MTB Stem Black Friday: discounts of 31.8 and 35 mm

MTB Stem during the Black Friday: what to measure

• Handlebar clamp, 31.8 or 35 mm: it must match the exact central diameter of your handlebar.
• Mounting: clamp around the steerer of 1 inch 1/8 on most forks, or direct mount attachment, screwed onto the top crown of a dual crown downhill fork.
• Length, from 32 mm on some enduro stems to 110 mm and more on touring models: start with your current stem and change it gradually.
• Angle, zero on most trail stems, 6 or 7 degrees on models that can be flipped, much more on rise stems.

The effects of length and angle on handling are detailed on the MTB stems page, which is open all year round.

Downhill, trail or trekking: check the intended use

The page brings together stems that are not aimed at the same terrain. At one end, downhill models: Spike Race from Spank, Descendant DH from Truvativ in direct mount, HiFi from Chromag with freeride and DH clamp. At the other end, stems for leisure MTB and trekking, adjustable like the Octopus from Ergotec or the Tarantula from Contec, or highly raised like the High Barracuda. The latter raise the torso but are not made for jumps.

At Ergotec, the level indicated in the name helps make a decision: this ranking from 1 to 6 takes into account the type of bike, jump heights in MTB, and total weight, including bike, rider, and luggage. The higher the rating, the safer the part.

Stem on discount: align length, clamp and angle

A reference often comes in several lengths and diameters: the Turbine R 35 from Race Face ranges from 32 to 60 mm, the Vertic from Sixpack Racing exists in 31.8 and 35 mm. A promotion displayed on the 32 mm version does not necessarily apply to the 60 mm one. Align length, clamp and angle, then measure the difference between the crossed-out price and the displayed price on this specific variant. Finally, check the clamp height on the steerer, which determines the number of spacers.

Handlebar, headset, fork: related pages

Upgrading to 35 mm requires a handlebar of the same diameter, to be chosen from the MTB handlebars from the Black Friday; a direct mount stem requires a MTB fork with dual crown. Take advantage of the disassembly to check the headset. The clearance sale and new arrivals take over once the operation is finished.

Spank, Ergotec, Chromag: who makes these stems?

Spank codes the diameter in the name of its Spoon: 318 for a handlebar of 31.8 mm, 350 for 35 mm. Its Spike Race, with a wide cap, targets freeride and downhill.

Ergotec, which designs its parts in Germany and tests them in its own testing centre, offers both the Crab 2 and adjustable or raised stems for touring.

Sixpack Racing, whose components are designed in Germany, offers the Menace, Vertic, Kamikaze and Millenium, the last two also in direct mount.

Chromag sells its HiFi with standard or reinforced freeride and downhill clamp, in both 31.8 and 35 mm.

Race Face presents the Turbine R 35, the Turbine SL, the Atlas and the Aeffect R, in 31.8 or 35 mm depending on the model.

Truvativ, a component brand of the SRAM group, offers the Descendant, in direct mount version for downhill, the Hussefelt and the Atmos 7K.

Frequently asked questions

When does Black Friday start?

The reference day is the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States, as the holidays approach. For stems, as with handlebars and headsets, Vélo-Store runs its Black Friday promotions throughout November.

Can a 35 mm stem fit on a 31.8 mm handlebar?

No. The clamp must match the handlebar diameter: a difference, even of a few millimetres, prevents a secure clamp. Changing standards means replacing both the stem and the handlebar.

Does a direct mount stem fit on all forks?

No. It screws onto the top crown of a dual crown fork, typical for downhill, and does not fit on a standard steerer fork.

How can you tell if a deal on an MTB stem is good?

Compare identical versions, including length, angle and clamp, then the final price. A lighter stem is only useful if it is suited to your riding: for enduro or downhill, the indicated use matters more than the grams saved.

Is an adjustable stem suitable for an MTB?

It is mainly used for leisure MTBs and trekking bikes, to find an upright position. For riding on challenging trails, prefer a fixed stem designed for MTB, and check the usage level when indicated by the brand.