1988-1991 GT BMX vs Freestyle Stem

The 1988 GT Racing VS Freestyle stem. There were two different stems in 1988 through 1991. The BMX racing stem and the freestyle stem. The freestyle stem uses a hollow stem bolt at 11mm diameter and a wedge common to the stem bolt. The racing version used a 7mm solid stem bolt that did not have the provision for the brake cable to pass through or the Potts Mod. The stem caps were also different in the freestyle version had a notch cast in for the brake cable to clear when a rotor was equipped like on the Vertigo ST/Vertigo. The top section was drilled and tapped for a brake adjuster to thread in. The race versions had just the dimple in this spot but no threads. The race version cap has no notch.
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[@corrioliseffect]

My ‘88 Pro Freestyle Tour came with this new inverted stem, and I never liked it. First of all, I thought the bike came with the wrong stem due to what’s pictured in the ‘88 catalog. Second, I had recently had my ‘87 Pro Performer stolen, and I was longing for my block stem. Third, although I weighed only 90 lbs when I was 14, I still managed to bend the shaft. In ‘92 I finally found an original 1985 stamped freestyle version of the block stem in white at a bike shop, and begged my mom to buy it for me. I believe it was $35. I had that stem installed and it’s still in place today. 👍

[@monkist]

Oh yes. You are one walking comprehensive GT encyclopedia, hats off! This should be my Christmas present, thank you!

[@peterjensen6336]

You’re right, one thing I still remember to this day was how my goose neck on my 88 blue performer would slip no matter how much we tightened it, and my sole goal was riding wheelies 😂

[@jamesgallagher1992]

Great video as usual dude🤘🤘

[@Fro_20]

Great video. Great info.

[@andrewjphillips]

Love the video man keep up the good work. Maybe do one on all the gt hubs

[@oldguyBMX]

My 1992 dyno compe survivor has this stem. My bike is a blue and white.

[@MorbidThrasher666]

You should make a video on the gen 1 and gen 2 fork and framestanders for those who dont know. maybe do the ame bubble font grips and double bubble.

[@nicholasbuttery511]

I have the white freestyle stem with the notch but the bottom plate is polished raw , Everything else is the same but i think the plastic hollow bolt cover used to snap because owners did not realise you can slide it out after you have removed the front brake cable so used to pick at it causing slits to develop.

[@atrains]

Nicholas buttery yes you are correct. The reaction washer has grooves in it to attach the plastic cap and keep it from “popping” off. I have seen more of the black caps intact than the white ones. I wonder if the color was affected by UV light more. It was definitely a strange stem for GT. The very first time I saw Kevin Jones riding his ‘88 using a Race stem (5 dimple) I knew GT had made a mistake with this stem. I am shocked that they made two different caps for these stems. You would think to save money just case the “freestyle” cap with the notch. It’s not like you can see it unless the bike is upside down. Odd times back then.

[@MorbidThrasher666]

Nice knowledge bro for those who dont know and yes mallet for life My 91 performer didnt have the notch in the bottom piece and also no hole in the top and it came that way from og owner i got it from back in 2008. It has the right stem bolt with hole in it of course. Its random i guess,just like so many inconsistencies BITD. I sold my extra mallet stem last week ironically,im cutting the fat over here,lol

[@naturalaspired]

Thank you

[@justinnoga947]

Why did some have silver bottoms? And when did they start dating these ? Some later ones ive seen with dates. Also my nos freestyle didnt have a notch on the bottom - crazy

[@tg242ovlov]

Strange, I have a survivor all original 1988 Performer with a race version stem with a factory Potts mod.

[@atrains]

Not strange at all. GT was building hundreds of thousands of bikes each year between, GT, Dyno, Robinson, Auburn, Powerlite so it makes sense that a race stem modified for freestyle would be on your bike.

[@miketurner4610]

Thanks for sharing. I had to put some layers of grip tape inside the channels to keep the bars from slipping. I also used a piece of copper tubing in there to hold bars tight. I never did crack mine, but I kept my stem high because I was tallish and did bend the quill forward and slightly to the left from so many ramp fails. Does "gooseneck" refer to a particular brand of stem? I recall calling them all that name back then?

[@atrains]

I think the gooseneck just referred to a generic name for a stem with that design. Grip tape makes sense. I’ve seen guys drill and tap screws in the stem to keep the bars from moving.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Who's making repro plastic caps for these? I have a nice polished GT stem like this that I'd love to complete.

[@atrains]

@RSTR0RV3 there was a person on Evilbay making them but I don’t think he advertises them anymore. He made videos on YT so you should try and reach out to him directly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIWtoGhpiqiji9Usi=StJ8GLOtGckXD9wP

[@R3TR0R4V3]

@@atrains right on, thanks brother!

[@Junior-fd8ux]

I have to find one for my 91. Iv got the mallet and want to make it correct

[@atrains]

bmxmuseum.com/forsale/618461 They are out there.

[@mikegazanchyan2423]

Couldn’t stand the look of it, swapped it out for a OG white ‘86 stamped mallet

[@atrains]

That’s what a few people did. Either that or they threw on the 1990 PFTTM and Aggressor stem which I think was basically a race stem in design. Top load instead of bottom load. Thanks for watching and commenting!