Cutting the headtube on a Softride?

[jeremyb]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w289/plasticorange/P1050120.jpg

So I have this Softride TT/Tri bike I just bought used and I want to cut the headtube down because I think it looks ridiculous.

My idea is to cut down about 1/2" to 3/4" inch.

What I am thinking is to obviously remove the fork/stem etc. Place two steel hose clamps where I want to cut the headtube and space them about1-2mm apart to act as a saw guide.

Cut with a hacksaw, deburr the cut and then reinstall the headset. I'm not concerned about the paint because I am contemplating a repaint anyhow.

My question is does this make sense? Will I need to ream or bore or face the newly cut headtube?

I'm looking for the green light that this plan will work.

Thanks
Jeremy

[gregned]

dont forget to get the head tube faced

[maddog17]

what's the reason to cut it down? is it to get a lower position or is it because you dont like the looks of it? is it possible that cutting it down that much may cause the weld on the ht and tt to fail? probably wouldn't but it's just something that i see as a possibility.

[jeremyb]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w289/plasticorange/cutHT.jpg


I would cut it here, I dont think it will affect the welds. Its to both get lower and make the bike look more proportional.

Thanks,

[Nessism]

Check to see how much threaded area you have on the fork. It could be threaded down further if you don't have much there but this tears up the die and many shops won't do this kind of work for you. Other than the fork threads, cut away. It's mandatory to have the head tube machined afterward.

[jeremyb]

I'm switching to a threadless fork.

I will take it to get faced after I cut it. How much should this cost and is it something my LBS could do?

thanks
J

[thedips]

i also believe that you would be fine cutting that little portion off that you suggested.. i would be careful around that weld area if anything.. however should be fine... +1 on getting the area refaced

[zonatandem]

Your stem can go down some more. Why cut a headtube . . . just for looks?
Should've bought a smaller size frame!

[invisible]

also make sure that the nonbutted part of the headtube is at least and inch and a half or so. this way, after the cut is made, there will still me enough of the thick area left for the headset cup to make full contact with the inside of the head tube. probably not an issue as the weld is so far down, but it pays to make sure

[superhotbug]

take the fork out and inspect it to see if the dia. that the headset is pressed into goes down past the area you want to cut. It probably is a smaller dia. about an inch down, just a guess.

[thatcher]

you can cut it man. just get it reamed n faced afterwards. there is no reason you cant.

[Live Wire]

The best part about this thread is that you want to cut the headtube because your SOFTRIDE looks ridiculous...I don't know brother, might have to cut more than the headtube to fix that problem ;)

[AllenG]

Had to goggle it up.

http://www.bicycletrader.com/images/PowerWing.jpg

[rodar y rodar]

Goodness Gracious!!! Yeah, that ought to look much better with a shorter headtube. Well, whatever gets you through the night s`allright.