

#Best mtb stem driver
The remaining machining ripples are a real attraction to some people, but it’s the ability to color match their stems to other Hope components that’s the real driver for most people to dig deep into their pockets to get one.Ĭonventional set ups are lighter and cheaper Hope’s factory direct or ‘van at events’ support is legendarily beyond the call of duty in the UK too, so you know they’ve got your back.
#Best mtb stem plus
There is a specific DH stem design too, plus direct-mount and even single piece stem and top clamp for Boxxer, Fox 40 and Marzocchi 888 forks. Stainless steel bolts reduce worries about stripping when tightening though and they’re reassuringly tough even when worked hard in a gravity situation.

Keen but not excessive machining from cold-forged alloy ingots puts the Hope stem comfortably mid-pack in terms of weight and stiffness. Immaculate Lancashire machining makes Hope’s stems expensive compared to Far Eastern fabricated competition but they come in a massive range of styles and sizes as well as a trademark palette of anodized colors. Considering all the cunning R&D involved it’s a decent price too. The updated twin bolt design is impressively stiff for its minimal weight and the clean rounded rear lines make it very knee-friendly compared to back bolted designs. Make sure you get the angle right as you crank up the two opposing bolts to lock everything into place too, as once it’s set tight, it’s a pain to loosen and adjust subtly. Getting the expanding plastic wedge block assembly between the steerer and the bars is more of a fight though, so prepare to be patient and remove children's ears and delicate objects from the immediate area before attempting assembly. The single metal part of the stem is effectively a strap that loops around the bars and then the fork steerer which is pretty neat. If that’s you, then USE’s ingenious jigsaw puzzle stem is a light and trail-worthy way to bolt your bars on. While a basic cold-forged stem with a bar clamp at one end and a handlebar clamp at the other is all anyone needs, some people like to be different. Minimal metal reduces suitability for gonzo riders While first-generation stems had a habit of cracking, the newer design has given us no problems. Pricing and weights are competitive for a lightweight stem and great feeling 800mm wide, 35mm diameter carbon bar which comes in 15 or 25mm rises. Obviously, you need a long reach for the super short stem not to feel cramped on your bike, but if you like properly direct reactions, this is the way to go. That’s why our two Pacenti sets are in constant use brightening up the handling of the dullest bikes or taking already awesome bikes to another level. That gives an ultralight, instantly reactive steering feel that’s incredible for accurate line and traction tweaking. The bar and steerer clamping sections of the stem also intersect to create an effective length of just over 20mm. The P-Dent name refers to the fact the handlebar has a large convex section (or dent) in the back of the center clamping section so it can actually partially wrap around the fork steerer. This unique bar and stem combo use an incredibly simple idea to create our favorite defibrillator for bikes with dead handling. All come recommended depending on your riding needs.


#Best mtb stem full
A full range of sizes is backed up with a 10-year guarantee, and the Syntace range also includes super light XC options, more affordable designs and even a unique angle-and-reach-adjustable handlebar and stem combo. The harder you ride the more you’ll realize this is an outstandingly stiff and precise stem that also noticeably quietens bar feel in a way that other lighter stems don’t. That meant tentative testing soon turned into a full-on Enduro onslaught as our trust in the MegaForce increased. However, those big M6 bolts are designed to be cranked up tighter than normal and the remaining metal is formed into deep, stiffness boosting ribs on the steerer clamp and separate bar clamp bands. Lots of post forging machining leaves very little metal left and combined with titanium bolts it’s right on the 100g borderline we normally reserve for XC only use. On the surface, it looks exactly like the sort of stem we generally shrink away from. You might have to hunt around to find this German stem and dig deep into your pockets when you do but if you want the best high-performance stem around it’s worth the quest.
