The Defy 35+ is an attractive and mega stiff stem from DMR. Its seriously short stack height allows for a huge range of adjustment and its large 6mm Allen bolts up its durability. Combine all of that with a very tidy finish and you’ve got one of the best mountain bike stems you can buy. But its bombproof build comes with something of a weight penalty.

DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo – Technical specification

This Special Edition version of DMR’s Defy 35 stem comes as part of the brand’s Special Edition Liquid Camo range that also includes the Wingbar MK4 and Vault pedal. Though, the only difference between this stem and the run-of-the-mill Defy 35 is its triple anodized, Liquid Camo finish.

2023 dmr defy35+ stem front.jpg
2023 dmr defy35+ stem front (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
2023 dmr defy35+ stem front.jpg, by Liam Mercer

DMR says that the Defy 35+ stem is ideal for trail and all mountain riding, coming with a very low 27mm stack height and 35mm of reach with 5mm of rise. Then, as its name suggests, there’s a 35mm clamp diameter.

The CNC machined 6061 alloy stem utilizes a top-close clamp design where the upper two bolts meet, and the lower two apply most of the clamping pressure. The faceplate follows a two piece design that’s not too dissimilar from the Renthal Apex35s, where you slide each piece to the middle of the bar before bolting them down.

2023 dmr defy35+ stem top marking.jpg
2023 dmr defy35+ stem top marking (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
2023 dmr defy35+ stem top marking.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Pushing a general theme of durability found all around this stem are the two beefy 6mm Allen steerer clamp bolts. Holding the faceplates in place are four 4mm Allen bolts. DMR claims that the Defy 35+ weighs in at 176g, which is a full seven grams more than what my scales read. Either way, it’s a smidge weightier than many competing stems.

If you’re happy to forgo the Liquid Camo colourway, the Defy35 is available with a 31.8mm clamp diameter and then there’s the Defy50, if you would prefer a 50mm stem length.

DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo – Performance

Fitting the Defy 35+ is as simple as any other stem that uses a top-close clamp design and the large Allen bolts add a heft of confidence when torquing them up. Torque ratings are clearly marked around the stem too, which is certainly appreciated.

2023 dmr defy35+ stem bolt.jpg
2023 dmr defy35+ stem bolt (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
2023 dmr defy35+ stem bolt.jpg, by Liam Mercer

On the bike, one thing Is glaringly clear, and that’s its stiffness. While compact, this stem is pretty wide, and it doesn’t slim down as the bar clamp reaches the steerer. This alone adds stiffness as it keeps the stem from twisting under load. When paired with a chunky 35mm clamp diameter bar, steering is responsive and certain.

While its heft of stiffness is definitely an upside, its very low stack shouldn’t be glossed over. It does mean that you’ll need some spacers spare before fitting, but this allows for a massive range of stack height adjustment. If you’re a rider with a penchant for all things steep, this is a huge benefit, especially when combined with the stem’s 5mm of rise.

2023 dmr defy35+ stem rear.jpg
2023 dmr defy35+ stem rear (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
2023 dmr defy35+ stem rear.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Of course, this stem comes with the smart triple anodized finish, and wow, is it pretty! Granted the camo colour won’t be up everyone’s street but it is definitely durable. This stem has experienced a couple of spills and has sat in a shed with bikes and tools moving about almost constantly and it’s not showing a single sign of wear. If not the colour, everyone will appreciate the level of machining that the Defy 35+ exhibits. Each pass of the machine has resulted in a flawless surface and it’s clearly finished to a very high standard. There are no sharp edges in sight.

DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo – Value and verdict

This Special Edition of the Defy 35+ adds £25 to the price of the standard Defy35’s £60 price tag and for that, you’re getting that cool but awfully durable finish. Though, even then, it’s not too bad a price when its performance and finish is similar to the Renthal Apex35s. The Apex35 is £116, however, but it does weigh considerably less at 125g.

The PNW Components Range Stem Gen 3 is lighter still and it costs £69 but it doesn’t carry the high quality finish of the Defy 35+. The same goes for the e*thirteen Plus 35 at £95.

Then there’s the Nukeproof Horizon stem that costs £70 at the time of writing this review. That one’s lighter, but again it doesn’t feature quite as nice a finish and there’s a lot to be said for the adjustment that the Defy 35+’s low stack has to offer.

Again, if you don’t mind dropping the camo colour, the standard Defy35 will set you back just £60, and that’s incredibly competitive for the performance it offers.

If you’re looking to boost the stiffness of your front end and don’t mind bolting a few extra pounds to your cockpit, the DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo is an excellent choice. It offers a large range of stack adjustment and comes with a seriously high quality level of machining that’s rarely seen on stems in this price range.

You might also like:

Test report DMR Defy 35+ Special Edition Liquid Camo stem review £85.00

Stems

Product purpose: 

DMR says, “Stand out from the crowd with the new Special Edition series from DMR. We’ve taken our much-loved Defy 35+ Stem and enhanced it with a durable Triple Anodised finish. Opt for the Special Edition Wingbar and Vault Pedals to fully drench your bike in liquified camouflage. The DMR Defy 35+ is the perfect Stem for your Trail/All Mountain build. It features a low stack height, Top-Close clamp design with 35mm reach. The Defy 35+ Stem has a wide, 35mm diameter clamping area for handlebar stability and security, combined with a short length, which pairs well with aggressive modern geometry.” And that’s right on the money

Build extra: 

ø35mm clamp.
• CNC 6061 Alloy.
• Top-Close clamp design.
• 27mm Stack height.
• 35mm reach.
• 176g.
• Stem cap included.

Product construction 


Product construction extra: 

Great construction with an excellent finish. Good range of features.

Product performance 


Product performance extra: 

Very stiff and adds direct steering to the bike but it is weightier than many stems.

Product durability 


Product durability extra: 

Big steerer clamp bolts add confidence though the 4mm faceplate bolts are as standard. Finish is durable as it’s not picked up any signs of wear.

Product weight 


Product weight extra: 

Quite a bit weighter than average.

product value 


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Product value extra: 

Offers the performance and features of stems above its price. Though the standard model offers even more bang for buck.

Overall performance: 

Excellent, stiff and easy to fit.

Product likes: 

Stiffness, build quality and low stack.

Product dislikes: 

Weight.

Enjoy: 

Yes

Buy: 

Yes

Recommend: 

Yes

Conclusion: 

A brilliant stem that does exactly what it’s designed to while offer increased stiffness against the competition. Though it’s not as lightweight as many other stems on the market.