Rate the Stems (or grips and handlebars) - suspension and adjustable

[Over50]

I received the email, as a lot of you probably did, from the folks at Cirrus Cycles that they are working on a Kinekt suspension stem (launched on Kickstarter I think). I also noticed that the recently announced SuperCharger 3 from R&M has an option to upgrade to an adjustable stem with the Kiox display. It gave me an idea for a thread devoted to the humble stem. Is it an overlooked component? I've found that finding the right stem can dramatically change ride comfort.

We've had more than a few threads devoted to seat post suspension but handlebars and stems offering suspension I think are a newer development. So if you have found an adjustable and/or suspension stem that you are particularly fond of, let us know about it. And now with the Baramind bar on the market, maybe this thread should include bars and/or grips that you've found that increase fit and comfort.

Personally, I have the Redshift Shockstop suspension stem on my steel-frame and fork, non-electric bike. It was one of the best adds I've made. Maybe this is due in part to the fact that it put the bars in perfect position for my stature and preferred ride position but I also think the suspension aspect has made a noticeable improvement to the ride quality. I have the bike outfitted with very stiff 35mm tires (Bontrager Hard Case Ultimates) and I ride around 80psi and to say they are firm is an understatement. The stem was a huge improvement to the ride quality and allows me to do more miles more comfortably.

I've added the Baramind flex-bar (Bam Trek) to my Trek Allant 9.9s but I don't have enough miles on it to provide any reviews yet. I hope to have something to say about it later this Spring along with Trek's Isozone grips.

The pictures are the Redshift stem on my Spot Champa and the Baramind bar and Bontrager Isozone grips on the Allant 9.9s.

 

[fooferdoggie]

that looks great. I wonder How much it will do with a suspension fork maybe a waste of time?

 

[FlatSix911]

Interesting design for the Kinekt stem... what is the price point on Kickstarter?

 

[fooferdoggie]

108 I think 60 off

 

[6zfshdb]

I've been experimenting with handlebars, grips and stems for many years on my conventional MTB's. Lately, I've applied what I've learned to my ebikes. With age, I find I need a more upright riding position for maximum comfort. Through trial and error, I found these products provide the best solution for my particular riding style.

Jones H handlebars:

Jones H-Bar® SG Loop Aluminum

This Is the Only Bike You'll Ever Need

www.jonesbikes.com

The angle and height of the bars, in combination with the Bontrager grips below, provide the best riding position and maximize wrist comfort.


Wake adjustable stem:

Amazon.com : Wake MTB Stem 31.8 90mm 0-60 Degree Adjustable Bike Stem Mountain Bike Stem Short Handlebar Stem for Most Bicycle, Road Bike, MTB, BMX, Fixie Gear, Cycling (Aluminum Alloy, Lightweight, Black) : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Wake MTB Stem 31.8 90mm 0-60 Degree Adjustable Bike Stem Mountain Bike Stem Short Handlebar Stem for Most Bicycle, Road Bike, MTB, BMX, Fixie Gear, Cycling (Aluminum Alloy, Lightweight, Black) : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Delta Cycle stem raiser:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WEQIT4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This product provides between 2 and 6" of rise and is easily adjustable for different riding conditions.


Bontrager Satellite Elite grips with palm rests:

Bontrager Satellite Elite Grip Set | Trek Bikes

Enhance your cycling experience with Bontrager Satellite Elite Grip. Find the best gear at trekbikes.com and your local Trek retailer. Shop now!

www.trekbikes.com

The trick here is to find the best rotational position for maximum palm support. Once set, the position is locked in place with allen screws to eliminate twisting.

Keep in mind, like so many cycling products, what works for some may not for all. In my case, these products provide a wide range of adjustment that suits my varying requirements. I'm sure there are many others out there that would do the job but of the ones I've tried, these work best. Individuals really need to experiment to find what works best for them.

The Kinekt suspension stem you mention looks interesting. It might be worth a try but I question it's usefulness on a bike with front suspension. Hopefully, there will be more product reviews in the near future.

 

[Alaskan]

The stem takes a lot of force. Be careful the any replacement stem you use is rated strong enough. On both my Delight and Homage I use the adjustable Eergoteck swell XR ahead stem. Same company that made the stock stem on my bikes with a strength rating of 6, one step above the stock stem. On a bike with a good, properly adjusted front fork, a suspension stem is a redundancy. Being able to adjust the stem angle for arm comfort and changin ride position.

Ergotec Swell-XR Ahead-stem L6 XXL 31.8mm -20°/40° 100mm black-matt

www.starbike.com

 

[Alaskan]

For grips on my Delight Mountain I use the SQ Lab 702 grip. It has a broad firm but flexible rest area for the heel of your hand that absorbs quite a bit of impact. They are a noticeable step up from the Ergon gp1 grips, IMO

 

[Dave Sloan]

Is stem suspension an economical replacement for front fork suspension? What about stem and seat post suspension on a fixed frame instead of suspension front and rear? I already run 3 inch tires on my bike and I’m looking at replacing it with a Frey ebike with 3 inch tires. Maybe save money and go fixed frame? Thoughts?

 

[Over50]

Is stem suspension an economical replacement for front fork suspension? What about stem and seat post suspension on a fixed frame instead of suspension front and rear? I already run 3 inch tires on my bike and I’m looking at replacing it with a Frey ebike with 3 inch tires. Maybe save money and go fixed frame? Thoughts?

Perhaps. Moreso I think of it as a wise add-on for folks who are riding a rigid fork and for applications where a front suspension fork might be overkill. I wouldn't say it is a viable alternative to a suspension fork for MTB or serious off-road of course (and might be dangerous if rated for the application). I could see it as a great add for a gravel or touring bike that is used on dirt, gravel etc where those bikes are normally rigid fork bikes. The non-electric bike in my photo also has the Kinekt seat post. I only ride that on paved surfaces and it is enough suspension (or better to say dampening perhaps) for that application. My electric commuters, prior to the Trek, all came with suspension forks and I added the Kinekt or Thudbuster ST seatposts. I found that after about a year of commuting, I was mostly locking out my front suspension or riding very rigid via a high psi. Thus for my recent purchase of the Trek, I was happy to forego the front suspension fork and go rigid to drop the weight. I still want to eventually try commuting on a full suspension bike (maybe R&M or Moustache). So my stance, strictly speaking for me personally and my riding situation, was if not full suspension then I wanted to go no suspension (except for the seatpost, stem, bar, grips which are moreso for the dampening high frequency road vibration).

 

[Alaskan]

Is stem suspension an economical replacement for front fork suspension? What about stem and seat post suspension on a fixed frame instead of suspension front and rear? I already run 3 inch tires on my bike and I’m looking at replacing it with a Frey ebike with 3 inch tires. Maybe save money and go fixed frame? Thoughts?

A suspension seat post and stem provide some relief and are better than an all rigid setup. However they are not even a half way measure when compared with a full suspension. You get what you pay for.

 

[Alaskan]

Adding a suspension seat post and stem can enhance comfort, However the added safety and control of a full suspension, even on commutes and touring, is something only a good, well tuned full suspension can provide.

 

[Over50]

...However the added safety and control of a full suspension, even on commutes and touring...

I think most touring bikes do not have suspension. It isn't just a matter of what someone is willing to pay. Some applications, like touring, lean to simplicity and weight savings out of necessity moreso than cost. If you're hauling luggage off into the hinterlands it is probably mostly lower speed riding. Weight savings and the simplicity of the setup (reduced maintenance and easier to repair) are paramount. And for commuting, yes if you are mostly riding at higher speeds through a pot-holed filled landscape then definitely the full suspension setup might well be worth the money.

 

[Alaskan]

I think most touring bikes do not have suspension. It isn't just a matter of what someone is willing to pay. Some applications, like touring, lean to simplicity and weight savings out of necessity moreso than cost. If you're hauling luggage off into the hinterlands it is probably mostly lower speed riding. Weight savings and the simplicity of the setup (reduced maintenance and easier to repair) are paramount. And for commuting, yes if you are mostly riding at higher speeds through a pot-holed filled landscape then definitely the full suspension setup might well be worth the money.

While I generally agree, one of the ways that ebikes are a game changer is that saving weight moves down the priority list. With the high reliability of good suspension components, the added comfort and safety will be a worthwhile trade off for some long distance touring riders.

 

[6zfshdb]

The Kinekt suspension stem appears to be similar to the Redshift Shockstop stem released in 2016.

Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem - Bike

Buy the Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem online or shop all Bike from Backcountry.com.

www.backcountry.com

The Redshift gets favorable reviews but has a different design. It will be interesting to see the two reviewed together.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I think most touring bikes do not have suspension. It isn't just a matter of what someone is willing to pay. Some applications, like touring, lean to simplicity and weight savings out of necessity moreso than cost. If you're hauling luggage off into the hinterlands it is probably mostly lower speed riding. Weight savings and the simplicity of the setup (reduced maintenance and easier to repair) are paramount. And for commuting, yes if you are mostly riding at higher speeds through a pot-holed filled landscape then definitely the full suspension setup might well be worth the money.

I think an interesting point that is often missed is that many purpose-built touring bikes use a steel frame, and a good steel-framed bike has a lot of natural flex in it. Aluminum-framed bikes, especially with the beefier and squared-off tubes common on e-bikes, are extremely stiff. That stiffness kind of forces you to require suspension seat posts, suspension forks, and perhaps a suspension stem just for basic comfort.

It is true that weight matters somewhat less in an e-bike than an acoustic bike, but it still matters. And even if the weight doesn't matter very much the extra complexity and cost can matter quite a bit.

My own personal opinion is that the vast majority of e-bikes people ride, including many I rather like, are wildly overbuilt for the applications they are used for. I think a lot of the technical justifications for the beefiness and complexity that is so common with e-bikes is more about the herd effect and laziness of designers than anything actually having to do with real-world requirements.

 

[FlatSix911]

The Kinekt suspension stem appears to be similar to the Redshift Shockstop stem released in 2016.

View attachment 44884

Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem - Bike

Buy the Redshift Sports ShockStop Suspension Stem online or shop all Bike from Backcountry.com.

www.backcountry.com

The Redshift gets favorable reviews but has a different design. It will be interesting to see the two reviewed together.

A quick price comparison shows the Redshift stem available for $149 and the Kinekt stem on Kickstarter at $139.

 

[Bicyclista]

I've been experimenting with handlebars, grips and stems for many years on my conventional MTB's. Lately, I've applied what I've learned to my ebikes. With age, I find I need a more upright riding position for maximum comfort. Through trial and error, I found these products provide the best solution for my particular riding style.

Jones H handlebars:
View attachment 44868

Jones H-Bar® SG Loop Aluminum

This Is the Only Bike You'll Ever Need

www.jonesbikes.com

The angle and height of the bars, in combination with the Bontrager grips below, provide the best riding position and maximize wrist comfort.

I agree that the Jones H-Bars are da bomb! I use the Jones H-Bar with 2.5-inch rise. Together with a couple of stem spacers it allows me to ride comfortably upright. The 45-degree sweep places your wrists in a more natural and comfortable position than a flat bar, and the Jones H-Bar allows for many other hand positions as well, a blessing on long rides. Another benefit is that there is plenty of room for accessories such as a bell, lights, reflectors, smartphone holder, GoPro camera and a handlebar bag.

For grips I use Ergon grips with palm rests.

 

[6zfshdb]

It appears the Kinekt suspension stem has received ISO certification and is now in production. I would like to see a review here from someone who tries this product, or the one already on the market from Redshift, on a bike with front suspension forks. My Rockshox Gold forks do a great job of absorbing shock loads but don't do much for higher frequency vibration. I might consider this Kinekt product if it provides additional comfort over and above that provided by air suspension forks.

First 1,000 units are in production & Kinekt Stem has received ISO certification Dear valued customer, Good news! This week the Kinekt stem received its ISO Certification (4210:2015). This means that the stem meets the international standard for safety in design, assembly and fatigue testing, and you can buy in confidence. Speaking of buying: the first one thousand units are being manufactured as you read this! We are very excited, and thanks to supporters like you, we'll be able to bring our Active Suspension Stem into the world. There are only 16 days left in our Kickstarter campaign, which means only 12 days left for you to SAVE BIG! In supporting our Kickstarter campaign, you can currently buy one stem for $139 and two stems for just $259 — that's a $41 and $100 discount, respectively! So don't delay! Support the campaign now and be among the first to receive the stem, save big and say goodbye to numb hands, sore wrists, and tight shoulders. Visit our campaign here >>> - Your Cirrus Cycles team Now available on KICKSTARTER Recent studies have found that rough roads decrease power, increase stress levels, and even cause lack of control and diminished vision. In fact, vibrations from 1 hour of cycling was found equal to 4 hours of heavy tractor use.* Ouch! *The Impact of Vibration on Comfort and Bodily Stress While Cycling by John Parkin, PhD and Sainte Cluque and Influence of Vibration on Work Performance during Ergometer Cycling by Björn Samuelson, Lennart Jorfeldt, and Björn Ahlborg. Goodbye numb hands, aching wrists and stiff necks We have heard it from cyclists everywhere: I loved riding my bike but...my hands go numb, my neck gets tight, my wrists get sore, etc. With our seatpost already easing back pain for customers around the globe, we decided to tackle the front end of the bike next. We’ve taken our tried and true Active Suspension System™ and fine-tuned it to work under your handlebars, smoothing out those gravel grades, chip seal roads and rough surfaces. Our engineers created a patented parallelogram design to deliver vibration isolation through 20mm of active travel to keep the rider comfortable and in control. Whether used by itself or together with our active suspension seatpost, the Kinekt Suspension Stem will revolutionize your ride. ​ VIDEO: Click the image above to see the stem in action. Adjustable, Compact, and built to last: The Ultimate Upgrade™ Bike parts shouldn't be complicated to use--we want every cyclist to enjoy this stem. So we designed the stem to be easy to install and adjust. All it takes is an Allen wrench to swap out the springs. Every Kinekt Stem comes with three spring options (soft, medium, and firm), so you can quickly tune your ride based on the terrain, your bike, and your preferred riding style. FEATURES 20mm of travel for comfort and control. Significantly reduces high-frequency vibration felt through the handlebars due to uneven terrain. Adjustable spring rate and preload to suit needs of individual riders (includes 3 springs Soft, Medium (installed), and Firm). Compatible with most handlebars (shims maybe required for some bars). Balanced so weight is not noticeable. Control and steering are not compromised. Much lighter than suspension fork.

 

[Ken M]

Just some points to consider when talking bike suspension but not always part of the conversation:

- On technical mountain bikes a suspension is more about keeping the tires in contact with the ground
- Air volume in tires is absolutely a 1st level suspension element and is far simpler than active suspensions
- The more upright you like to ride for comfort the less weight you have on your hands/arms thus reducing the benefit of suspension forks
- Active suspensions absolutely add maintenance and extra costs (something the bike industry bean counters like so there is hype)
- I do believe the suspension seatposts and stems (like this Kinekt stem) do work to improve comfort but discover what you need
- Low cost suspension saddles add comfort as well

 

[Alaskan]

Talk about serendipity, I was just over at Kinekt HQ and assembly facility about an hour ago (about an hour after @6zfshdb posted. It is about a mile and half from our house. I spoke with the powers that be about getting hold of a new suspension stem for testing and review. It will probably be about a week and a half till one is available. Report and review to follow.