MTB
Handlebar stems

The Mountain Bike Stem’s only real purpose on a bike is to clamp and attach the handlebars of the MTB to the steerer tube. Not all stems are the same however, stems are available in different lengths, sizes and rise options which allows the rider to perfectly craft their cockpit and riding position. Aftermarket stems are a popular upgrade to make on a MTB and they are always a strong seller for us.

When considering a new bike stem, the first thing to think about is the length of the new stem. As well as affecting the riding position of the bike, a stem also plays a big part in how the bike handles. A shorter MTB stem provides sharper handling and a more responsive MTB - whilst a longer stem shifts the body weight of the rider towards the front of the bike, which makes for a better position for climbing. The most popular lengths of stems are 40mm and 50mm in length, and most stems are under 70mm in length.

There are also small variations in weight of stems - and if you are a rider who knows the feel of their bike inside out, then you can notice subtle differences in changing the stem. A general rule of thumb is that the more aggressive a bike is, the shorter a stem can be - below is a rough guide of stem choices for different MTB types:

Cross Country Bike Stem - these stems are usually between 80-120mm in length and a longer stem puts more of the rider's weight over the front end of the bike - meaning greater progress and easier ascents.

Trail Bikes Stem - These bikes do it all, these capable mountain bikes usually have a stem of between 50-70mm in length and as the design of these bikes is more aggressive, the shorter stem provides more involved and precise handling.

You can view the complete range of MTB Stems above, and please do get in touch if you have any questions about the range.