Posted on August 17, 2022 by Cory Benson

BMC quietly combined aero integration and gravel comfort this summer with their new ICS MTT suspension stem, just after they dropped the new Roadmachine AMP. If it looks familiar to you, then you’ve been paying attention, because it is essentially the exact same proven Redshift ShockStop stem tech, combined with a BMC faceplate and tidy, semi-integrated cable routing to clean up your cockpit.

c. BMC, photo by Jérémie Reuiller

Look, the ShockStop suspension stem concept isn’t new. When reimagined by Redshift in 2015 it was already an idea we’d ridden for over twenty years. But Redshift did it better, and it seems to make a lot more sense on all-road & gravel bikes than it ever did for serious mountain biking. When we reviewed it two years later, we were pleasantly surprised at how good it is.

But now everyone has gone aero and cables have been integrated – with BMC leading the charge – so they decided to work together to make an even more-modern gravel suspension stem.

BMC’s gravel suspension stem take the names of two of their existing technologies – Integrated Cockpit System (ICS) & Micro Travel Technology (MTT). Thus, the BMC ICS MTT suspension stem combines adaptable compatibility with integrated cockpits and up to 20mm of elastomer travel at the bar to complement the 10mm of MTT elastomer travel in the back of the URS or also the 20mm of coil-sprung HiRide front suspension of the URS LT gravel bikes.

What’s really new is the way the BMC stem tucks cables out of the way inside an integrated cover just below the stem body, and then directs those cables inside the steerer tube or frame via custom steerer spacers that seamlessly transition into the headset’s upper bearing cover. All that while allowing for split spacers to adjust stem height as needed and using a conventional bar to ensure hand position adjustability.

More comfort for longer rides over rougher terrain, in addition to the benefits of lower-pressure, high-volume tires.

Developed together with Redshift, you get the same tunable ride feel with two of 5 different interchangeable elastomers inserted into the stem to suit rider weight or riding style preference.

BMC’s solution though is a bit wider and boxier for improved stiffness, spins on wide-set sealed bearings, and also includes BMC’s integrated faceplate GPS/GoPro out front mount.

The ICS MTT stem is available in just one 0° angle that cannot be flipped like the Redshift stem, and in five sizes – 72, 80, 90, 100 & 110mm – with a claimed weight of 330g (80mm) including the routing covers.

The BMC ICS MTT suspension stem x Redshift is first available as an OEM option on their latest URS 01 carbon gravel bikes ranging from 8-11,000€. But it also is available separately through your local BMC dealer for 250€ in five different stem lengths, as well as directly online in the near future.

The trick now is that BMC only is currently offering the lower headset transition spacer to fit their URS, Roadmachine X & Alpenchallenge AMP bikes & ebikes. You could theoretically fit it on any other bike with integrated internal cable routing and a 1.125″ upper steerer tube, but you would likely have to 3D print your own custom spacer for that same seamless transition.

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking on and off for over 25 years, since before several of these even had names in our industry.

Prior to that (and at times, concurrently), Cory worked as an Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, a IBD bike shop designer & consultant, an independent product designer, a bike shop mechanic, and a mountain biking instructor.

Based in the Czech Republic for over 15 years, Cory spends much of his time traveling around Europe, riding bikes, and meeting directly with many of cycling’s key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next. A technical off-road rider at heart since the 1990s, Cory’s cycling has evolved to cover everything from the wide range of riding aero road bikes on dirt roads to thrashing enduro bikes in the European bikeparks & trail centers, with plenty of XC, CX & gravel in between.

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What a huge amount of hassle, just so you can hide your cables! Get over it.

Neatest implementation yet of Redshift’s ShockStop stem. This is pretty much the one to get if you absolutely insist on zero visible cables around your handlebars.

Nice that they’ve modernized the design this way but I’m still partial to exposed cabling.

BMC: The Specialized of Europe

actually, the face place is looks like PRO Vibe, have there any patent issue ?

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