Brompton stem Q.

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As the years creep on my urge to be low and speedy has been replaced by being more upright and leisurely. I’m also not bending in the middle as well as I did!

A few years ago whilst doing a few other adjustments I bought a pair of J K riser bars to bring my S6L’s handlebars up to M-bar level. Now I’m wondering about getting the bars a bit closer. Can anyone advise on how much an M-style stem will move the bars closer to the saddle? Obviously I’m going to have to fit M-bars as well but the cables are the right length if I go down this route.

Gratuitous picture of my bike on the old railway track running up the side of the River Livet (as in whisky)

 

[mitchibob]

I'm not sure you'll find any difference. In the past, I believe the S-bar stem was actually a little taller than the M-bar one (at least with the more traditional M-bars) and was the same height as the H bar variant. After they changed to more mid-rise bars, I think the stems remained the same.

 

[ktmbiker58]

How about finding a local engineering workshop and see if they can flatten the bend a bit although effectively it will shorten the effective stem length so the steering might be more direct

 

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My reading suggests there is a difference: the JK bars bring the handlebars to the same height as the M bars but images of the stems suggest there are differences apart from length. And I prefer things to be reversible in case they don’t work. There are some second hand stems about that might be worth a punt on, obviously I will need new handlebars too - though one thing I like about the JK bars is that they are wider than the stock ones.

I think the easiest and most direct way is to hire a Brompton Dock bike for a bit and see how it compares (AFAIK they are all M-style)

 

[mitchibob]

I think the easiest and most direct way is to hire a Brompton Dock bike for a bit and see how it compares (AFAIK they are all M-style)

That'll just validate the stem length, depending on age of those bike (brommie lasts forever though). Pretty sure you already have the tallest stem. Just need to get some old style M bars.

I have some on a 2016 M2L that I really should sell as never use it since getting M6E, and over time converting to S6L, except stem.