Long Stem Short Stem???

[misteroo]

right....here goes!

I currently have a 110mm Easton stem and 640mm cheap mid rise bars on a 1994 18" Kilauea. Its about the same reach as the original Velocity Stem.

I have just got my hands on a set of Easton EA50 (mid rise)bars that are 685mm wide, they came with an Easton Vice stem which is 70mm.

As the bars are a little wider, should I go for the 70mm stem, which should be less twitchy but quite nice on XC trails or should I stick with the 110mm stem which should be better for climbing??

It seems modern bikes have shorter stems, but does the frame geometry compensate for this. Or is it just a simple case of......"whatever you prefer"!!!!

 

[misteroo]

Anyone??

 

[cchris2lou]

on a 94 frame a 70mm will be too short , stick with the 110mm .

and it will look crap .

 

[mooster]

I think modern bikes are bit longer in the top tube, to allow for a shorter stem, making the steering more direct and responsive, but that's just based on looking, I don't have one to measure up...

Best be would be to try the shorter one for starters and see how you go, watch out for back ache and arm ache if you're too hunched up, then try out the 110mm and see if it's any better.

If you need different lengths to try, you could ask on here, there'll be plenty of surplus stems of varying length available I'm sure!

Hope this helps!

 

[konaman1]

Newer bikes have shorter stems to compensate for the longer travel forks you get nowadays. The longer the fork the slower the steering, so a shorter stem helps to overcome this change in head angle.

 

[bolly]

Just give it a go and see what it rides like. I find i have got used to riding modern bikes with short stems and find it a more natural position. It also depends on what riding you do i have a lava dome with ahead stem and use two set ups one for road and touring using slicks and one for off road. If using ahead stems get some lock on grips and change them round easier by just sliding everything off takes about ten mins to swap between the two. Dosnt matter what it looks like its how you find it when you are riding. Stems go on here quite cheap try a few cheap ones, short rising or long and flat and then buy a good one in the right size

 

[Dead Rats]

if you're going to try out lots of stems, try on eBay for a cheapo adjustable one instead - get the right position with that then you'll know exactly what you need :idea:

 

[merckx]

depends on the bike, but in general terms...the old rigs are much shorter in the top tube, wheras newer bikes, longer. my zaskar circa 1995 i run a 135mm stem, and on my trek 8500 circa 2007 i run a 110mm stem, and the distance from centre of saddle to centreline of bars is exactly the smae between the bikes.

the trek handles so much better, based on geometry alone. its chalk and cheese.

however...i have ridden some very short stems bitd on my old GT's...and honestly..the handling was very bad. an overly short stem will hunch you right up and make 90% of the riding you do, pretty average.

stick with a long stem on an old bike...thats what they were designed around. you can run risers in them...if you must... i would suggest a minimal rise bar though..dont go too crazy..

 

[ratava99]

however...i have ridden some very short stems bitd on my old GT's...and honestly..the handling was very bad. an overly short stem will hunch you right up and make 90% of the riding you do, pretty average.

Well, that depends on steerer angle and frame make. Some brands have slacker angles, and likewise some have a long 'cockpit' and others short.

For instance, my Schwinn S95.2 has a top tube 1-1/2 inches longer stem-to-seat tube than my older Trek 7000, even both measured the same height. Going to a shorter stem on the former moved me back to the position I was in on the Trek, my previous ride before the Schwinn. In this case, the shorter stem was an improvement. It may not have on the Trek though.



Another reason bikes have shorter stems today is because more of them are aimed downhill these days, versus uphill


For a road-ridden bike a longer stem will put you in a better wind-cheating position, but some people prefer a more-upright stance ("my bad back, you see...").



NOTE: I had a 120mm/25 degree Kore on my Schwinn S95.2 for the last decade+, but recently switched to an 80mm model on the same angle and find my riding more pleasurable and control improved both up AND down...ESPECIALLY pointed downwards (I had the only hardtail the mountain during one day at Northstar last year heh-heh).


It's a matter of what type of riding you will do AND rider's preference. You choose in the end after some intelligent thought and consideration of these points..


But if sticking with an older and shorter retro fork for vintage-reasons, then you might as well go retro with a long stem too, since they were the style of the 90's.

Have fun!