If you have been following Project 400EX, or read last month's article on installing the IMS desert tank, you will recall that we ran into a problem with the Acerbis rally guards hitting our new IMS desert tank. While we have been lucky that we have not bent the OEM steering stem, we were ready to go to a new stem with built-in vibration resistant mounts.

We decided to go with a Laeger Racing Cross Country stem with vibration mounts and stock tie rod mounting locations. Mark Laeger has been manafacturing high quality performance ATV parts since 1985. You will find Laeger components on the ATV's of many of the top racers around the country. The Laeger Cross Country stem is designed to be +1 taller and +1 forward with its unique horseshoe design. The stem is made from 1-1/8" o.d. x .065 Moly and comes nickel plated. It is double walled at the clamp area and is gusseted at the stress points. List price is $275.00

Top of Laeger stem and OEM stem with bottom alligned.

Bottom of Laeger stem and OEM stem.

Installation

Stem installation can be done easily with standard tools. Remove the front plastic, start at the bottom and remove tie-rods from the bottom of the stem, then nut from the bottom of the OEM stem. At the top you can remove the plastic covering the top of the stem then unbolt the clamps and set your handlebars back on the tank. Now the only thing left is to remove the steering stem clamp. Remove your stock stem then reverse the procedure. You will want to clean your stem clamp and apply some fresh grease when re-installing the clamp. When everything is back together you will need to adjust the "toe", then you are ready to ride.

The Laeger stem uses a horseshoe design on the top to move the handelbars foward 1 inch. The width of the clamp is approximately the same as OEM.

Tie rod mounting on the new Laeger stem.

Re-attaching the stem clamp around the laeger stem

Stock upper clamps are used. The original plastic cover is discarded.

Summary

The Laeger stem looks to be a very high quality piece. We like the nickel plated finish which is bright and almost chome-like. The finish looks very nice and is very corrosion resistant. The +1 up and +1 forward design provides plenty of clearance for the IMS desert tank and did not raise it too much to make the stock bend Renthal bars uncomfortable. Laeger does not sell retail, so you will need to purchase your Laeger stem from one of the distributors listed below.

Talk about performance upgrades in our ATV discussion board.

Laeger's U.S. Distributors:

CT Racing http://www.ctracing.com
Nac's http://www.nacsracing.com
Baldwin Motorsports http://www.baldwinmotorsports.com
Tony Kellner Motorsports (570) 366-1804
England (U.K.) Distributor: ATV World http://www.atvworld.com

Laeger Racing
42180 Sarah Way
Temecula, CA 92590
Phone: (909)693-9048
Fax: (909)693-9058
Email: info@laegerracing.com