Redshift Sports ShockStop PRO Stem review

Just in case further proof was needed that gravel biking is '80's mountain biking ...

Bit pointless buying the expensive one and then complaining it's too expensive - the cheaper variant has exactly the same damping, but just weighs a few grams more...

They are excellent though.

Has it been 10 years already?

Someone seems to invent the suspension stem once a decade and then it instantly fades away, only to be unearthed and brought to market by some intrepid soul years later.

It's the circle of life.

Has it been 10 years already?

Someone seems to invent the suspension stem once a decade and then it instantly fades away, only to be unearthed and brought to market by some intrepid soul years later.

It’s the circle of life.

This isn't new. The redshift stem has been around a good few years. Even this lightweight one has been around a while.

Agree with Footflaps - they are good if you can handle a small weight penalty.

“Subspension”…. Sub-suspension, flex, microsus, wangers and twangers… softail, soft nose and softies are a future.

says the guy with a quiver of thud busters, a lauf fork and bendy Wendy stuff.

Got the older, original, heavier non-'Pro' one back in 2019 and love it -  it's unassumingly just there and I haven't had arm pump in ages (maybe because of it or not). The increased comfort for me trumps any weight penalty it may incur.

Also, it was Han who said the quote about the party afaik ...

@danieljohnreynolds

You are spot on......my apologies. I shall hang my head in shame.

Cheers

Sanny

Just in case further proof was needed that gravel biking is ’80’s mountain biking …

That didn't take long.....apart from the general consensus it's a 90s MTB, well done 👍

Has it been 10 years already?

Someone seems to invent the suspension stem once a decade and then it instantly fades away, only to be unearthed and brought to market by some intrepid soul years later.

It’s the circle of life.

Just out of interest do you assume all reviews imply that the product is a new invention?

Back to the stem...

I'm interested in one of these after having a go on a Spesh Diverge. Do you get used to the bars rotating forward (mainly in the hoods whilst off road)?

I’ve got a Redshift stem on my Topstone, and bar rotation was a concern of mine.

I can honestly say I’ve never noticed it at all, whether on the drops or the hoods.

I noticed it very slightly at first, but nowhere near enough to bother me.

I like mine a lot. I have one of those Ergon slightly bendy seatposts as well so I claim that my gravel bike is a full-sus.

@burchy1

It is one of those things that you probably consider when you are contemplating buying one but for me at least, it is a complete non issue. I never considered it until you raised it here.

Cheers

Sanny

ive had one on my hook extc for a few yrs. got it 25% off on Black Friday. it's the "heavy" non pro version and its been great. just takes the sting out a bit and takes the edge off. you don't notice the weight or any rotation. I do get a bit of judder on really heavy braking but perhaps my elastomer is too soft. not a major issue though. its pretty much fit and forget, it looks like a normal stem and nobody who doesn't know it's there ever notices it.

I've got one of these on my gravel bike. Like it a lot, only downside I've noticed is it nose diving under heavy braking. This is exacerbated if it's on rough ground, can be a bit weird.

I’m interested in one of these after having a go on a Spesh Diverge. Do you get used to the bars rotating forward (mainly in the hoods whilst off road)?

I have both, can't tell the difference between them.

Although I've not tried sticking the redshift on top of the Diverge head shock thing....

I much prefer the design of the Redshift though, the front end of the Diverge is very high as the shock takes up loads of space, plus their headset tension thing is a PITA and seems to keep working loose. Redshift is a really nice piece of kit and you can use it on any bike.

Do they move much? Or do they just help dampen the high frequency bumps?

I'd be tempted by one if they were unnoticeable other than making riding rough summer trails less jarring. I rode my brother Girvin flex stem in the (late) 80's and it was not great.

Do they move much? Or do they just help dampen the high frequency bumps?

Personally I don't really notice it moving at all, but it does an amazing job protecting your wrists / hands. It seems to move enough to absorb the jolt of the impact, but not the whole movement, so the front end still moves up and down with the terrain, but without battering the rider.

IMO they work way better than you'd expect for 20mm (IIRC) movement.

I rave about them and have generated loads of sales for them, everyone I know now has one on their gravel bikes!

I rode my brother Girvin flex stem in the (late) 80’s and it was not great.

Things have moved on a bit in the last 35 years or so. My brother had one as well....

After reading the above comments (and the review), I think I'll not bother as I tend to use my cx bike for only shorter fast rides, mostly in the filth. I can definitely see a benefit if you're doing longer rides on rough roads and trails where comfort is the priority, but I'd rather ride a mtb for these sorts of rides. Thanks for the the reply footflaps