B1KE

Is a 7 degree stem the same as -17 and essentially horizontal?

I purchased this stem below without doing enough research and I want to achieve the -17 horizontal look and reach is this the correct stem for it?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/182262407953

k_kibbler

A 7 degree stem is not the same as a 17 degree stem.

A 7 degree stem can be + or - 7 degrees from the headtube angle.

A 17 degree stem can be + or - 17 degrees from the headtube angle.

I wouldn't recommend buying a stem just to achieve a "look." I'd recommend a stem that suits your fit and flexibility.

I also wouldn't recommend buying a $25 "carbon" stem on Ebay.

12strings

yes, 7 will be almost a right angle to the steerer...17 will be slightly less of a right angle, ei, more angled up or down, depending which way you flip the stem.

In many cases, the 17 degree stem (NOT WHAT YOU BOUGHT) will, because of it's steeper angle, end up being more or less parallel with the ground, which is often a nice look...IF if feels good to ride it there!

but no, 7 and 17 are different numbers. :-)

GlennR

$24.50 for a carbon stem... i'd be afraid of it snapping.

PepeM

I'd add some ENVE stickers to make it look even cooler. Also, I hope you got something at least 120mm long, anything less doesn't look pro.

TenSpeedV2

I wouldn't put that on any of my bikes, ever.

DrIsotope

It brings up so many questions. Why would you want a CF stem that doesn't look like it's CF at all, but instead a copy of the cheap 4-bolt stem that comes on every entry-level bike out there? Why would you want a stem that comes in at 140g for a 90mm, which is actually ridiculously overweight? The 90mm Pro XCR stem I use weighs barely 100g, and it's full aluminum.

A stem is for fit. So long as the construction is correct, the cosmetics are a minor concern at best.

rms13

Kalloy Uno Ultralight is about the same price, proven, aluminum and weighs less. Comes in 7 or 17. Thats why you do research first and then buy

WhyFi

Buying first and asking questions later is just the way things work in these parts.

#41ier

chip1

7 degree is fairly sloped up regardless of the flip position. I have a 10 degree and while it looks horizontal on first glance it is still slightly angled upwards. 17 will probably slope downwards but I never owned one so can't say for sure.

PepeM

You can say for sure if you know your frame's geometry and some basic trigonometry.

12strings

Yes, though the exact appearance will depend on head-tube angle.

Example: I have a 7 degree stem on my own bike, and even flipped down, it angles up noticeably...

I formerly had a 10 degree stem on the bike, which appeared ALMOST horizontal to the ground, but not quite, still slightly up.


***Ok, I stopped being lazy and looked up the head tube angle of my road bike: 72.5... So a little math, adding a 17 degree stem would drop the angle down to within 1/2 degree of perfectly horizontal...

Further, it seems that close to 73 is pretty standard. so 17 makes it about flat horizontal. (the exception being that very small sizes normally incorporate a lower number (Imagine 90 being perfectly vertical...so this actually makes the angle FARTHER away from vertical...to give more wheel room)...normally down to 71 or even 70 degrees.

TimothyH

For most bikes a 17° (73°) stem will be almost horizontal.


-Tim-

fietsbob

the degree of the stem is from the steerer tube [ 90 - 73 = 17 ], so a 7 degree stem is 10 degrees off.

A zero degree stem will slope UP the angle of the head tube it's square up with ..

12strings

zero degrees!!!!???

But how do you flip and slam it?