Buyer's guide | Handlebar stems

The stems, what is it all about?

Your handlebar stem is the connection between your bike frame and your handlebar. Quite crucial as you can imagine. Your handlebar stem has a big effect on the handling of your bike. The ease of riding around corners, your aerodynamics on the bike, and many more. Besides, your handlebar stem also plays a significant role in absorbing vibrations from your front wheel on the road surface. This suspending function offers a more steady grip for your hands and a more comfortable ride on your bike. To make sure you purchase a stem that ticks all the boxes for you, it is important to keep a few things in mind. Below, we will discuss everything you need to know.

Compatibility

Because your stem is connected to the steerer tube and your handlebar, it has to be compatible with both. Regarding the steerer tube, 1 1/8" inch, or 28.6mm is the standard and is used on basically every bike. Therefore, all our stems have this diameter on the steerer tube side.

And then we've got the diameter of the handlebar. This is more variable. Most modern road bikes and MTB bikes have a handlebar diameter of 31.8mm (sometimes you even see 35 mm diameter). Trekking bikes and most city bikes have a handlebar diameter of 25.4mm. We carry all three options. Make sure you check your handlebar's diameter before purchasing a new stem. Sometimes the diameter is written on the handlebar. Otherwise, you have to measure it yourself.

Stem length

The length of your stem is pretty simple. Measured from the center point of your steerer tube to the center point of your handlebar. The size of your stem has a big impact on the bike's handling. Mountain bikes often have a relatively short stem between 40 - 80mm. This allows sharp corners and quick changes in direction. Road bikes often have a longer handlebar stem, between 80 - 130mm. Corners are not as sharp and a longer stem results in more stable bike handling, especially at higher speed with relatively wider corners. Gravel bikes are often the nice in-between, with stems around 60 - 90mm for quick handling and a stable bike.

Besides, your handlebar stem affects your riding position. A longer stem causes your arms to extend further forward, which results in your upper body folding more over the top of your bike. On the other hand, you can position your upper body more upwards by choosing a shorter stem that allows your hands to be closer to your body.

Obviously, you can make a good estimation by yourself in terms of what you think would be comfortable for you and what the perfect riding position for you should look like. However, to be sure your position is everything you need, and all other variables are also taken into account, you can best get a bike fit. A professional will tell you exactly what riding position would be best for you according to your bike, your biomechanics, and your personal wishes. A bike fitter can give you also good advice about the length of your handlebar stem.

Stem rise

And then we got the handlebar stem angle, or 'rise'. A stem with a 0º angle or zero rise is perfectly perpendicular (90º) to the steerer tube. If the stem is for example +-6º off, this means that the stem has 6º rise. As the stem can be turned upside down, this means that the angle can be both 96º or 84º to the steerer tube. By pointing the stem upwards, you can create a more upwards position on the bike as the position of your hands will be higher on the handlebar. By turning your stem around, you create a negative angle. This makes your arms extend further downwards and therefore your whole upper body will be flatter and more aerodynamic.

We have a wide range of handlebar stems available, some without rise, others with a big rise. All the way up to +-17º on our fixed stems. Again, you can obviously make a rough estimation about what would work best for you, and we always advise you to try different stems out. For good advice, you can best enquire at your local bike shop or get a bike fit where they take all other variables into account.

Finish your cockpit

After choosing the right handlebar stem it is mounted to your bike. All your accessories can be put back on your bike's cockpit. Most of our stems also have a great and smart solution for this! By using the StemFix or GoFix you can place your bike computer, GoPro, bike light, or any other compatible accessory in a safe and neat way back. The StemFix and GoFix make it possible to mount your accessories exactly in the middle of your handlebar for a super neat finish to your bike.

Your handlebar stem has a big impact on your position on the bike and the handling of the bike itself. That's why you cannot underestimate the importance of having the right handlebar stem on your bike. With the information in this buyer's guide, you can start your quest for the perfect handlebar stem for you!

All our stems