ok this season i was almost hurt pretty bad on my bike from another rider. he hit the top of my bike while accidently jumping off the top to test(going too fast and didnt know when the hill ended). i think he might have bent my steering stem. im not sure if its that or my front end is out of alightment. i didnt just put a new front end on at the beginning of the season. i havent had time to tear it down and look at it further in depth.

ok on to my question...

what are the pros and cons of an aftermarket steering stem? what brands are out there and are the all similar or do designs differ? what price range am i looking at?

for those who might have a set up im interested in how much would i be looking at if i were to buy a new steering stem w/ all hardware needed to get it running with a GPR steering stablizer? so it would be the stablizer, the stem, the fat bars, and any hardware for it.

ive realized it time to go seriously nuts on making my bike a sweet ride. it will be slowly but surely become a badass Banshee.

I run a +2 Houser steering stem and Denten steering stabilizer on my YFZ450 and it makes all the difference in the world for me. The stem allows me to comfortably ride standing up while the stabilizer handles the chop like champ. You're looking at about a $400 day for both.

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Side

well whts wrong exactly with the steering?

if its just overall hard to turn, its mos definently the steering stem, when mine bent it actually did bend my stock stem, but it also bent my frame where the upper bushing is, where the stem mounts, so i didnt want to bend that mount and make it weaker so i made my first stem, it was good and turned nice, but it was too weak, i had a small spill and bent the stem at the bushing, but it still turned the same, besides my bars being crooked,

you also said you put on a new front end? im guessing a-arms and tierods or somethign in that area, if you alignment is off you bike will pull to one side, and that can be very dangerous when jumping and or going at high speeds, but you can adjust your toe in and toe out by turning hte tie rods, they should be threaded so you should jsut have to loosen up 2 nuts on each rod, where th ball joint threads into the rod, ther eshould be a nut to keep the tie rod from spinning and coming out of alignment, but im not exactly sure how the measurments are, but i think there should be about 1/2" toe in or toe out not exactly sure,

my friends, tore up racing, make great stuff, mostly stems and footpegs, butthey do make aftermarket stem for a great price, im not sure if they do banshee stems, but you can talk to them and they will probably make a custom stem for you, but you would have to bring your bike to their shop, i go to school and race with one of the brothers, and i raced with his older brother, then his oldest brotehr i dont really know as good, but they make quality stuff, and its not as expensive as a lonestar stem or other aftermarket one

all stems are pretty muchthe same, the only real diference is at the top, where they gusset the parts where the clamps go for the bars, but toher wise there istn a diference, ther is a couple diferent companys, rpm, lonestar, and some other company that makes a 2 piece stem, the only other diference is the length, yo ucan get a +1, +2, and even +3 stems, i think the one i made is like +2.5 , but anyways, when you add that GPR stabalizer it mounts on the top then the bars mount to it i believe, or the bar mounts mount to it, but anyways, that design of stabalizer mount on the top of the stem, then i believe bar mounts go on, then the bars, so you might ot want to get a longer stem, do to the gpr stabalizer will extend the height of the bars, get it?

the price are ussually pretty expensive, over $200 i believe, but my friend stems are cheaper, not sure on price but ill ask, when i made my stem, i made it a 2 piece,

2 reasons:
1. make it easier to take out of bike with oil tnak still in,
2. so i can have a spare upper part incase i crash and need to replace it quickly, like when im at the races

tell me if i didnt explain anything good enough?

With the GPR set-up you'll need an anti vibe stem. You can get it up to +2 taller if you like.

The anti-vibe stem hepls with some vibrations but a stabalizer helps more.
Stems are 200-350 depending. I can prob get you a decent price on a Lone Star.

In my experience the denton style (they are all the same just a different sticker) don't last very long. They claim to be rebuidable but people have told me when they try and get it rebuilt they are told they don't have the parts but will see you a new one cheaper. This is BS to me.

the next best one is the PEP. it is made in house and is all aluminum and IS rebuildable anytime. It's about 160-200.

Then the GPR. It rocks! it's in the $400 neighborhood and is a great set-up. I am a dealer for them and can check price as I have not sold one yet.

here's a pic:

shocker i did say a new front end but the weekend i got hit is the same wekend it was its first trip out. so i dont know if i aligned it incorrectly. right now it rides fine but if you look at the bars and then the tires they seem alittle off. and the way the guy hit me it might have twisted the top of the stem. i know those things(the stems) are really strong but you never know when it comes to an accident. the guy bent my clutch lever at a 90 degree without breaking it. you cant really bend that type of metal that far without hurting it or doing it right. like i said i havent been able to tear it apart yet to look at it so i dont know if the stem is bent or the bike is out of alignment.

right now im askin about the stem and stablizer for 2 reasons. i can justify buying them with this accident . and it will make the bike ride better especially after this weekend. the chop beat the crap out of my arms. plus i was reading about the stabilizer in Sand Addiction.(good article Mike!)

It comes in a cool orange color too

oh ok,

thats cool the stabilizer comes iwth bar mounts, sweet, orange looks good, eventually i want to get orange fullbors or maier plastics and get my frame pc'ed blue-vein

I likey the GPR how mush they going for? Z400 and do I have to have an anti vibe stem. BTW alot of shops will build you one for about $160 on the stem. I know of 3 in the valley of sun err water right now.

Yamiboy- what lenght stem would you want?

right now i have no idea. i know i like the ride height of my bars w/ the stock stem but other than that i have no clue.

If you go with a stock stem and the GPR it will raise the bars about 1 3/4".
You can use the Fat Boy CR bend to compensate for this. This seems to work good for me.

I run a hyper-pro stab, they do mostly street bike stuff, but a super nice product. I also run pro-taper bars, but my stem is next. The stab and bar combo are great, but the stem is the missing link. Just been lazy and cheap (no comment from you girl on the cheap part)

see my who deal it to not waste any money on my bike that not improve the performance aspect of it. the bling bling will come after im done building/creating the bike i want. so all the crome levers, brake covers, stator covers, etc. are on hold til i get the bike handling like a dream and the overall performance to my level i want it.

id rather be all go and little show than all show and little go.

so thats why i am asking about the stem and stabilizer. i dont want to waste my money on something that isnt gonna improve the bike... YET! the bling, bling comes later.

A stabilizer will help alot especially with a wider front and in choppy condtions.

the GPR's are $450 shipped.

I run a custom built Chromoly antivibe steering stem. It is +1 up and +1 forward. That and my trailtech fat bars and the antivibe really eats up the chop and stabilizes your ride. the 45* angle it is set at helps with the choopyness, and keeps you in a comfortable riding position as well. RPM makes one like mine, but not near as strong.

So Mike?

What setting do you use ?

90% of the time I use setting 4 which is pretty high.
Sometimes I use 3 in tighter area's.