Have you ever wondered if shorter BMX stems make barspins easier?
If you haven’t, I sure have.
But this only came to my mind not so long ago when I started to see more and more of my favorite riders using a 48mm reach stem instead of a 50mm.
But I always thought that the 2mm difference couldn’t make too much of a difference.
Come on, it’s only two millimeters.
So I postponed getting a shorter stem until recently.
Barspin test on a 50mm reach stem
I finally decided to switch from a 50mm BSD Stacked top-load stem to a 48mm Cult Redemption top-load stem.
It’s also important to note that these two stems have completely different rises: the former has a rise of 33mm and the latter 22mm.
Of course, every slight change affects how your bike handles.
So yes, the stem rise also impacts the barspins, but that’s something I might write about some other time.
But, yes, I am pretty sure all this applies to MTB and doing barspins on a MTB with different stem lengths.
Let’s focus on reach, shall we?
The Impact Of Shorter BMX Stems On Barspins
Barspin test on a 48mm reach stem
Not long ago, I rewatched Courage Adams’s bike check, and he mentioned that the closer to the body the bar is, the easier the barspins will be.
That’s nothing more than science.
Let me explain.
A shorter stem, whether it’s a top load or a front load, will make a tighter circle so that the bars will come around quicker.
Well, that’s basically it.
But I’m not really into theory, so give it a test.
And I noticed the difference immediately.
I think my barspins were already coming around pretty quickly on a 50mm reach stem, but 48mm makes a massive difference.
Can you imagine – 2mm? Yes, that’s right.
It all happens much more effortlessly.
And I am always down to make barspins even easier and faster.
Moreover, becuase the bar is closer to the body (and because of the slightly lower rise), the bunny hop is much more easier.
But I cannot really tell if my hops are actually higher now – I still need to test this.
The Downside Of Shorter BMX Stems
The only downside of a shorter stem was the manuals for me.
It made them slightly more challenging in the beginning, but I got used to it by now, and, in the end, the manuals happened to be easier.
Update: Right now, I don’t even notice the impact of the shorter BMX stem since I’m so used to it. I did try a 50mm stem again, and it feels weird now.
(But I still need to refine my manuals 180s, although I think that’s not really a stem thing, haha.)
Other Factors To Consider When It Comes To Barspins
I also need to mention that there are various other factors that affect barspins.
For instance, short or long fork offset, two front pegs or only one (or none), foldable or wire bead tire (weight), tire pressure and brakes (and brake levers).
Also, whether you ride a standard inner tube or a Tubolito.
However, testing all these factors simultaneously will not help. In this case, you cannot know what works and what doesn’t.
Pro tip: When optimizing your bike, always test one thing at a time. ALWAYS!
My only mistake in testing a shorter stem’s impact on barspins is the quite significant rise difference. But I did use a taller space just to make the difference slightly smaller.
Ideally, I’d need to test a 50mm against a 48mm stem, both with exactly the same rise.
Conclusion: Get A Shorter BMX Stem To Make Barspins Easier!
So, if you do a lot of barspins in your life and you’re not above 6′, I highly recommend getting a shorter stem.
Initially, it might feel a bit weird because the bar is closer to your body – I’m still amazed that 2mm feels like 2cm, haha.
But this will last only for a session.
It’s different when it comes to manuals. It might take a few more sessions to be fully comfortable with them again.
But when you get comfortable, it’s all much easier.
Further reading:
- BMX Stem Geometry (Explained!)
- What BMX Stem Size Do I Need?
- What Are The Different BMX Stem Types?</a
- BMX Stem Clamp (22.2mm Or 1″?)
