Need Help with my Handlebars

[VegasGuy881]

Ok, I'm kinda new to adjusting my bike but i have a problem with my handlebars and/or stem. I tighten my handlebars everytime before i go ride, and whenever i hit a few jumps and bunny hop around a bit they always budge forward or backward. I have taken them down to my local shop several times, but they have never been able to really fix them. My friend and I suggested spraying hairspray on them, wait for it to dry, then put them back on. What do you suggest? Thank you.

[sxe fbm rider]

what bars and stem do you have?

[kjj512]

i was having that problem but not as bad as u but what i did was just take them off and clean them with something thats not goin to leave them greasy and put them back on ... most likely they werent tight enough the 1st time and u shaved alot of metal off the bars and thats y there slipping so when u take them off dont be suprised if theres tons of metal shavings ... this is also a problem alot of people have with there seat post guts

Kevin

[VegasGuy881]

I'm not sure what my stem and handlebars are, but they came stock with my 2002 specialized vegas

[TexasDIRTbmx]

Dude, just buy a new set up my friend had the same problem with his vegas its a flaw in the factory bars and stem, if u take the stem apart to where the handle bars sit in it ull notice that there are no grooves to clamp the bars. No grooves means that the bars dont have nething to conduct friction its basicly like slide a piece of paper on top of a table, it will slow but not enough friction to stop it. buy a totaly new set up save ur self time and frustration.

[sxe fbm rider]

there arent usually grooves onthe stem.. usually justt the bars

[TexasDIRTbmx]

Hmm ive had grooves in most of the stems ive purchased (but then again i havnt purchased one since i replaced the factory gt one)

[Ninshadow]

I think it's just the Vegas stems. My little bro had the same problem. The stems might not be hard enough aluminum. I would think that there should be knurling on the stems. There always have been on my stems. You really need to crank on those handle bar clamp bolts hard. I have heard of people wraping the bars twice with tin-foil and then clamping them down. Never had the problem myself though.

[CMcMahon]

I've owned a GT Piston, a S&M Redneck, a GFR, two Redneck Lites, and a GFR Lite over the years, and none of them has ever been knurled, and the only one that ever had a problem with slipping when clamped down all the way was the GT.

You need to tighten the bolts down in a cross pattern, with a 1/4 turn each time. Top right, top left, bottom right, bottom left, and then repeat, over and over again, until it's nice and tight. Use a long hex wrench or fit a long, skinny pipe over a small one to get more torque.

[jeff williams]

Shim it.
Best is Alu pipe, but it is difficult to find the inside diameter - extending say no less than 1 cm wider than the clamp (why? to avoid sheering by distributing the force) Bla.

If the tube fits over the bar cut in half lenght ways. Grease and insert.
I'm talking 2mm alu.

LBS do this, oldschool but.. if not, you're left up to find something metal, wrap the bar, insert, tighten. I have run thin alu tube shims in headsets I've given heck, but it is important to be done well.

Possibly galvanized sheet metal will work. (G-so it does not rust.)

?? ideas anyway.