How to Remove a Direct-Connect Stem

Your bicycle stem serves a basic but essential purpose -- to connect the handlebar to the fork steerer. Because of the stem, the handlebar and fork steerer turn in unison providing the bicycle direction as desired. Among various designs of stem, direct-connect stems clamp directly around the fork steerer. Whether swapping one stem for another, or simply adjusting the height of the handlebars, learning to remove the stem is a crucial step for these procedures.

Instructions

    • 1

      Straddle the front wheel so that you face the bicycle. Note the bolts at the head of the stem. There may be two bolts, or there may be four. These bolts attach the handlebar to the stem.

    • 2

      Use a 4-mm Allen wrench and remove these bolts. Remove the clamp plate the bolts hold in place.

    • 3

      Set the handlebar to the side. Note the handlebar remain attached to the bicycle by its brake and shifter cables.

    • 4

      Straddle the bicycle's top tube so that you face the handlebar. Note the single bolt through the top center of the fork steerer.

    • 5

      Use a 5-mm Allen wrench to remove this single bolt. Place the bolt aside and remove the cap at the top of the fork steerer.

    • 6

      Note the two bolts on the side of the stem, where the stem attaches to the fork steerer.

    • 7

      Grab your 4-mm Allen wrench. Use the wrench to remove these two bolts.

    • 8

      Lift the stem up and away from the fork steerer.