Deity Intake Direct Mount Stem: Product Review

If you are putting together a downhill bike with a dual crown fork, finding the right direct mount stem is the perfect way to finish off your build. There are plenty of high quality stems out there from brands like Deity, Renthal, RaceFace, and Truvativ to name a few. We think Deity is a pretty rad company and so we had Max Morgan write up a review on the Deity Intake Direct Mount Stem that he rides on his Santa Cruz V10. To learn more about the man behind Deity Components, listen to Vital MTB's Inside The Line Podcast with Eric Davies!

Stem Specifications

Deity Components introduced a completely new lineup of premium products in 2017 with all new handlebars, grips, stems, saddles, and seat posts. The Deity Intake Direct Mount Stem uses high level machining, a strong three piece design, and streamline looks. 

• Featuring a 50mm reach
• Zero degree rise to keep you low and in control
• CNC Machined from a solid piece of aluminum
• Boxxer standard bolt pattern
• 7075 T73 Aluminum
• 31.8mm and 35mm handlebar clamp diameter available
• 69mm wide clamping platform
• Available in 7 color configurations: Black with stealth, white, red, green, blue, or orange graphics. Also available in platinum ano color.
• Covered by Limited Lifetime Warranty and Lifetime Crash Replacement Policy
• Weight: 146 grams

The Setup

I've got the Intake direct mount stem mounted up on my Santa Cruz V10 downhill bike. The stem is paired with Deity Blacklabel handlebars that are cut down to 780mm wide and feature a 25mm rise. Deity of course provides all of the appropriate hardware to mount the stem to the top crown. I raced this particular setup all season at each of the world cup rounds. 

The bike is outfitted with Fox suspension front and rear, a Fox 40 Grip 2 up front and a Fox DHX2 coil shock in the back. This V10 is finished off with Industry Nine Grade 300 wheels, Maxxis DHR II DH casing tubeless tires, and Flat Tire Defender Foam Inserts. 

• 2018 Santa Cruz V10, size XL
• Deity Intake DM 50mm Stem, Deity Blacklabel Handlebars 780 x 25, Deity Knuckleduster grips
• Fox 40 Grip 2 fork, Fox DHX2 rear shock with 525lb Fox SLS Spring
• Industry Nine Grade 300 wheels, Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxGrip TR DH Casing tires, and Flat Tire Defender Elite Foam Inserts
• TRP G-Spec Quadiem Brakes paired with Galfer Disc Wave rotors and Galfer Performance brake pads

Installation and Initial Impressions

Installing the Deity Intake stem was a piece of cake. The three piece design allows you to bolt the stem on to the crown before setting the handlebars on. Compared to other designs, like what you would see on the Renthal Integra and RaceFace direct mount stems where you have no choice but to slide the stem down the length of the handlebar, the Deity design seems a little more intuitive and keeps you from potentially scratching your fancy new handlebars. 

The hardware from Deity came with light thread locker on the threads which was nice to see. The head of the stem bolts are deep enough that when installing the stem, you aren't really worried about stripping out bolts like on some others out there. Once the handlebars were mounted on the stem, the decals on the Blacklabel bar were handy for getting the bars centered and rolled to where they felt comfortable. 

The fit and finish of the stem just looks and feels like it's a premium product. The level of detail in the machining is what you would expect out of a high price point stem. Overall, I have been impressed with how the stem fits on the bike. Maybe that should go without saying but there were no surprises when mounting up Deity's Intake direct mount stem. 

Riding and Performance

I rode the same Intake stem on my Santa Cruz V10 across all of the 2018 season, from the first race of the year at the Windrock Pro GRT to the Pan American Championships. While riding, this stem gives a strong and stable feel through the handlebars, exactly what you would hope for when riding a downhill bike. There are plenty of parts on the bike that you do want to be compliant to help absorb some of the impacts out on the trail. For example, the tires, the wheels, and the handlebars all give some compliance, but the stem should not. 

I never had any issues with any of the stem bolts working their way loose, either on the crown or on the handlebar. When torqued properly, the handlebar never rolled or wanted to move around in the stem. You may have also noticed that I am running a Deity Hi-Life stem riser that raises the height of the stem. Raising your handlebars helps keep your body positioning in the correct spot when you are riding very steep trails. Deity offers their stem riser in 2.5mm and 5mm versions, and I am using the 5mm version here. Longer stem hardware is also provided from Deity with the stem spacer.

What's The Bottom Line?

How much can you really say about a stem? There haven't been any surprises with either installing or riding the Deity Intake direct mount stem. Seamless installation, the high level of machining and attention to detail, and streamlined styling makes this stem a premium product. The Intake stem fits in to the theme across the entire Deity lineup of products, and in my opinion looks sharp. Most importantly, the stem is strong and has lasted the test of time. It gives you a strong and sturdy feel when riding even in the roughest terrain. The graphics on the side of the stem are durable and haven't faded or chipped off at all. What more can you ask for?

To learn more what we think about all things Deity, check out more of our Deity product reviews.

About Me

Max Morgan is 26 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 8 years, competing in the UCI World Cup series and U.S. Pro GRT series. To learn more about Max, check out Max's rider spotlight here! 
Instagram: @mxmorgan77