when you look closely the new super reach bike designs are often as much as 3-5 cms longer than much of their competition. this is huge. the idea is not to size down either as some people mention. this seems to me to necessitate not 50mm stems, but 40, 30, 20, 10. thing is, who makes stems this short? the stem makers don't seem to be following suit. or am i reading it wrong, 40 is plenty short enough for this new breed of bike?
stems 10mm to 30mm length
Mondraker
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/article/exclusive-mondraker-unveil-radical-new-centre-stem--32859/
"I know that heroes ride bicycles" - Joe Biden
I don't think most bikes with the new "enduro" geometry need stems shorter than 40mm… Mondraker takes the long front-centre ideal to extremes, and not everyone likes it.
Race Face Altas 35 (bar bore) comes in a 35mm length. I've currently sized up on frames, from L to XL, and reduced my stem length from 50mm to 35mm
Will report back on this one. My 480mm reach reign with a 60mm stem was pretty excessive, so I threw on a 40mm. I could see going to a shorter stem even, but, as stupid as this sounds, they look hideous and I'd like my bike to look somewhat good.
40mm Syntace on my AM and XC bikes.
"I do like how you generally bring an open-minded and positive vibe to the threads you participate in"
- Morgman
Race Face Altas 35 (bar bore) comes in a 35mm length. I've currently sized up on frames, from L to XL, and reduced my stem length from 50mm to 35mm
im curious what your observations on that are. im in the market for a new (used) bike. riding moto and trials has me thinking ill prefer a very short stem and larger bike
My 29er hard tail was purchased quite large for me (19"? bought it from a guy 4" taller than me) and I put a super short stem on it. It works for me, but is quite a large bike to handle - definitely not "flickable" or quickly maneoverable on the downhills. But it made the bike work for me - a cheap Ti hardtail that's a stable pedaller.
However, we also recently put a super short stem on my old Large Heckler for the wife to ride XC, and that felt horribly small and cramped to me, maybe because of the hours on the XL hardtail.
I think it totally depends on the bike and how you want to ride it. Test ride before you buy, for sure.
its tougher to test ride when buying used. looking for a stumpy evo.
has the pendulum of modern enduro geometry swung too far?
Bikes are getting crazy long. Too much?
In a few years will the marketers will be touting their new 'more compact' toptube for 'increased manuverability'
Funny how 10 years ago it was considered a no-brainer for guys who are 6' to ride mediums or even smalls because you needed a small bike as possible. This was gospel.
Now its totally flipped.
Didn't Kona way back in the Joe Murrey/Dr. Dew days start pushing the longer toptube/shorter stem concept only to be eaten away by 150mm stem posse?
Not sure if I'm recollecting properly. Cyclical nature of sales strategies…
Want to try this though http://www.jensonusa.com/Azonic-Hammer-Stem
It's terrain and ability dependent.
DH bikes have had long wheelbases for a few years and the top guys have no issues throwing those tanks around.
"I do like how you generally bring an open-minded and positive vibe to the threads you participate in"
- Morgman
im curious what your observations on that are. im in the market for a new (used) bike. riding moto and trials has me thinking ill prefer a very short stem and larger bike
Much faster, more stable, etc. No real drawbacks yet. Getting on and over the bars is much more comfortable with the front wheel further in front so I'm not having any traction issues related to weight distribution. Less nimble? At first it felt that way, but now that I adjusted my riding position slightly, it's not an issue anymore.
I am running a 35mm Atlas stem on my XL prime and like it. I have a 50mm turbine on the way too. Looking forward to feeling the different between how they feel.
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