In A Glance
The Defy Stem from DMR is their first foray into the new 35mm standard. We all know that the larger size offers the opportunity for a lighter and stiffer bar, but where DMR are concerned it isn’t just about that. The stem features a neat clamping system that is internal as opposed to the actual stem being the clamping system for the steerer tube. This makes the back of the stem, the bit you are most likely to smash with your knees, exceedingly smooth and body part friendly. It works really well and we didn’t have any problems with movement on the bike we set the stem up on.
Buy Stems onAnother feature we loved is the wide handle bar clamp. It looks really burly and offers an immense amount of stiffness to the cockpit of the bike, making steering exceedingly responsive and dynamic. At 234 grams it’s not going to excite any weight weenies out there, but if you want something dependable that will handle the most savage of alpine descents then you won’t be disappointed here. You get a wide choice of colours and the stack height is really low at just 31mm meaning you can run your bars low if you like. The 50mm reach is just about perfect for all-mountain and enduro riding too.
Clever, stylish and very stiff would be one way to describe the Defy 35 stem, and the more I look at it the more beautiful I think it is. The finish is stunning and the CNC work is impeccable.
Weight: 236g
Material: CNC 6061 Aluminium
Length: 50mm
Rise: 5mm
Stack Height 31mm
Clamp: 35mm
This review was in Issue 31 of IMB.
For more information visit DMR BikesRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou Chater is the Publishing Editor of IMB Magazine; he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but his passion for bikes knows no bounds. His first mountain bike was a Trek 820, which he bought in 1990. It didn’t take him long to earn himself a trip to the hospital on it, and he’s never looked back since. These days he’s keeping it rubber side down, riding locally and overseas as much as possible.