Specifically designed for downhill and freeride mountain bikes with dual crown forks, direct mount bike stems offer an extreme level of strength and stiffness that simply cannot be achieved with a standard bicycle stem. This, in turn, has a tremendous effect on both durability and steering, providing more high-speed precision and control when it matters most.

As the name implies, direct mount bike stems bolt directly to the upper fork crown, mimicking a design that originated in the motorbike world. But like with standard bicycle stems, clamp diameter and stem length are the primary considerations when shopping for DM stems.

Clamp diameter is typically 31.8mm or 35mm, with the larger size being a touch stiffer but also slightly heavier. The other obvious caveat is that whichever diameter you choose it must be matched by the diameter of your chosen handlebars.

Direct mount bike stem length usually falls in the 40-50mm range, though there are also longer and shorter options available. And just as with standard stems, length will play a role in overall bike handling and your fit on the bike. Most DH bikes will use a shorter DH stem.

JensonUSA carries some of the best direct mount stems from companies like Chromag, Deity, Thomson, Renthal, Race Face, and Spank. If you have any questions, pick up the phone and call one of our Gear Advisors. You can email, chat, or call them at 888-880-3811. They will help assure you get the right direct mount bike stem for you and your trail smashing needs.