The Importance of BMX Stems

The purpose of the BMX stem on a freestyle BMX bike is to attach the bar to the fork. It is in the stem that the compression is made to hold them securely together. The BMX bike stem greatly influences how the front end of your bike feels. Stems are available in different lengths and heights, which can affect the stability or responsiveness of the bike.

What Size BMX Stem Do I Need?

When considering what size BMX stem you need, the reach/length and the rise are the two key measurements to look at.

The reach of a BMX stem is the length from the center of the fork tube hole to the center of the handlebar clamp. A reach of 50 mm is quite common, with a longer stem reach adding stability and a shorter stem reach being more responsive.

The rise of a BMX stem is the height at which the stem holds the handlebars above the center of the stem body. This can affect the height at which the handlebars will be positioned, ranging anywhere between 8 - 36 mm. Choosing a stem with more or less height is very preferential and depends on how comfortable you feel on your bike.

Top Load BMX Stem VS Front Load BMX Stem

There are two ways the bar can be mounted on the stem: top load mounting and front load mounting. On a front load stem, the bar is mounted on the front of the stem. A front load stem is often preferred by taller riders, as it positions the bar further away from the rider.

On a top load stem, the bar is mounted on the top of the stem. The top load stem is taller than the front load stem. A top load stem is recommended if you prefer to ride with a taller bar.

Remember! When choosing a stem, ensure that the diameter matches the handlebar diameter you have. This information can be found in the product specification. The two sizes of BMX Handlebars are 22.2 mm (regular) or 25.4 mm (oversized).