Low rise bars, more spacers, longer stem vs. high rise bars, fewer spacers, shorter stem?

Hypothetically speaking, you could place your bars at the same height and lateral position using lower rise bars with more spacers and a longer stem, as opposed to higher rise bars with fewer spacers and a shorter stem. Would either of these options cause a difference in steering feel or characteristics? Or is it that if the bars are in the same vertical and horizontal orientation, the steering feel will be the same regardless?

1
|
naptime
Posts
35
Joined
7/7/2022
Location
Bozeman, MT US
7/14/2025 12:08pm

I've wondered about this as well

1
7/14/2025 1:04pm

I have been playing with this a lot lately. I have a disproportionately short torso, and years of setting my bike up the same as everyone else isn’t working. High bars, short stem and minimal spacers seems to be the path I’m headed down. The main difference in feel is that even when set at the same height reach by using the tall bars and short stem, the steering is more responsive or twitchy with the short stem. So if you prefer the slower steering of a longer stem, go the lower bars with more spacers. 

ballz
Posts
500
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
7/14/2025 1:21pm

Do these cranks pedal differently than standard cranks?

L-shaped cranks — explore the crazy idea that just won't die | road.cc

8
7/14/2025 4:25pm
Hypothetically speaking, you could place your bars at the same height and lateral position using lower rise bars with more spacers and a longer stem, as...

Hypothetically speaking, you could place your bars at the same height and lateral position using lower rise bars with more spacers and a longer stem, as opposed to higher rise bars with fewer spacers and a shorter stem. Would either of these options cause a difference in steering feel or characteristics? Or is it that if the bars are in the same vertical and horizontal orientation, the steering feel will be the same regardless?

Stem length changes steering characteristics regardless of the bar being in the same point in space relative to the front wheel. 

As always, the easiest way to comprehend this is to take an extreme example, so get a 120mm old road stem, with some massively swept bars so the grips are still in the same position from your previous setup. 

The super long stem creates a huge amount of stability but less turn in, good news, your bike is now awesome for riding around with no hands, bad news, it feels like turning a bus wheel in a hairpin. To turn the front wheel your hands now move MUCH further away from the steering axis. 

 

TEAMROBOT
Posts
1431
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
7/14/2025 4:41pm
ballz wrote:
Do these cranks pedal differently than standard cranks?

Do these cranks pedal differently than standard cranks?

L-shaped cranks — explore the crazy idea that just won't die | road.cc

I agree with this guy, it makes no difference in steering feel as long as the grips end up in the same location, except for one wrinkle: steerer tubes flex, and the more spacers you add, the more steerer tube flex you get. Handlebars flex and stems flex (to a much smaller degree), but part of the reason dual crowns feel sick is because they're so stiff, both above and below the crown race. For most riders, steerer tube flex won't be a big deal, but for bigger, heavier, or faster riders it will be noticeable in back to back testing. All else being equal, you'd be better off with fewer spacers.

Anyone remember these?

Intend Blackline Stiffmaster Headset Top Assembly | MTB Direct - The MTB Experts

4
ballz
Posts
500
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
7/14/2025 5:35pm
ballz wrote:
Do these cranks pedal differently than standard cranks?

Do these cranks pedal differently than standard cranks?

L-shaped cranks — explore the crazy idea that just won't die | road.cc

TEAMROBOT wrote:
I agree with this guy, it makes no difference in steering feel as long as the grips end up in the same location, except for one...

I agree with this guy, it makes no difference in steering feel as long as the grips end up in the same location, except for one wrinkle: steerer tubes flex, and the more spacers you add, the more steerer tube flex you get. Handlebars flex and stems flex (to a much smaller degree), but part of the reason dual crowns feel sick is because they're so stiff, both above and below the crown race. For most riders, steerer tube flex won't be a big deal, but for bigger, heavier, or faster riders it will be noticeable in back to back testing. All else being equal, you'd be better off with fewer spacers.

Anyone remember these?

Intend Blackline Stiffmaster Headset Top Assembly | MTB Direct - The MTB Experts

My gateway drug to Intend.

1

Post a reply to: Low rise bars, more spacers, longer stem vs. high rise bars, fewer spacers, shorter stem?

The Latest