North Shore Billet Direct Mount Stem Risers - First Look

Oct 28, 2011
by Mike Levy  
North Shore Billet Direct Mount Stem spacers

North Shore Billet's 3mm stem spacer fitted under a Chromag Director stem.


Bar height has been a favorite topic amongst riders and racers alike over the past few seasons, with many striving to get it as low as possible. While there can be some advantages to going this route, a lot of riders out there were taking it to extremes and well past where it really makes sense. Thankfully, common sense is starting to prevail and we are seeing heights returning to where they belong, with some even opting to add their own spacers underneath their direct mount stem to dial in the bike for steep terrain. Enter the Canadian machinists at North Shore Billet with their one piece stem risers.

North Shore Billet Stem Spacer Details:

• One piece stem risers
• Three height options: 3mm, 4mm and 6mm
• Stackable for custom heights (longer hardware required for heights over 6mm)
• Includes hardware
• Fits RockShox BoXXer (2009+), Fox 40 and 2012 Marzocchi 888 forks
• Weight: 3mm - 8 grams, 4mm - 12 grams, 6mm - 15 grams
• Colors: red, black and pewter
• Availability: January 2012
• MSRP: $19.00 - Single riser (3,4 or 6mm) with longer hardware included,
• MSRP: $48.00 - Race Pack (3, 4 and 6mm included) with four M6 x 25 screws and four M6 x 30 to replace stock mounting screws. Allows custom heights of 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, or 10mm by stacking risers.

North Shore Billet Direct Mount Stem spacers

NSB's one piece stem risers are an elegant and simple solution to getting your bar higher for those steep and gnarly courses.


Those with a keen eye may have spotted some World Cup racers tweaking their bar height to better suit the weekend's track, with the steep course used for the Champery World Champs being a perfect example. While not a lot of us have a track that gnarly nearby, being able to easily get your bars a bit higher, without having to remove your top crown to swap headset spacers around, should make adjusting bar height infinitely easier.

North Shore Billet's direct mount stem spacers are one piece units that are available in three different heights, 3, 4 and 6mm, and come with the required longer hardware. They will be available separately or in NSB's "Race Pack", a kit that includes all available heights and enables you to stack them for up to 10mm of added height. They can be fitted to any top crown that uses the four bolt pattern found on RockShox's BoXXer fork.

North Shore Billet Direct Mount Stem spacers




www.northshorebillet.com

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Stems


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110 Comments
  • 115 0
 ahahahahah. The irony... "I'll wait to see what the trend is and then follow it!"
  • 40 0
 new trend coming in is to have drop crown with 3" rise bars
  • 19 14
 surely some washers on the bolts would do the same thing.. be cheaper.. and lighter..
  • 33 2
 The load wouldn't be spread enough that way.
  • 79 1
 Washers are a wonderful idea if you have a good dental plan.
  • 3 1
 Not sure you'd have the same load strength with washers. Unless they were super wide washers I guess.
  • 3 0
 just get rider bars! i heard they're coming back in fashion...
  • 6 2
 or put spacers under your crown.
  • 4 0
 Washers on the bolts?! Definitely not a good idea and not the same as this... I don't know you but i still don't want you to break your neck! Don't do it!
  • 4 1
 I've always run the highest rise bars I can find, usually with spacers underneath. I'm a freerider and low bars just fuck me over. I also like the added height for clearing the top tube on certain tricks, like cans. I've never understood low bars.
  • 19 2
 The next trend is fixie bars, duh. And straight up fixie 8" bikes for all you hipster downhillers.. "We don't need no stinkin brakes!" stickers will be on all the cool guys' chainstays. SPD's will be replaced by toe clips, olive drap or sand colored only. Carbon fiber anything will be as taboo as 29" wheels on a dirt jumper. TLD will be on the forefront of the fashion aspect of this new trend by replacing pajama suits with $300 outfits that look like even Goodwill rejected them as second-hand donations. The pedallin' Nostradamus has spoken.
  • 2 1
 For downhill a rigid fork and ape hangers are the only way to go!!!
  • 2 0
 I'm all for custom geometry, but does a few millimeters really make a difference?
Why no just buy a stem that has more of a rise in it.
  • 6 1
 For 90% of people that ride bikes, a few millimeters isn't noticeable. But to the other 10%, a few millimeters makes all the difference.
  • 1 0
 Too many trends, what is happening to our sport?!
  • 4 0
 i believe its called profitability
  • 1 0
 I just rock the ultra cross bars 2.5 in rise
  • 1 0
 208 people are trendwhores. Blank Stare
  • 3 0
 +1 on the second comment ..
  • 2 0
 what kind of dick buys a ti spring thinking it'll make them a better rider? these trends are shite, so is buying a nice new set of tyres worth £70 plus then chopping off all the tread! maybe for pro's and loaded little mummys boys but surely not the other 99.9% of us...
  • 40 0
 Bar height is just like frame size and geometry, theres no one right answer, all depends on rider size, style and the tracks. more options are always good.
  • 4 3
 Exactly. Lots of riders in Champery had risers, Danny Hart smashed the competition without any!
  • 2 3
 because sram dont offer a riser dh bar, ull probs find he had riser under his stem. i run 15mm bars with a 33 degrees stem, feels real good!
  • 9 2
 Boobar is a riser bar.
  • 2 0
 "Lots of riders in Champery had risers, Danny Hart smashed the competition without any!"

It's all very dependant on the size of the rider as the stack component of the reach/stack measurement on a bike is pretty much fixed. A short rider will need less height on the front of the bike to be comfortable whereas a taller rider will, generally speaking, be more comfortable with a higher front end. There are various ways to do this but adjusting the stantions in the crowns also effects the head angle and BB height which is less than ideal if you're just after a little more front end height. If you're running a traditional stem then it's easy - these merely replicate this ability for those running DM stems.
  • 1 0
 I raised my bar hight loads when i rode champrey and still had a few sections where only my front wheel was on the ground!
  • 7 0
 Good response connen. "Thankfully, common sense is starting to prevail and we are seeing heights returning to where they belong" had me raising one eyebrow. It's an incorrect statement. The whole point of these spacers should be to adjust your height depending on track or preference, not whatever's trendy. Whistler I run my set up as low as possible, whereas at St Anne I was wanting a higher bar set up. Just like in other sports, you adjust your equipment to the conditions and bar height preference is no different.
  • 1 0
 Agreed. For parks, at least less steep ones as low as possible is the way to go but for gnarly dh tracks it would mean bad body position and loss of stability.
  • 3 1
 Lower bars will get the weight on the front wheel for cornering, but you lose sprinting power if you have to crouch over the bike. BMX racers are pretty good at fitting a bike to the body, and I have applied a lot I learned in BMX to my MTBs. Of course you have to make adjustments for different disciplines. I learned in MX 20 years ago that a proper bar height and reach made a huge difference over a 30 minute moto in control and endurance.
  • 2 1
 i dropped my bar a lot this year and even in steep section i get more control and stability. it sometimes feel more scary since the upper part of my body is dropped forward, but in the mean time i have a more "rearward" general body position. wouldn't ever rise them again.
  • 1 0
 How come lower bars were faster in the past few years and now higher bars are faster?? You can't explain that!!
  • 2 0
 Lower is faster, but higher is safer. So on a steep track higher might be faster just because you won't get sent over the bars. I like 10mm rise.

Who makes a cold-forged direct mount stem? Would be stronger.
  • 17 2
 But flat bars are still cool right?
  • 11 1
 What's the dig on flat bars . . . . Brendawg has a go and says they are for XC bikes so everyone's on his wagon. Ufck that, ride what you want, be your own trend setter. I will stick to my flat bars and you can ride your 4mm rise. Otherwise I'm with Connen31, to each his own.
  • 3 0
 I'm with you on the to each his own. I don't think it makes a difference in my riding, I'll end up getting used to whatever bars I run. I just like the look of low rise bars better than flat bars or bars with a lot of rise.
  • 3 0
 i dont care what any pro dher says, im sticking with my flats and thats not going to change untill i feel like it. i find that if your bike has a low front end it will ride the corners better Wink
  • 3 0
 ive had riser bars for awhile and ended up getting a bike with almost flat bars and so far they fell good, on that bike.
  • 9 0
 Whenever I get too confused when debating between which spacers or bars I wanna use on a given day, I solve the problem by riding without handlebars. Just gotta grip the stem tight enough.
  • 6 0
 Wait, I though my bars were supposed to crazy low....???? Wink
  • 2 0
 Works asked on Facebook if anyone was interested and have them out this week, no waiting till january for a plate with 4 holes in it - i have 2 on order in 6mm for me and my buddy with a headset, just waiting for them to be shipped out now..... Cheaper too, isnt $48 the same price as a cheap fsa stem?!

www.workscomponents.co.uk/stem-spacers-17-c.asp
  • 2 0
 Yea dude!! Just ordered a couple for myself with one of their headset. Rick over at Works is a great guy, gets the job done.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I had the works angle cups and they were the cheapest and worked great. I'm sure you also saw on Facebook that you could send them your derailleur hanger and they would make you another one for free.....who else does that.
  • 2 0
 Does anyone make a direct mount stem in anything longer than 50mm?
I'm 6'4" and need a big bike and ride a 60mm stem, it'd be nice to have the option of a direct mount stem.
I saw at Fort Bill that Steve Peat has one, but couldn't make out the brand - maybe its a one off?
  • 1 0
 burgtec used to make a 60mm stem not sure if they still do, but u should be able to get hold of 1 somewhere. fits boxxers/fox 40 mount
  • 4 0
 Im 6 ft 6 mate but I prefer the responsiveness of a 50mm DM stem. I think a 50mm stem with less rise on your bars/ bit more width would give you a better result. Changing your bar sweep, tilt and width will give a far more effective change than an extra 10mm on your stem length I think, but I'm far from an expert. Ive just gone for what works with my height well, and I feel your pain in getting a set up that works for you!
  • 4 0
 @IIIestT, Truvativ makes a 60mm DM stem. Right around $100 and any LBS should be able to order them quick enough for ya.
  • 1 0
 i'm with thestigmk1. i,m 6,3 and ride a 50mm stem with zero rise and 15mm rise bar with 785mm wide. suuuuper stable and i don't feel the bike is to small for me (large one). i tried at first a super low setup cause..you know...it was what we were seeing everywhere. and i won't ever rise it up again.
  • 2 0
 Thanks guys, but with respect, I've tried a million stem/bar combo's over the years and I'm really happy with the set up I've settled down to - just wanted to run a direct stem mounting system.
Loius2468routier - cheers dude, that's the answer I was hoping for! Do you know what its called?
  • 3 0
 IIIestT - Its the Holzfeller Direct Mount Stem, comes in Black, white or red. Just make sure you specify you want the 60mm. I see they're available through Norco Distribution, so any shop that can deal through them can get them for ya!
  • 1 0
 The only time it makes it worth while is when your racing DH on really, REALLY steep courses. I was talking to Steve Peat last year about raising the bar and stem and that was his reply. Places like Champery and Val di Sole are were you will notice a difference.
  • 1 0
 talking about bike set ups and riders style for me i find if i like the look of my bike i ride better with it if i go with a "trend" that other people think is cool but not me i dont usually ride good with it so for me no matter what the trend i go with what i think looks good and it usually performs good for me
  • 1 0
 I went with flat bars because my old bike had a high bb and I was using a relatively tall 07 888 zoke with a not that low stem. Now with low stems, low headtubes , forks and heasets a higher bar,stem,spacer make a lot of sense. Too bad i use a stemcrown. Still a great products for people who like their stem but want their bars higher.
  • 1 0
 I still think the availaibility of options of bars with different rise solves the problem for most people... some bars come in 5mm increments
  • 1 0
 Not in my case. I run 25mm rise bars and I'm still lower than most of my mates. Availability of 30mm+ bars is low and most of the choices are pretty bad. Defo not trying spank.
  • 1 0
 you hit me now... I'm about to buy a spank bar... what's wrong with them?
  • 1 1
 besides being ugly they bend easy
  • 1 0
 They bend really really easy. I loved the looks but In the summer I've met somone with a bent one every week.
  • 1 0
 yea I was a bit suspicious with the low weight... anyways good to hear
  • 1 0
 Which one did you want to buy? The wider spikes were problematic.
  • 1 0
 I thought aboout 777 - I was just wondering to buy something really low and wide for my XC/pump bike.
  • 1 0
 How light/low do you want? If 760mm wide flatbars are ok get the element technic nickel wide. Real weight of mine was 299g, friends 298g. Run them 2.5 years, lots of crashes.
  • 1 0
 I run a 38mm rise bar, but have my stanctions about 38mm out of the top crown. That way, I get the bar height I want, without slackening the head angle excessively. 64 degrees is til a bit slack for me and my riding. These spacers and a flatter bar would have provided the same effect.
  • 1 0
 bar height is all about the relationship of rider height to hand height,....front end preload that is,...short guys like me are challenged when it comes to preloading the front end without over compensating with poor body positioning,..a slacker head angle will go farther than bar height when it come to taming steeper pitches,...imo
  • 1 0
 As a taller rider I find it hard to get my bar to the correct bar height without resorting to taller bars and extending my fork. The former seriously limits my bar choices and the latter screws up my bike's geometry. I hate the idea of buying a bar just because it's the only one that comes in a 38mm rise. These risers are a a great option.
  • 1 0
 After seeing so many people breaking bolts in their direct mounts in the last couple years, I am not sure I think that adding another piece is a better call rather than a new $100 bar. Sorry NSB, no disrespect, but are the stem/fork companies going to endorse this part or advise to buy a new bar? I personally do not want shims between my stem and crown.
  • 1 0
 the pros are the only ones breaking bolts and its because there titanium
  • 2 1
 Umm, way to put out a poll this isn't biased in any way.

Do you think I should punch you in the face?
Do you think I should punch myself in the face?
Do you think on your own or will you just wait to see what everyone else does?
  • 1 0
 I was intrigued by the lower and wider bar trend last riding season and decided to try it out. I started out with a Truvativ Boobar at 780mm with my stem set at a lower position on the steer tube and found that I liked the wider bar but didn't care as much for the lower height when it came to steeper sections. I have since settled for 750mm wide bars and a more traditional stack height. It works for me but I think in the end it comes down to rider preference and the type of terrain you're racing/riding.

I think the most important thing is to understand the potential benefits from wider and lower (or higher bars) and to find out what works best for you.
  • 1 0
 if you want carbon fiber spacers go buy a yard for 40 bucks cut and get fiberglass resin and get two pices of glass anything smooth and solid clamp overnight and wow done for 1/3 of their price
  • 1 0
 Great idea. To raise my top crown I have to switch to a boxxer tall crown which has some fit issues with my bike. Washers seem sketchy and I don't really want to swap handlebars since I'm just experimenting.
  • 1 1
 Bars need fashion tends to keep selling.

Even different brands go in and out of fashion. Easton used to be the bars of choice, then Funn when Sam Hill was riding them, then everyone seemed to have Sunline bars, now Renthall are No. 1.

This topic comes up again and again on t'internet. A proprtion of us, in fact all of us some of the time, like to have the latest (and according to the marketeers) the greatest.

The day someone produces a decent gearbox will be the day to celebrate. Otherwise, it'sjust all minor iterations and new marketing.
  • 1 0
 Definatly forgot atlas fr bars somewhere in there
  • 3 0
 Is this any different from putting a spacer under your top crown?
  • 1 0
 It's so that you don't have to remove your crown, so it's easier.
  • 6 0
 the only people that will need these are the ones who cut their steerers down too far when they went for the low trend and now cant put any more normal spacers on... XD I thought ahead and left about 20mm extra on mine when I cut it cause I thought I might want them a little higher in the future for some tracks.
  • 1 0
 Running these DM spacers instead of normal spacers would make it possible to run a higher bar height as well as running the stanchions "higher" (longer A/C), which makes it even taller and slacker again. I don't think it will be stiffer though.
  • 1 1
 putting a spacer under the top crown would do the opposite, wouldnt it..? (i think, im trying to picture it in my head and i have a hangover but im pretty sure)
  • 1 0
 Antron nailed it. I have two 5mm spacers under my top crown which accomplishes exactly what the NS Billet spacer does. The only reason the NS Billet product makes sense is if you've cut your steerer tube too low/flush not allowing you to put HS spacers under there OR if your bike has an uber-tall headtube that means you can't raise the top crown height any further.
  • 2 0
 Thanks for the good point, Staike.
  • 1 0
 what i said only makes sense if you have your crown right at the top of your stanchions, so if you put a spacer under then youd have to drop the bottom one a little, so all it would change is the ht angle. so i was wrong either way aha
  • 4 1
 All the flat bar crap is going away !
  • 1 0
 On my Demo I run a zero stack headset and just swapped bars, 20 mil wider and 13 mil taller.
  • 1 0
 lower bars = more aggressive cornering hence the ability to ride that much quicker with that much more control.
  • 1 0
 this is a great addition to the avid rider/racers tool box, i would love the race pack for next season, good work N S B
  • 1 0
 Nice...Tired of being Hunched over, all the time... Nice being almost like bmx bars, but not as high.
  • 2 0
 Its all about preference.
  • 1 0
 Only really benefit is when you run short stems like 30mm, when the stem has to sit over the top cap.
  • 1 0
 This is very smart product and wish it fit my old 888s. I heard the new 888 use same bolt pattern as rs????
  • 1 0
 It says in the article that it fits the new 888.
  • 1 0
 the new 888 uses the standard 4-bolt mount style
  • 1 0
 finally the "slammed" look is out of favor! people are learning to ride again!
  • 1 0
 its a good idea for skateboards not so much bikes too many other ways to raise your bars without a spacer there
  • 1 0
 you can buy this piece for 80$!


I don't who, but someone create washers...
  • 1 0
 i know alot of people that like lower rather higher and the chromage stem is really high already
  • 1 0
 I agree with Hustler, Washers would be great if you've got a great Dental plan! Washers?? My God LOL!
  • 1 0
 I came up with this idea over this past summer. I guess you snooze you loose! arrrggggg!
  • 1 0
 what, 4 washers won't work?
  • 1 0
 cool idea. not sure if its practicle though
  • 1 0
 new trend guys: road drop bars with a huge ass stem.
  • 1 0
 Pretty good idea. May have to get me some.
  • 1 0
 i could make this for about 50p...
  • 1 0
 Wow, Michael Pascal is back in fashion with super high controls.
  • 3 0
 North Shore Billet is so smart. The products are so simple and sexy. Me love NSB!!!!
  • 1 0
 I would love to run North Shore Billet Stem Spacers. Sponser me!!!
  • 1 0
 i think its two expensive for just rising your bars
  • 1 0
 Yeah Pete!!! Front page buddy!! You should include longer bolts!!
  • 1 0
 needs the option "Lower is always faster"
  • 1 1
 great idea cant wait to see these on the market
  • 3 0
 Why are you waiting till January then? www.workscomponents.co.uk/stem-spacers-17-c.asp

Already available and will be on my bike by the end of next week not next year!
  • 1 0
 NSB FTW!







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