A BMX stem can be installed on a dirt jumper but can only be used with handlebars that have a 22.2mm clamp-on diameter.
Requirements For Installing a BMX Stem On a Dirt Jumper
22.2mm Handlebar Diameter
BMX stems are designed for handlebars that have a 22.2mm diameter at the clamping area.
However, most MTBs and dirt jumpers use riser handlebars with 25.4mm, 31.8mm, and 35mm diameters.
If you have one of those, you will have to replace them with 22.2mm risers. Given that quality handlebars aren’t cheap, it could be more cost-effective to buy an MTB/dirt jumper stem instead.
The smaller diameter of 22.2mm bars is why most are made of Chromoly steel instead of aluminum or carbon.
Why?
Tubes with smaller circumferences are weaker when all parameters (material, build quality…etc.) are equal. For example, 22.2mm handlebars will be much weaker than 31.8mm bars when both are the same thickness and made of the same material.
Since steel is much denser than aluminum and has a higher tensile strength, it’s possible to manufacture very strong steel tubing that’s fairly small in circumference.
For aluminum tubing to match that strength, its diameter will have to be greater. For the same reason, aluminum frames are much wider in diameter than steel.
The downside?
22.2mm bars add extra weight, although it’s questionable to what degree that matters. After all, in the world of dirt jumpers strength is more important than weight.
Below is a table containing many 22.2mm handlebars and their weight.
| Bar | Material | Crossbar | Weight In Grams | Weight In Oz |
| NS District | Chromoly Steel | No | 550g | 19.40oz |
| DMR Wingbar | Chromoly Steel | Yes | 700g | 24.69oz |
| Nemesis Project | Chromoly Steel | No | 655g | 23.07oz |
| Gusset 3″ Open Prison 750 Bars | Chromoly Steel | No | 580g | 23.07oz |
| Gusset 2″ Open Prison 750 Bars | Chromoly Steel | No | 560g | 19.75oz |
| CTN Eastwood Bar | Chromoly Steel | No | 590g | 20.81oz |
| Atomlab GI Riser Bar | Chromoly Steel | No | 590g | 20.81oz |
| Renthal Jump Bar | 7010 T6 Aluminium Alloy | No | 380g | 13.40oz |
| Black Market Molly Hatchet Bars | Chromoly Steel | No | 455g | 16.05oz |
| Dartmoor Toxic v.2 | Chromoly Steel | No | 415g | 14.64oz |
| Fireeye FIRE BAR | Chromoly Steel | Yes | 790g | 27.87oz |
| Surly Sunrise | Chromoly Steel | Yes | 778g | 27.43oz |
| Norther Cycles Custom Steel Sweepy Riser Bar | Chromoly Steel | No | 485g | 17.11oz |
| Fairdale MX 28″ Handlebar | Chromoly Steel | Yes | 453g | 15.98oz |
| Dobermann Bikes | Chromoly Steel | No | 645g | 22.75oz |
| Average: | Average: | 575g | 20.28 oz |
Conclusion: The average weight of 22.2mm risers is about 575g or 20.28oz.
| Bar | Material | Crossbar | Weight In Grams | Weight In Oz |
| Spank Spoon Bar | Aluminum | No | 400g | 14.1oz |
| Spank Spike 800 | MGR Super 6 Alloy | No | 350g | 12.35oz |
| Truvativ Hussefelt Comp DJ | Aluminum 6061 | No | 348g | 12.28oz |
| NS Proof | AL7050-T6 | No | 373g | 13.12oz |
| Chromag 35 OSX | 7000 Series Alloy | No | 312g | 11.05oz |
| Spank Spike 35 | Zirconium Doped 7-Series Alloy | No | 335g | 11.08oz |
| Truvativ Descendant | Aluminum 7050 | No | 330g | 11.6oz |
| Average: | 349.71g | 12.34oz |
Conclusion: The average weight of aluminum dirt jump handlebars is approximately 349.71g or 39.15% less than that of steel models. The difference is pretty large in percentages but when it comes to performance, it’s negligible.
The fork clamp diameter should match the diameter of the fork’s steerer tube.
Most dirt jumper bikes have suspension forks with a steerer that’s either 1 1/8″ from top to bottom or tapers from 1 1/8″ to 1 1/2″.
In both cases, a standard BMX stem would work because it has a fork clamp diameter of 1 1/8″.
The Advantages of Running a BMX Stem On a Dirt Jumper
- Appearance
The main motivation to use BMX stems on non-BMX bikes is appearance. Some people put them on MTBs and fixies to gain style points for uniqueness.
- Compatibility with BMX Bars
Another incentive to install a BMX stem on a dirt jumper would be the ability to use standard and low-rise BMX handlebars.
BMX bars have three major advantages:
- Looks
- High rise that standard bars can’t match (good for taller people in some cases)
- Strength
That said, the extra strength comes with extra weight. The average weight of a BMX bar is about 800-900 grams. This is 61% more than what an aluminum dirt jumper bar weighs. At this point, the weight starts to climb up a lot.
The Disadvantages of Installing a BMX Stem On a Dirt Jumper
Fewer Handlebar Choices
A BMX stem restricts you to bars with a 22.2mm clamp area. And while there’s a decent number of them on the market, the volume is nowhere near close to that of dedicated 25.4mm and 31.8mm MTB bars.
That said, if you count the dedicated BMX handlebars, the number of options increases greatly. But as already mentioned, those add an appreciable amount of weight.
Heavy Bars
Most 22.2mm handlebars are made of Chromoly and some have a crossbar/brace for extra support. The material and the construction add extra weight.
Heavy Stems
BMX stems tend to be heavier than what we find on MTBs and dirt jumpers.
The table below contains the weight of popular BMX stems.
| Model | Weight In Grams | Weight In Ounces |
| Sunday Freeze | 298g | 10.51oz |
| Odyssey Nord | 354g | 12.49oz |
| BSD Dropped | 320g | 11.29oz |
| United Purge | 382g | 13.47oz |
| Fit High Top V2 | 344g | 12.13oz |
| BSD Levelled | 320g | 11.29oz |
| Cinema Martinez | 286g | 10.10oz |
| Animal Inverse Stem | 382g | 13.47oz |
| Profile Acoustic | 272g | 9.60oz |
| Fly Volcano 2 | 281g | 9.92oz |
| Average: | 323.9g | 11.393oz |
The table below contains the weight of popular MTB stems.
| Model | Weight In Grams | Weight In Ounces |
| Thomson Elite X4 Stem | 165g | 5.82oz |
| Renthal Apex Stem | 146g | 5.15oz |
| NEWMEN Evolution 318.4 | 167g | 5.89oz |
| LEVELNINE Team AM Stealth 35 Stem | 135g | 4.76oz |
| Hope FR/AM 31.8 | 134g | 4.73oz |
| Syntace MegaForce3 | 97g | 3.42oz |
| Race Face Chester 35 Stem | 170g | 6.00oz |
| Race Face Turbine 35 | 150g | 5.29oz |
| Chromag HIFI V2 | 200g | 7.05oz |
| Chromag BZA 35 Stem | 165g | 5.82oz |
| Average: | 152.9g | 5.39oz |
Conclusion: MTB/dirt jump stems are two times lighter than BMX stems.
Thus, it’s safe to say that the biggest downside of using a BMX stem, and potentially BMX handlebars, on a dirt jumper is the added weight to the bike.
In extreme cases, the stem and the bars will add 500-600 grams.
Are BMX Stems Stronger?
Ultimately, it depends on the model. Both dirt jump and BMX stems are strong enough to handle the stress that a stunt bike faces.
Summary: What You Need To Know
A BMX stem can be installed on a dirt jumper only when the handlebars have a 22.2mm clamp area.
22.2mm MTB/dirt jump bars are made out of steel and are therefore thinner and heavier.
On average, BMX stems are two times heavier than MTB/dirt jump models.
A classic MTB/dirt stem is plenty strong and allows you to choose between more handlebar models that are also a lot lighter than the 22.2mm options.
The only incentives to use a BMX stem on a dirt jumper are looks and the ability to combine them with high or low BMX bars.
