Integrated Bar-Stem Designs... Love, Hate, or Somewhere in Between??
 

I recently purchased my first bike with an integrated one-piece bar-stem design, a 2024 Trek Madone SLR7. On the whole, I love the way the bike rides, and it fits me very well. However, the one-piece bar-stem design is less than ideal IMO for the simple reason that you cannot rotate the handlebar position. I prefer to position the handlebars so the drops are level with the ground. With the fixed position of the Madone's handlebars the ends of the drops "feel" slightly above level. I will adjust, it's not a deal-breaker by any means; the position is just not my ideal preference. The one-piece design also removes a variable in the overall fit equation, which is never good... so for some people it might be a deal-breaker.

Bike manufacturers IMO should not be designing bikes in a manner that removes options for dialing in the rider's preferred fit.

In short, I don't love 'em, I don't hate 'em. I just don't see this trend towards handlebars with an integrated bar-stem as progress. Thoughts? :foo: :)

I didn't realize that the bars can't be rotated in them. Is that just your particular brand/model of integrated stem or is that common for most all of them?

I tend to be of the thought that I'll avoid them if possible. But that was also a thought I had about disc brakes when I was looking for a new bicycle. That thought got dropped quick, as the offerings for bikes with rim brakes were less than desirable at the time when all else about the bike was considered. I wasn't uncomfortable about the idea of disc brakes on road bikes, I just felt they were overkill for a road bike. My experience with disc brakes so far has been extremely good. However I'm concerned that won't be the same if I get a new bike with integrated bars/stem.

And likely when looking for my next bike in a year or two, I'll still be looking at models with higher tier components and frame build. I imagine that all the upper end models have integrated bar/stem on them and I'll have to capitulate and accept them. Or settle for a lower tier bike.

The Madone bar and stem are literally one continuous unit with no separation, so it is what it is and that's all it is (and will ever be :))... same goes for all other integrated bar-stem configurations (AFAIK).

Even in the photo it looks like the drops curl up slightly. Not sure why Trek went this route :foo:. It just strikes me as "less neutral" compared to placing the bottom of the drops more parallel with the ground.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee74f5f5ac.jpg

An integrated bar/stem is one piece. There is no rotational adjustment of the bar independent of the stem. This is typical for an integrated setup.

I have an integrated bar (PRO Stealth Evo) on my newest road bike. I like it fine. It replaced a FSA integrated bar that was on the bike when I bought it because the dimensions weren't right for me. I have separate pieces on my gravel bike and MTB. I would put an integrated on my MTB without hesitation. I REALLY love the bar that I have on my gravel bike right now, and don't want to give that up.

An argument can certainly be made that an integrated bar's lack of rotational adjustability is a step backwards.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a586e0483.jpeg

Gary Klein says hello

I simply won't. I am no longer young and adaptable. In fact, handlebar rotation, brake lever location and handlebar position (ie stem length and/or height changes fairly regularly as I juggle old hand injuries, both chronic and from accidents.

I like my integrated now, but it won't be long until I'm with @79pmooney. The lack of adjustment is negative and non-trivial.

After several rides on the new Madone, I'm adjusting to the integrated bar-stem. It's starting to feel pretty normal. The overall fit of the bike is really good, so any complaints about the cockpit and front-end setup are quite miner.

I like the aesthetic of them, especially with internally-routed cables. That being said...the lack of adjustability is a real turn-off for me. I generally know what I'm looking for in frame geo/numbers, so if I could spec the stem length before I bought it, I wouldn't have an issue with an integrated bar/stem. I'm partial to Canyon, but this isn't an option for them ATM. A new bar/stem is $400 and likely to be out of stock.

I also do not understand why bicycle manufacturers don't allow the rider to select the bar-stem at the time of order. When you force the rider to commit to such a rigid design that has zero adjustability they should provide some reasonable choices prior to purchase. As you correctly point out, these are not inexpensive parts to swap out.

I'm not sure if the trend with these integrated bar-stem combos will last. Yes, they are aero. Aesthetically, they are pleasing to the eye because of the clean, streamlined design. However, lack of adjustability and the added difficulty they create for basic maintenance may outweigh the benefits for many riders. The replacement of headset bearings is much more difficult, and many home mechanics don't have the skills or the patience to complete the task.

I use a particular bar width and stem length. When I look at these integrated offerings I rarely see my combo. Thus I really don’t see the point of these except they are pretty. Practical ?, No.

I found my ideal bar/stem combination ten years ago and I'm sticking to it. Even though Pro stopped making it a couple years ago.

I just don't see the benefit of an integrated system, just how many watts are actually being saved with this design? Considering the high cost, most of these seem a few hundred more than a good carbon bar and high end stem, and complete lack of adjustibility, I just don't see their value. It does allow companies like trek to help justify the absurd pricing of their higher end bikes while making everything more expensive to customize the fit.

Well it's no different than the mtb bullmoose bars and integrated stems, my '83 Stumpie Sport came with one. I wasn't fond of it and replaced it. Manufacturers can rationalize it all they wish, that it saves weight, inventory space, bolts, whatever. They are what they are though. I don't buy such bikes I have no worries there. I never liked buying complete bikes as there's always a compromise somewhere that ends up getting replaced, so you just buy more parts anyways.

It's light, aero, sexy, and expensive. And it requires more space because they have to have the combinations in stock.

It should be said that the numbers used to describe bars and stems are pretty variable, and you can really get into trouble with a $400 barstem purchase if you miss how they measured them.

Factors are:
1. Sloped drops vs straight, which gives narrower hoods than drops.
2. Which is a real issue if you go by the drop number but only ride the hoods on your current bar.
3. CTC vs OTO. Outside measured bars are 1-1.5cm narrower than center measure. Companies vary this somewhat unpredicatably.
4. Reach. Stem length is already a little inconsistent between makers, but barstems measure the stem length to a somewhat arbitrary point on the tops. And then bar reach it self is considerably variable. So even if your barstem seems to match your current stem length, how long is the reach on the bar section compared to your current bar? Maybe you actually need a different stem length to end up with the right hood reach. (Assuming the same hood, those vary, too.)
5. Hood angle. Since you can't change bar angle, the only way to have a different hood angle is to rotate the hoods higher on the bar. While many barstems keep an even curve to allow for this, raising or lowering the hoods will dramatically change both lever reach from the drops and reach.


So I would not buy a barstem sight-unseen unless you can return it after mounting.

^ All valid points. High cost, inability to "try before you buy", lack of adjustability, and the added difficulties of installation and maintenance, can be off-putting.

I'm not an "integrated" sort, myself. More an Avoid than hate/love.

Much prefer the ability to adjust via stem and/or bar alterations, as the fit requires.

Based on the response so far, it seems that integrated bar-stems are "less preferred" to put it politely. Yet the bicycle industry is designing many of their high end road bikes with these "devices" :eek:. And we are buying them (myself included) :foo:.

In my particular case, I chose the bike I wanted... and it happened to come with an integrated bar-stem. It's working out well, so I'm keeping the setup as-is. However, if it didn't work out well I would have been out of pocket for the original purchase plus whatever the replacement solution would have cost. I don't see how this is an advantage for the customer.