The Best Bike Stems for Upgrading Your Ride

If you’re thinking of replacing your bike stem, you probably already have an idea of what this component is and what it's used for. But for the uninitiated, a bike stem is the tubular component that connects your handlebars to the steerer tube of your front fork. A stem will have either a quill-style or threadless system, with each system compatible with those headsets and forks. Changing the length of your bike stem will impact the fit and handling dynamics of your ride. A shorter stem can mean more reflexive, quicker steering, and a longer stem can mean slower steering.

The Best Bike Stems

What to Consider

Why Change Your Bike Stem

While it’s not strictly necessary to change out your bike stem, adjusting the stem length can help fine-tune your bike's handling. Aside from just updating the stem length, buying an after-market bike stem means you can change out the head tube angle, as well. Many options on this list have adjustable rises for even more custom tailoring. Overall, a shorter stem means quicker, snappier handling, and a longer stem is slower and can feel easier to anticipate.

Quill vs. Threadless

Whether you opt for a quill or threadless stem depends on your bike build. With quill models, the stem inserts into the threaded steerer tube and doesn’t extend above the headset. For threadless installation, the stem clamps around the tube itself, which is not threaded, and does end up extending above the headset.

How We Selected

We chose a variety of bike stems in varying price points and with a range of intended uses, from gravel biking to all-terrain mountain biking to road riding. We wanted to offer options for riders looking for fatigue reduction as well as plenty of rise and length choices to fit a variety of bikes and rider styles. These are all highly rated, and while no component will be absolutely perfect, there is something for every budget, bike, and type of rider here.

For more great bike components to buy now, check out our picks for the best handlebars, seatposts, and saddles.