Originally Posted by
Kapusta
Changing stems can definitely change how a bike handles because it affects weight distribution and how your hands interact with the steering.
However, for the change the OP is looking at, I don’t think it would be noticeable. What would be noticable is the feel of the fit.
It is true that a stem change will not affect how the bike steers no-handed. So if you don’t ride with hands on the bars, it will not make a difference.
No, the way a bike handles, or turns, is controlled by the head tube angle and fork offset. I'm sure you've heard of 'trail', that is what defines how a bike handles. You're not changing either of those when a stem is changed. What does change is the perception of what it takes to make the bike lean, and thus turn. Narrow bars and/or short stems take less movement at the hands to achieve the same rotational movement of the fork. That
seems less stable/quicker but the bike is still make the same turn. It has not turned any faster because the trail has remained constant.