If you’ve been watching DH racing lately and think you want a more upright cockpit to go faster, Hope’s new 20mm Gravity Stem might just be the trick. Mountain bike cockpits have been getting shorter for years, as bars get wider and frame reach grows. But top-level downhillers, and even some enduro racers, have taken to an even shorter, more upright riding position that centers their position on the bike when descending incredibly steep terrain.
So, this new Hope 20mm Gravity Stem could get you in position to tackle the most technical tracks you’ve ever seen.
Hope super-short (and upright) alloy 20mm Gravity Stem
Sure, DH cockpits were always short. Direct mount stems on dual crowns have always hovered between 35-50mm long. And in recent years, enduro and all-mountain riders have been pushing the limits, too. However, there’s only so short you can go until the central clamping area of your bar physically sits up against your steerer tube (…without dimpling your bar or steerer, that minimum physical limit for stem length is 30.2mm for a 31.8 bar or 31.8mm for a 35mm bar.)
Yet, super short & tall stems aren’t entirely new. We already reported on the nicely-machined 0mm Discord Creemee stem more than 6 years ago. But those were more about relaxing fit to comfortably go slow. Recent DH racers have been taking the concept to the extreme, and then even flipping it around… like on the AON Gamux prototype gearbox race bikes this season.
What does Hope hope to achieve?
“Following feedback from some of the fastest World Cup downhill and enduro riders, Hope set out to design a stem that brings the rider’s grip position more in line with the fork’s steering axis. This gives riders a more upright riding position, distributing weight more evenly towards the centre of the bike.
The result is a more stable, neutral riding position, with less weight through your arms to help reduce arm pump and fatigue. The super-short length, combined with the alignment of your grips with the steering axis, also helps keep your lines tight on the trail.”
Tech details
- aluminum mountain bike stem, CNC-machined from a solid billet of 2014 T6 alloy
- 20mm stem length
- 35mm stack height raises your bar without the need for extra spacers
- requires about the same amount of exposed steerer tube as standard length Hope Gravity stems
- integrated steerer headset cap & bolt included
- 62mm clamping width (+5mm more than standard length Hope Gravity stems, for extra strength & stiffness)
- available in 31.8mm and 35mm bar clamps
- anodized in 7 classic Hope colors: Black, Silver, Smoke, Blue, Red, Purple & Orange
- made in the UK
20mm Gravity Stem – Pricing, options & availability
The new short and upright Hope 20mm Gravity Stem sells for £115 / $159 / 144€. It comes in seven anodized colors to match all your other shiny Hope accessories. And you get to pick from compatibility with either 31.8mm or 35mm oversized handlebar diameters. Get yours now from your local Hope dealer bikeshop.
