Mountain Biking - Trek 820

I'm a extreme newb to bikes. I know how to ride, air, grease, clean and that's about it! Anyhow, before knowing anything (like this board/searching), my girl bought a trek 820. Not a bad bike and it fits her needs, but the handle bars sit way too high (cruiser style) and I don't know what I need to do to "lay" them down and "push" them out. I want to change this to some quaility parts, but I'm on a budget. So what do I need and what kinda money are we talking? Is this something that is relatively easy to do?

Thanks for the time and help

Picture attached

Nashbar has quality stems for cheap. You will need to remove the stem by removing the handle bars, and loosening the two allen screws on the sides of the stem, at the steerer tube. Then, replace the stem with an after market one, torque the bolts down. If you also want to lower it, remove the spacers under the stem, cut the steerer tube down to accomodate the lowered style.

Looks like its a threaded/quill style - and its down just about all the way... you'll need probably a 1" quill style stem - clamp size 25.6 (that's MTB right?, 26.0 is drop bar standard)... Nashbar aye has cheap stems - just have to figure out what a better size (reach and rise would be)... or if there's a shop around - you could probably find a cheap quill stem there too and get a recomendation on what size to go with... where are you located - might able to find a shop with used parts bin... and have the mate come with you so they see her dimensions to judge what a better stem would be...

To actually do it - loosen the top bolt on the quill which should loosen the stem (might have to smack it a touch with a shoe or something to loosen the wedge)... reckon the face of the stem doesn't come off, so you'll probably need to remove the components off one side of the handlebar to remove the bar from the stem, put in the new stem and put the grip, shifter and brake lever back (not in the order mind you) on... slip the stem back into the steerer/headtube and tighten the top bolt (observing the maximum height restriction on the stem)

Am I missing anything?

My apologies, I wasn't thinking, I thought that it was a newer 820, like mine. Sorry!

So basically get this and a new stem and I'll be set?

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=119&subcategory=1186&brand=&sku=9755&storetype=&estoreid=

Also, where do I measure for 1" or 1 1/8"?

Thanks for the time and help

Well, you don't need the adapter, you can just get a quill stem... uhh.. like: wow, ok the only ones they have are WAY long ... 150's and 160's? I guess you could go with the adapter and a threadless stem... or you could go to the LBS and they probably have a better selection of MTB quill stems... as for 1" or 1 1/8" - a caliper would be the a good way to measure (something the LBS could do)... or eyeball it with a ruler... or... do a google search for the specs maybe... if its a 1 1/8" headset - the lock nut will be 36mm?

It's 1 and 1/8th. I recently put a much better quill stem on my bike. I found it at the bikeshop for 20 bucks. Wayyy better riding position. I could take a picture if you'd like. Also, remember to check the Trek website, as they should list the specifications for the 820 on there, including stem and diameter.

Aloner -
Thanks for the tip. If it's not too much trouble could you shoot a pic for me....?

THanks,again....

So basically get this and a new stem and I'll be set?

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=119&subcategory=1186&brand=&sku=9755&storetype=&estoreid=

Also, where do I measure for 1" or 1 1/8"?

Thanks for the time and help

Yes, that stem adapter (should be able to find it in silver or black) is the ticket. I did that on a 1989 Trek 820 so I could use threadless stems and dial in a better riding position. Just pull the current quilled stem out of the Trek 820 and measure the width. If it is 7/8ths of an inch - then it is the 1" size. If it is larger - then it is the 1 1/8 variety. Picture to me looks like it is the larger variety, but you'll have to measure to determine. If not sure, take the stem into an LBS and they will tell you.

Of course, the other option is to replace the headset to threadless - swap out the steerer tube to a threadless or get an entirely new fork that has a threadless steerer tube. That's getting out of the budget category though and not needed. Just get the right size adapter and choose a threadless stem that will match the riding position desire/need of your daughter.

BB

my wife has the same bike and we went the stem adapter route. 1988>> the shifters and cabling made me hate trek for many years. i suits her just fine though. real nice for easy trail riding.