DH Direct Mount Stems...

felix.london

Choice of two;

Blackspire DAS Direct Mount 0 Deg Stem 145g rrp £75

Nukeproof Warhead Boxxer Direct Mount Stem 160g rrp £60

(both available for £25-£30)

I know, a stem's a stem's a stem but anyone got any bad experiences with any of these?

Will be replacing the stock (non-direct mount) Bonty Big Earl on the Trek Session

downhillbike

you should have a look at the superstar dm stem it is the same as the nukeproof but on sale at £35

nicklouse

I would not bother. makes the fork less resaleable and if you have an off there is one less point to take the force.

OK if racing the slight improvement can help but having spare parts when something snaps is the norm.

felix.london

nicklouse wrote:

I would not bother. makes the fork less resaleable and if you have an off there is one less point to take the force.

OK if racing the slight improvement can help but having spare parts when something snaps is the norm.

In a crash are the forks more likely to be damaged with a direct mount?

felix.london

downhillbike wrote:

you should have a look at the superstar dm stem it is the same as the nukeproof but on sale at £35

£28. Cheers

rockmonkeysc

More likely to twist the forks with a direct mount. I have a Nukeproof direct mount, it's ok but the screws are crap quality and quickly corrode.

peter413

In what way does it make the fork less sellable? I personally prefer DM because I don't have to mess about trying to line the wheel up with the bars, just bolt the stem on and away you go. Yes in theory you are more likely to twist your forks but I don't know anyone that has managed to do it personally and everyone I know with DH bikes uses a DM stem.

Out of those two personally I would be going for the Blackspire as it's slightly lighter, is available in more colours and is ever so slightly longer. I nearly bought one before I got my Answer stem which I would fully recommend if you had the money for one.

felix.london

Ordered the Blackspire will see what it's like and at least gotta spare now

Sounds stupid I know but the Session was an ex-rental and they carved a big "127" into the stem that really pi$$es me off! Obviously I'd take that over bent Boxxers though

140g reduction in weight over the Bonty too

nicklouse

peter413 wrote:

In what way does it make the fork less sellable? .

You have to, or should, or can't fit he stem with (it depends on the stem an the reach) a steerer with a length suitable for a clamp on steerer.

Twisting forks is only one possible issue. The other is bending bars and damaging frames.

As there is nothing to "give" when the bars are forced round.

felix.london

nicklouse wrote:

As there is nothing to "give" when the bars are forced round.

yes - this makes sense...hmm, gone off the idea. Although I don't remember the last crash I had where I bent the bars round...will save that one for the first run with the DM stem

nicklouse

Seen enough dented frames from tripple clamp forks where the stem has twisted when the bars have dug in. Seen bent frames and bent bars where the direct mount has just sat there.

Don't get me wrong they are great but.....

felix.london

Wouldn't it make sense for the bolts to brake on a big impact a la mech hanger stylee?

..or bolt holes

cooldad

Awesome if they break at the wrong time though. A mech hanger is inconvenient, stem giving way at the wrong time could kill, you.

peter413

nicklouse wrote:

peter413 wrote:

In what way does it make the fork less sellable? .

You have to, or should, or can't fit he stem with (it depends on the stem an the reach) a steerer with a length suitable for a clamp on steerer.

Any DM stem I've encountered you can leave the steerer at the right length for a normal stem. Off the top of my head that's a few Funn's, Burgtec's, Easton's, Answer's and Hope's.

felix.london

cooldad wrote:

Awesome if they break at the wrong time though. A mech hanger is inconvenient, stem giving way at the wrong time could kill, you.

tbh I thought a direct mount stem was also attached to the steerer in the normal way

felix.london

peter413 wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

peter413 wrote:

In what way does it make the fork less sellable? .

You have to, or should, or can't fit he stem with (it depends on the stem an the reach) a steerer with a length suitable for a clamp on steerer.

Any DM stem I've encountered you can leave the steerer at the right length for a normal stem. Off the top of my head that's a few Funn's, Burgtec's, Easton's, Answer's and Hope's.

oui