New stem needed?

richywales97
richywales97 Posts: 38
edited January 2014 in MTB buying advice
When Im out riding I find myself really far forward on the bike, with lots of weight on the front wheel. Just to check, is this because my stem's reach is too big? If so then what cheap stems do you recommend? Maximum price around £20

Also, what points on the stem do i measure from to find my currents stems reach?

Comments

  • jimothy78
    jimothy78 Posts: 1,407
    Could be stem length, frame size, or could be your position on the bike.
    Current stem's reach is measured from centre to centre of the two holes.
    You'll also have to tell us what size handlebar clamp you need - it's likely to be either be "standard" (25.4mm) or "oversize" (31.8mm).
  • russyh
    russyh Posts: 1,375
    How long is your current stem? As above loads of questions need answering before sound advice could be given
  • richywales97
    richywales97 Posts: 38
    Just measured, current reach is 100mm, so I think I'll be looking for around 50mm.
    Handlebar clamp is oversize.
  • miceden
    miceden Posts: 225
    Is a pic of your bike possible?

    CRC have an extra 10% off in their sale, they have Crank Brothers Cobalt 3 stems for sale in varying lengths & colours, good stem and a smidge over £20
  • richywales97
    richywales97 Posts: 38
    Cant upload a pic but the bike is Decathlon Rockrider 6.3, almost completely stock parts.
    I'll have a look
  • Cookeh
    Cookeh Posts: 351
    Superstar Zenith AM. I was in the same boat as you, after numerous recommendations I went with the Zenith.

    Really fast shipping, great finish, weighs nothing and has been flawless so far. Oh, and you get free haribo!
  • KevChallis
    KevChallis Posts: 646
    Cookeh wrote:
    Superstar Zenith AM. I was in the same boat as you, after numerous recommendations I went with the Zenith.

    Really fast shipping, great finish, weighs nothing and has been flawless so far. Oh, and you get free haribo!

    Thanks for that link, I was trying to remember the name of this company earlier today, as a chap I know mentioned it and said they were a really good company, living in Lincoln, I can now go down and visit them this weekend :)
    Kev
    PlanetX Pro Carbon
    Voodoo Bizango
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    richywales97 wrote:
    Just measured, current reach is 100mm, so I think I'll be looking for around 50mm.
    Handlebar clamp is oversize.

    That's quite a big change in length, reckon I'd be going for a really cheapo 2nd hand one just to check before you settle on a length.
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    A big change but a good one IMO. I've got the 50mm version of this, which is now out of stoch, but have a look anyway- 40 & 60 mm there still is... 50g heavier than the competition, but worth it- great [url=stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/truvativ-hussefelt-stem-1-1-8/rp-prod67683?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CImbr8Ggn7wCFfLHtAod2UIA0Q&gclsrc=aw.ds]stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ ... lsrc=aw.ds[/url]
  • Lewis A
    Lewis A Posts: 767
    Cqc wrote:
    A big change but a good one IMO. I've got the 50mm version of this, which is now out of stoch, but have a look anyway- 40 & 60 mm there still is... 50g heavier than the competition, but worth it- great [url=stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/truvativ-hussefelt-stem-1-1-8/rp-prod67683?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CImbr8Ggn7wCFfLHtAod2UIA0Q&gclsrc=aw.ds]stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ ... lsrc=aw.ds[/url]

    Nearly 100g heavier than the competition, it's a strong-for-the-price stem, designed for single-crown freeride bikes.
    Cube Analog 2012 with various upgrades.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    richywales97 wrote:
    Just measured, current reach is 100mm, so I think I'll be looking for around 50mm.
    Handlebar clamp is oversize.


    That's a big change - personally I wouldn't I tend to go for 60-80mm. Anyway, I guess you need to experiment. On One have some good priced stems. Merlin & CRC too.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Angus Young
    Angus Young Posts: 3,063
    I went from 100mm to this in 50mm...

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kore ... -prod79326

    The difference it's made to the bike is huge and all for the better.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    Lewis A wrote:
    Cqc wrote:
    A big change but a good one IMO. I've got the 50mm version of this, which is now out of stoch, but have a look anyway- 40 & 60 mm there still is... 50g heavier than the competition, but worth it- great [url=stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/truvativ-hussefelt-stem-1-1-8/rp-prod67683?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gclid=CImbr8Ggn7wCFfLHtAod2UIA0Q&gclsrc=aw.ds]stemhttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ ... lsrc=aw.ds[/url]

    Nearly 100g heavier than the competition, it's a strong-for-the-price stem, designed for single-crown freeride bikes.
    It's only 50g heavier the competition at that price though, and tell me the last time you felt a 50g weight difference, scrape a bit of mud off your bike to make up for the weight gain if you're fussy
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    When did you last snap a stem? That's the only grounds for which I can see it being "well worth it".

    Otherwise what benefit are you getting from paying more for something that also weighs more than its comparators. It's a daft choice.
  • Lewis A
    Lewis A Posts: 767
    Truvativ is 203g in 40mm flavour, a Superstar Zenith, which is up to £3 cheaper than the Truvativ (depending on the Truvativ's length, colour), is 124g for 50mm, so the Superstar stem, is comparatively priced, is lighter, and comes in many more colours (yay!) would be much more suitable. what's the point in having extra weight for no reason? If it was 50% of the price maybe. When you have the 100g-is-nothing approach to anything, across 10 components, that a Kg, which you can definitely feel.
    Cube Analog 2012 with various upgrades.
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    Fair enough, just saying its a great stem to ride anyway
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Except for length and rise, I've never found any stem to feel in anyway different to any other stem.

    Except for my awesome Girvin Flexstem of course.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Lewis A
    Lewis A Posts: 767
    Oh god...
    Cube Analog 2012 with various upgrades.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    You called?

    And I didn't say it felt good, just different. I don't use it on anything I ride regularly, but it does go with the mighty Biopace chainrings.



    And thumbies.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Cqc wrote:
    Fair enough, just saying its a great stem to ride anyway

    With the exception of Cooldad's Flexstem name me a stem which isn't 'great to ride'.
  • Cqc
    Cqc Posts: 951
    njee20 wrote:
    Cqc wrote:
    Fair enough, just saying its a great stem to ride anyway

    With the exception of Cooldad's Flexstem name me a stem which isn't 'great to ride'.
    Any long one
  • chrisrobs
    chrisrobs Posts: 135
    Theres a Kore b52 stem from 50/55/60mm on chain for about 16 quid. There not bad at all.
    Specialized Camber Pro

    http://s1363.photobucket.com/user/chris ... 3.jpg.html
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Cqc wrote:
    njee20 wrote:
    Cqc wrote:
    Fair enough, just saying its a great stem to ride anyway

    With the exception of Cooldad's Flexstem name me a stem which isn't 'great to ride'.
    Any long one

    What if the bike is short in length and you do lots of climbing so a long stem will help you get over the front
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    chrisrobs wrote:
    Theres a Kore b52 stem from 50/55/60mm on chain for about 16 quid. There not bad at all.

    Extra 10% off that one until 2pm Wednesday too.

    I have one each of these (50mm Kore and 70mm Raceface), both seem well made, solid, good looking and sensibly priced:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kore ... prod105297

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/race ... -prod82902

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