MTB - Shorter Stems the way to go?

[Bizkit031]

 

 

u say you washing out, or it feels like you going to wash out up front? Flat corners?

feels like it wants to go so end up having to move more forward,and yes flat corners.

[Pieterg]

Will work

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I run a 710mm bar and where I ride I could probably get away with a 730mm but no wider.

Running a 100mm stem, think any shorter and i would feel too cramped, would like a stem with more of a drop though.

[RockCoach]

Everytime I get on a mountain bike with anything more than a 60mm stem I feel like I can't turn it properly. Get the bike leaned over and then the bars just won't turn easily into that perfect position where you are railing the corner. The longer the stem the worse this becomes.

 

Now on my road bike my 120mm stem is perfect and gets me very stable, low on the bars where you and the bike take long smooth arcs through a corner. But that is the opposite of what I want when I hit a technical downhill trail where you have to continuously adjust your body position over the bike.

[Bizkit031]

So I did it changed to a 70mm stem and hell yea it makes a difference in the steering,thought my climbing would suffer but it's actually better.

[dirtrider]

Du wtf !!! So you going to move your seatpost back to fit your bike ?

[Bizkit031]

Du wtf !!! So you going to move your seatpost back to fit your bike ?

Done already and it feels even better having a dropper on.

[Headshot]

Short stem and wide bars require a different riding style. You actually have to ride the bike and not sit like a sack of potatoes. This is difficult for Saffers, schooled in marathon and fun rides where bikes are set up for the long slog, not descents ( or fun for that matter).

 

So, get used to weight shifting front and back. You are far less likely to ever go OTB with a short stem, but the front may feel a tad less stuck to the track because your weight is rear biased. Consciously crouch over the bars in flatter corners and the grip will be there, but be ready to shift back if obstacles appear in the turn.

 

Get ready for a fun when you ride as opposed to a funride.

[Bizkit031]

Short stem and wide bars require a different riding style. You actually have to ride the bike and not sit like a sack of potatoes. This is difficult for Saffers, schooled in marathon and fun rides where bikes are set up for the long slog, not descents ( or fun for that matter).

 

So, get used to weight shifting front and back. You are far less likely to ever go OTB with a short stem, but the front may feel a tad less stuck to the track because your weight is rear biased. Consciously crouch over the bars in flatter corners and the grip will be there, but be ready to shift back if obstacles appear in the turn.

 

Get ready for a fun when you ride as opposed to a funride.

Yea figured that out quickly in the first corner when the front decided to go one way and not the way I wanted,but shifted my weight forward on the next corner and all was well. But yes you have to learn to move around on the bike a lot more.

[cadenceblur]

You are far less likely to ever go OTB with a short stem, but the front may feel a tad less stuck to the track because your weight is rear biased

 

Doesn't this raise your centre of gravity though? I am battling to "get back" on the bike (always feel like I'm going to to go OTB), running quite a few spacers at present, so my handle bar drop is about 5cm.

Fitted a 60mm stem, didn't enjoy it (had some lower back pain) and put on a 80mm.

What do I need to do?

Bars are 760mm.

[Sidewinder.]

You are far less likely to ever go OTB with a short stem, but the front may feel a tad less stuck to the track because your weight is rear biased

 

Doesn't this raise your centre of gravity though? I am battling to "get back" on the bike (always feel like I'm going to to go OTB), running quite a few spacers at present, so my handle bar drop is about 5cm.

Fitted a 60mm stem, didn't enjoy it (had some lower back pain) and put on a 80mm.

What do I need to do?

Bars are 760mm.

 

What is the benefit of having your bars so low?

[cadenceblur]

so low? I can't get it any higher! Not sure about the amount, need to measure, but I have 2 x (what looks like) 2cm spacers below my stem, which has a rise of 6 degrees.

My seat height is about 80cm.

[marko35s]

NOOOOO!!!

 

I've personally seen one of those things bend under cornering. KCNC stuff only has 3 places on a bike - chainring bolts, QR seatpost collars and jockey wheels. They're made of cheese, and the bolts strip at the slightest provocation.

Says the man that stood by and watched me buy a KCNC stem.

The man is clearly trying to kill me.

[Hairy]

Says the man that stood by and watched me buy a KCNC stem.

The man is clearly trying to kill me.

I have a 60mm KCNC stem that is now on bike No. 4 .... I just make sure I do not over tighten the stem ...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Says the man that stood by and watched me buy a KCNC stem.

The man is clearly trying to kill me.

 

LOL. This was after you bought it, and the oke is a beast on the bike.

[Bizkit031]

You are far less likely to ever go OTB with a short stem, but the front may feel a tad less stuck to the track because your weight is rear biased

 

Doesn't this raise your centre of gravity though? I am battling to "get back" on the bike (always feel like I'm going to to go OTB), running quite a few spacers at present, so my handle bar drop is about 5cm.

Fitted a 60mm stem, didn't enjoy it (had some lower back pain) and put on a 80mm.

What do I need to do?

Bars are 760mm.

Try moving the saddle back