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Blake_Motley Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/18/2026 12:59am
Hattie with the IXS dub at Fort William. Uncle Reeco 3rd in men’s.
This forum topic has 48 replies.
How does the weight difference of the bikes impact what you are saying, if at all? If I am not mistaken (I'm not a moto person), your typical moto is at least 5-6 times heavier than your typical mountain bike. Does this not change the physics of what you are saying? I'm mainly thinking that on a rough section of...
I think Kavenz are exemplary when it comes to bearings: One bearing size all around and its the 6902 LLU. I usually need to swap out the bearings in the chainstay each year. The rest of them seem to just roll on. Kavenz sells the bearings in sets of twelve for dirt cheap and they even have a bearing tool available now. I also tens to not wash my bike to often and my bike thanks me. My GF is on a Slash 2017 that she refuses to part ways with and the sourcing of bearings there are awful. One...
This forum topic has 27 replies.
I think Raaw frames are exemplary when it comes to bearings: All bearings feature sealed caps on each side to keep dirt out They are easy to change There are no tiny bearings (smallest size is 28mm) They are interchangable between Raaw frames Raaw has an online web shop which makes it easy to source bearings, caps, replacement seals and...
Unlike moto, I suspect the bike moves more relative the rider in mounain biking due to the lower weight of the bikes plus the dynamic nature of mountain biking. I'm inclined to think that having more space between the knees to move the bike around is favourable because as the bike pings off line or slips into a catch berm...

Primoz Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/15/2026 1:54am
One question when it comes to moto comparisons, how much of a difference does the way you hold the vehicle with your legs make? With bikes, yeah, being light on the hands makes sense even to me, but I've recently been on a path to try to open up my knees (I notoriously squeezed my knees towards the top tube) and it really frees up the riding. But that means that regardless of the position you control the bike with your hands and your feet only. With an mx bike you're grabbing it with your thighs (in corners) or lower...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

mx31 Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/15/2026 1:53am
I can comment on these setups. I have posted on vital MTB a little before and felt there was a closed mindedness to this kind of a-typical stuff... That seems to be changing in MTB circles. I am not here to change any minds. I have my own opinions, coming from the moto side of things and the trends in MTB just do not feel right in terms of front wheel grip and rider / body position. I post regularly on VitalMX and have been a motocross racer for most of my life at the amateur / expert level. June...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

Between The Tape Added a reply to Annoying Hand Issues

5/14/2026 1:25am
Two other things to consider: The spacing between your brake levers and grips. I used to get pain in the outside of my palm and after experimenting realised that my brake levers were set too close to the grips, causing my palm to be on the very edge of the grip. Moving the brake levers inboard (toward the stem) resolved...

Fred_Pop Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/14/2026 12:50am
I have a Nicolai G1 with the following geo: 510mm reach 1349mm WB 474mm chainstays 115cm handlebar off the ground 203mm front travel and 211mm rear I have been using a 20mm stem for years and also have a 10mm one which I have tested on occasion. I have recently put on the 10mm stem on backward and got a set of 90mm risers (previously was on 60mm). If you draw a straight line through the handlebar from the grips then the bars are 35mm behind the steered tube. I thought my 20mm stem and 60mm stem setup was dialed...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

LePigPen Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/14/2026 12:48am
Absolutely going to feel that if you're not "buying a bike for it". So for me that was highly exaggerated. For Brian it's a bit more interesting because I believe he ran it on a proper bike (along with trying the custom mule). Along with being a much better rider, I expected him to basically utilize it more but also struggle when trying to push. Which makes sense as a mere mortal, it's not like Brian makes 0 mistakes on a normal bike, as well as I'm not sure how long he's committed a specific time period to the stem...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

Blake_Motley Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/13/2026 11:48am
Conventional wisdom up until a week ago would have said this setup is unrideable and has no place at a World Cup. The fact that they were even in touch with these bikes demonstrates that there are still lots of places to go and things to explore re: bike geometry/fit
This forum topic has 48 replies.

LookinForIt Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/13/2026 9:45am
In all fairness, when considering just stack, Jackson Goldstone's bars are also super high. When he's standing next to his bike they're at his rib-cage. If I wanted to do something similar at 190cm tall my front-end would end up looking like Reece's I think.. There's definitely some merit to it
This forum topic has 48 replies.

LePigPen Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/13/2026 8:30am
I think high stack and long rear center is kinda a no brainer for DH but... I thought this post was specifically going to be about 0mm or reversed stems, which is the more confusing narrative that definitely leads to different handling characteristics but... Still can't say if its simply better or not. Living near Bronson, I got to demo the RR stem for free, but on a normal bike. It did what I expected, but I am the most average rider ever. Lots of leverage, quite good handling, but made my normal bike feel 'too small' and ended up...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

brash Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/13/2026 8:30am
There is merit in it to me. I came from Moto. I would set up my enduro dirtbikes bike with sky high bars and lowered footpegs to give a upright/strong riding position for long days. Coming to mtb I always struggled with the low stack heights. My current bike has relatively high stack, 40mm bars, 30mm spacers under the stem and a 462mm chainstay. I'm as close to riding a dirtbike as I've ever been. I feel "in" the bike now rather than on top of it. That security of been centered between the wheels is confidence inspiring. You utilize...
This forum topic has 48 replies.

ballz Liked a reply to forum topic Should You Reverse Your Stem? - Reece Wilson Setup Analysis

5/13/2026 8:30am
Find seven differences
This forum topic has 48 replies.
Are you able to talk a little more about the handling? I didn't mention it in the post as without riding it I don't feel qualified to comment on the steering dynamics. I'm curious if you felt any vagueness in the front wheel (i.e. it was difficult to precisely place it)? I'm pretty sure Brian Cahal mentions this as one...
I don't think a top 20 will definively indicate if it works or not. Even a win wouldn't, because there are too many other factors in consideration. But I think the current string of results are at least an early positive sign that the setup, even if not optimal, isn't noticably hindering them.