Product Spotlight: Pride Racing FTL Kids Stem

June 6th, 2025
bmxultra
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Pride Racing’s FTL Kids Stem is a little different to most junior stems. While trend in Australia is to run everything as light as possible and with the weight weenies the 1″ steerer is king, well at least for the groms it is. 1″ steerer is less common in Europe.

The FTL is super light,weighing in at just 172grams, and designed with a 45kg rider weight limit. It’s available in 3 sizes (35, 40 and 45mm reach). The wider (48mm wide) clamping width means great clamping surface = greater clamping power.

It’s definitely worth a look. Check it out.

Manufacturer’s Description

Features

CNC Machined – Lightweight, precise, premium

For 1-1/8” steerer ONLY – Strong, future-proof
17 mm rise – Lower, dynamic position
Lengths: 35 / 40 / 45 mm – Fit for all sizes
48 mm clamping width – Ultra-stable handlebar hold
Weight: 172 g – Super lightweight
Tested and approved by Tom Carbo
For riders up to 99 lbs (45 kg)

Why a specific stem for kids ?

Most stems available on the market are designed for adults — too stiff, too heavy, and too tall. For a child aged 6 to 12, these components are simply oversized and unsuitable. At Pride Racing, we wanted to put young riders back at the heart of product development.

That’s how the FTL Kids was born: a stem designed from scratch to truly meet the needs of young riders.

Designed for kids – Not just a scaled-down version

Unlike others that simply shorten an adult design, we built the FTL Kids stem entirely around the real-world needs of young riders:

Less weight
Less strength than an adult
Need to maintain precision and safety — without being overly stiff

The result: a lighter, lower stem that remains perfectly reliable.

Only for 1 1/8″ steerer tube

Some forks designed for kids still use a 1” steerer tube diameter, but this choice quickly shows its limits:

A 1” steerer is mechanically weaker and less suited to the demands of BMX Race—even for younger riders.

On top of that, most kids’ frames today are built for 1”-1/8 headsets, which makes using a 1” fork more complicated: reducers or conversion headsets are hard to find, sometimes incompatible, and often unreliable.

That’s why the FTL Kids stem uses the 1”-1/8 standard, now essential in modern BMX Race:

Greater strength to support young riders progression
Perfect compatibility with current frames and forks
Simple, hassle-free installation with no need for adapters

A clear choice for a stronger, safer, and more build-friendly stem.

Please note: if your fork has a 1” steerer, the FTL Kids stem is not compatible.

Featherweight – Just 172 g (in 35 mm length)

Machined from a high-quality aluminum block, the FTL Kids is fully CNC.

A lighter cockpit means a more responsive bike — easier to handle, quicker to accelerate, and more fun to ride.

And for a kid, every gram matters!

17 mm rise – Lower and better suited

The FTL Kids features a very low 17 mm rise, helping to lower the cockpit’s center of gravity.

Wide clamping – 48 mm of contact for a rock-solid handlebar grip

A young rider’s safety also depends on a handlebar that stays firmly in place—even during impacts.

That’s why the FTL Kids uses an oversized 48 mm clamping width, well above average.

Keeps the handlebar securely positioned
Less flex, more stability

Weight limit – 99 pounds max

The FTL Kids isn’t just a lightweight adult stem — it’s a stem designed from the ground up for young riders.

Every aspect of its design has been optimized to meet the real-world needs of kids on bikes.

That’s why we recommend it for riders up to 45 kg (99 lbs).

This isn’t about fragility — it’s the ideal performance range to ensure:

Consistent performance
Maximum safety
Excellent durability

It’s also what allows us to deliver a lighter, lower, and better-suited stem — with no compromises.

Field-tested and approved by Tom Carbo

No disconnected lab testing — our products are proven where it matters: on the track.

The FTL Kids has been race-tested by Tom Carbo, a rising talent from the Inspyre Next Gen team, who’s been riding this stem for several months in real-world conditions.