What are suspension stems and should you fit one to your bike?

Suspension stems enhance comfort and control on rough terrain by absorbing shocks and vibrations from the front wheel before they reach the handlebars. 

While not as common as suspension forks, they offer a damping solution with little added weight or complexity. Suspension stems are often paired with suspension seatposts, with some brands making products in both categories.

In this guide, we’ll explain what suspension stems are and how they work, giving you the information you need to decide if they are right for you. We’ve also put two of the most popular options to the test, comparing the Redshift Shockstop and USE Vybe GR head-to-head. 

What is a suspension stem?

Suspension stems work just like normal stems, connecting your handlebars to your steerer tube.

However, what sets them apart is a small amount of vertical flex (commonly around 20mm), which isolates the handlebars from the steerer and absorbs chatter and vibrations from the front wheel before they reach your hands. 

This is achieved by using a pivot and an elastomer, resulting in improved comfort and less fatigue during long rides and on uneven surfaces.

Designed primarily for road and gravel riders, a suspension stem can’t compete with the impact absorption and grip offered by a suspension fork.

However, they offer a tangible increase in hand and forearm comfort and come at a much lower weight penalty, thereby appealing to riders looking to keep the weight of their bike down. 

A history lesson

The first suspension stem was released in 1987 and called the Girvin Flexstem, after its inventor, Bob Girvin. It came at a time before suspension was common on mountain bikes, and the comfort it offered made it a worldwide hit amongst off-road riders. 

While modern suspension stems are a lot sleeker and streamlined compared to the original Flexstem, the idea and principles remain relatively unchanged. 

Who makes suspension stems?

Although they are still relatively niche, there are several brands committed to reviving the suspension stem. The two most popular are USE and Redshift (more on that to come), but they certainly aren’t the only offerings on the market. 

BMC is one of the mainstream brands experimenting with low-key suspension on its gravel bikes over the last few years. In 2022, the brand released its ICS (integrated cockpit system) MTT stem, which was designed in collaboration with Redshift and uses elastomers to deliver 20mm of tunable suspension.

Bucking the pivot and elastomer trend is Kinekt’s suspension stem, which uses a futuristic parallelogram design and a spring. However, due to its design, the Kinekt stem weighs substantially more than its competitors.  

Do suspension stems work?

In short, yes, suspension stems do work in reducing vibrations and increasing rider comfort in certain riding scenarios. However, as with all bike parts, there are both pros and cons to fitting one to your ride. 

It’s worth noting that these stems are designed to take the edge off high-frequency chatter, such as riding quickly over uneven ground (cobblestones, gravel, etc). While they might also help to take the sting out of an unexpected pothole, they can't deal with big, isolated compressions or impacts. For that, you need a suspension fork.

Suspension stem pros

• More comfort on rough terrain: By absorbing vibrations and small bumps that would otherwise go straight into your hands and wrists, suspension stems increase comfort
• Reduced hand and arm fatigue: Damping vibrations can help with numbness or pain in hands, wrists, elbows – especially on long rides
• Lightweight alternative to suspension forks (in some cases): Suspension stems can be ideal for riders who want added front-end comfort without the weight and complexity of a suspension fork

Suspension stem cons

• Limited capability: Suspension stems are limited in what they can offer. With around 20mm of travel (most commonly controlled by an elastomer), they can’t compete with suspension forks' high-impact performance
• Unnatural ride feel: The feel of a suspension stem takes some getting used to, as the stem can feel like it dives while absorbing impacts. Depending on the model, there may also be a sensation of slight lateral play 
• Extra weight: Although the weight penalty is only moderate (the USE Vybe GR weighs less than 210g), the weight over a standard stem might put some riders off the idea