https://www.danscomp.com/

Re Print: Legendary Products - S&M Slam Bars and Redneck Stem

Legit Influential Classics of the Modern era

21 May 2015

Legenday-sandm-product-title 1

Words by Dave Patterson Originally printed in DIG 90 'The Legends Issue' Sept/Oct 2012

The first Slam Bars rolled out of the S&M factory in Santa Ana, California in 1988. At that time BMX was progressing and evolving at such a fast pace that most bike parts available weren’t able to keep up with what riders were putting them through. S&M answered with the aptly named Slam Bars, which were designed with simplicity and strength taking priority over gimmicks and weight savings.

The Slams quickly soared in popularity both in the racing and the freestyle worlds, and nowadays are widely regarded as the most iconic and copied handlebars in the history of BMX. The chrome bars pictured are the very early ‘Itson’ bar which preceded the (yellow) more widely recognized ‘dancing man’ Slams.

sandm-slambars-chrome 1
sandm-slambars-sticker

The Redneck stem was also developed out of necessity in 1992 at a time when most bikes were still using cold forged quill stems. The body on these would often spin off the shaft without any warning, making getting through a set of trails like a game of Russian Roulette. The original Redneck still used the old style one inch quill style fitting, but the body was CNC machined out of a single block of aluminium and used a front load dropping design allowing for more insertion with the shaft/body. The very first shafted versions had the body heated up and the shaft shrunk in liquid nitrogen before they were pressed together for a tighter fit. Twenty years later the Redneck has been through several cosmetic changes, most notably the transition into the modern day clamp-on style stem that happened with the switch over to the stronger 1 1/8th fork in the late 90’s, but the current re-incarnation still holds true to the no-nonsense 6 bolt principal that is still favoured globally.

sandm-redneck

“I had the first pair of Slam Bars as well as the first Redneck Stem ever made on my bike, and I still use both parts to this day. I like simple functional parts and that’s what they are. Back in the day you could buy bars with a Slurpee holder in the crossbar, or stems with hinged Potts mod linkage built in to them. I didn’t need that stuff back then, and I don’t need a 30” wide bar or a stem that required an owners-manual now.” – Chris Moeller / S&M Owner/Originator

sandm-redneckad

Previous

Welcome To Thee Block

"We both feel strongly about supporting the younger generations of BMX"

Next

Grant Germain - A Cult On Long Island

"I was riding some dumb looking scooter frame at the time. Robbie helped me get rolling right!"

Related Content

hawk-lacey-kennedy-hoder

Re-Print: First Encounters

Recognise these guys? Our earliest photos with some of the best in the game…

2 Oct 2014
Hucker bmx portrait D98 -AW

Re Print: Mike 'Hucker' Clark - Trail Reflections

"they didn't want to watch me ride 'cause I was so sketchy. It kind of bummed me out."

2 Apr 2015
Rich forne roof RA

Re Print: Rooftops... and everywhere down below.

Without doubt, the most difficult article I have ever photographed for DIG...

5 Feb 2015
Cam WOOD BMX SLASH SNWBRM UT ADJ

Re Print: Getting Creative With Cameron Wood

"People can call it what they want. We're not really skiing; we're bike riding"

29 Jan 2015
soundtrack -bmx inferno montage use

Soundtrack - VHS Classics - BMX Inferno

Listen again to a classic BMX video soundtrack that is as eclectic as it is iconic...

1 Mar 2015
https://www.danscomp.com/

Latest Content

N AEO Ou0b3 Qchqdefault
Play Button

Alex Donnachie 'Still the Same' - BSD

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

10 Sep 2024
U Ky6h U Nv Xr Uhqdefault
Play Button

FINALS - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

Sit back and enjoy all the best moments (there's a lot of them!)

9 Sep 2024
3 FRI4 GGF Lk4hqdefault
Play Button
M9 E T Hk Pgzkhqdefault
Play Button

PARK SESSION - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

One word. Ooooft!

8 Sep 2024
C Zl Mtbo Kv C4hqdefault
Play Button

BEST TRICK - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

35 minutes of Best Trick madness

8 Sep 2024
JA Jcsj55 FH Ehqdefault
Play Button

BOH 24 - Finals Livestream

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

8 Sep 2024
Ip Ndqkgx PO Ehqdefault
Play Button

PRACTICE - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

First session in the re-vamped Source Park

7 Sep 2024
C6rca H4p Jb4hqdefault
Play Button
Rail jam boh 24 v2
Play Button

RAIL JAM - BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

Kilian Roth, Nathan Williams, Jordan Godwin & More

7 Sep 2024
Ke1 Z7 Td6 EB Qhqdefault
Play Button
Rnzge IL Fyr Ehqdefault
Play Button

BOH 24 - Best Trick Livestream

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

7 Sep 2024
Wx9by XP4x4hqdefault
Play Button

BOH 24 - Park Session Livestream

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024

7 Sep 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

20240907 BOH 019 perris

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024 - Everything you need to know

Schedule, livestream links, highlights, results & more...

2 Sep 2024
Garrett ss24

SIMPLE SESSION 24 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Highlight videos, schedules, results and more

24 Aug 2024
Volume frames 2

PRODUCTIVITY - NEW VOLUME JASON WATTS & KRIS FOX FRAMES

Certified for roasting - THE SMOKO & THUNDERHOOF

6 Aug 2024
Pete nathan efise 2022

E-FISE WOLVERHAMPTON - FULL 2024 LINE UP ANNOUNCED

E-FISE IS BACK AND EVEN BETTER!

12 Jul 2024
Kink 2025 bikes

PRODUCT DROP - KINK 2025 BIKES

That New New!

12 Jul 2024
DSCF5547

MIKE MASTRONI AND THE STORY BEHIND THE 'TELOMERE' VIDEO

Backstories behind the clips

24 Jun 2024
X Games California 2023 Kevin 2

X Games Ventura 2024: BMX Preview

Who, what, where and when

15 May 2024
Hannah roberts dsc00340

X Games Debuts Women’s BMX Park at Ventura 2024

This year, X Games is adding Women’s BMX Park to the schedule, and Hannah Roberts is leading the charge.

10 May 2024
S1057107 2

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2024 SERIES ANNOUNCED

5 Jams - 5 Countries

25 Apr 2024
Nick wave

IN MEMORY - NICK COOMBES

A true renaissance man in every sense of the word

24 Apr 2024
WTP ECLAT JACKAL FRAME FORK 3

PRODUCTIVITY: WTP/ECLAT JACKAL FRAME & FORK

Did someone say titanium?!

13 Apr 2024
435840693 1414960675891844 3313287078063579831 n

PRODUCT DROP: LEWIS MILLS SIGNATURE VANS 'PEAK'

An all new BMX specific shoe from Vans

10 Apr 2024