Don’t size down however, run a shorter stem to get to your desired Reach as the bikes work much better that way.
How long should my stem be?
Ideally, the stem should be long
enough to place some of the rider’s weight over the front wheel
to stabilise the steering and improve grip on the road. At the same time, the stem should provide a steering arc that complements the head angle and trail of the bike.
How do I know if my stem is too short?
Look down at your bars and see where they line up in relation to your front hub. If the stem is too long the bars will be too far forward and the hub will be aligned behind the bars. If the stem is too short
the hub will be aligned in front of the bars
.
How do I make my MTB more slack?
Will 10mm shorter stem make a difference?
You’ll notice the difference in handling (or should anyway) but
it’s not going to make a huge difference in fit
. IOW, if the bike is too small a 10mm longer stem isn’t going to fix that.
How do I know what size stem to Buy?
When purchasing a stem, you should consider several factors. First you must look at the steerer type (threaded or not). Then you must match it to a steerer tube diameter and a handlebar diameter. Finally, you must decide what length and how much rise or drop you want your stem to give you.
When should you lower your stem?
When should I lower my bike stem?
The more and more serious you become about the sport, which has to include working on your core strength, then yes, you can lower your stem. The bike fit needs to look like the rider;
if the rider’s look has changed, the bike can change
.
Should you lower your stem?
If you’re flexible enough, there’s no reason not to slam your stem
. If you can hold the position and keep your head and shoulders low, there are certainly aerodynamic benefits, especially when combined with narrower bars.
