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Steerer extender (stem riser) raises bars too high. Should I cut the steering stem?

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Steerer extender (stem riser) raises bars too high. Should I cut the steering stem?

Old 07-30-11, 12:31 PM
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Steerer extender (stem riser) raises bars too high. Should I cut the steering stem?

I have an extender like this: https://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Dim....c0.m270.l1313

The problem is, when I install it on top of the existing spacers, it gets the bars higher than I'd like. However, it looks like if I were to remove those existing spacers, cut the steering stem down, then clamp the new riser on, without any spacers...I'd get the handlebar height I'm envisioning...which was only about an inch or slightly more. Are there any problems in doing this?

Perhaps I'd be better off leaving that area stock and just getting some MTN bike rise bars. The existing are just flat MTN bike bars.

Hmmm.....

Thoughts?
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Old 07-30-11, 01:36 PM
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fishugly: I think you mean "cut the steerer"; the stem is the piece which bolts to it and which holds the bars. Can you remove some spacers and mount the extender properly without cutting the steerer? If your existing stem drops down you could turn it over so it rises up, that would put your bars higher; alternatively you can get a higher-rise stem or an adjustable stem. Higher-rise bars are also a possibility and can be had relatively cheaply.
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Old 07-30-11, 01:39 PM
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Removing spacers AND cutting the steerer tube, in order to be able to fit a steerer tube extender would seem a bit backwards, wouldn't it?
Cutting the steerer is permanent, and you, or the next owner of the bike, may well regret it.
If you're just looking for a little lift, go for another stem and ditch the extender instead. One part less on your bike.
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Old 07-30-11, 01:48 PM
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You only need about an inch?

My first thought would be to get a stem that had a little more rise angle. Be sure to get one that has the right clamp size for your handlebar. Unless you have a pretty radical stem now that will almost surely give you an additional inch.

My second thought would be to buy a bar that has a little rise. The downside to that is a riser bar is also likely to be a couple of inches wider. Between the riser bar and being a little wider, you might have to recable your bike.

I'd think long and hard before cutting the steerer. It's easily done but afterwards it can't be undone.
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Old 07-30-11, 01:56 PM
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The problem with that sort of extender is that you MUST keep and fill the WHOLE socket on the base where it clamps to the existing tube. You can remove all the spacers and then cut down the steer tube to minimize the height.

But really, if all you need is about an inch higher than what you have at present without the extension then your best bet is to shop for a higher rise angle stem which will give you the inch you want without needing to resort to that extender.

Perhaps post up some pictures from various angles of the stem area as it is now without the extender. From that we can suggest if you can raise the bars without needing to resort to the extender.

EDIT-Retro Grouch and I obviously had the same idea. But he types faster...
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Old 07-30-11, 02:01 PM
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Dsbrantjr,

Yes, I meant the steerer. I'm new to bike mechanics and don't know all the correct terminology. Anyway, no, I can not remove the spacers then mount the extender. The extender will only slide onto the steerer as far as the existing spacers are tall. That's why I was wondering about cutting some steerer off...so the extender would drop down more. I don't understand what you mean about turning the existing stem over so it rises up. It's a threadless setup, if that matters.

Dabac,

Yes, I fully admit. It does indeed sound backwards...if not pretty damned dumb. However, I have done the measurements. Cutting the steerer off and adding my new steerer extender would give me the height I'm after. But.......like you said, it's permanent......and I may regret it...and the extender is just another part. I'm here posing the question as I'm not completely confident I'm aware of all the available parts and options. Perhaps some higher rise bars and adjustable stem as Dsbrantjr suggested. This was suggested to me before but the extender seemed like an easy/inexpensive place to start and experiment. The thought just didn't really cross my mind that the extender would get my bars up too high for my liking!

Thanks to both of you for your replies!

Last edited by fishugly; 07-30-11 at 03:14 PM.
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Old 07-30-11, 02:05 PM
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Thanks also to Retro Grouch and BCrider! You both type faster than I!

My current thoughts are now in alignment with everyone's here. I will not cut the steerer.

On the riser bars being wider though, couldn't they be cut off too if need be....assuming there was enough room for the brake/shifter mounts?
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Old 07-30-11, 02:20 PM
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Yes, easily. But try them first. They are seldom all THAT much wider. You may well find that you like the slightly wider feel Especially for torqueing up hills. At my 6'1" height I found that I far and away prefer the wider stance to the narrower flat bars and some of the cheaper stock riser bars.
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Old 07-30-11, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by fishugly
On the riser bars being wider though, couldn't they be cut off too if need be....assuming there was enough room for the brake/shifter mounts?
There-in lies the rub. They have to be wider to provide space for the handgrips, brake lever and shifter outboard of the riser bend.

It's not usually a big deal but it is something that you should be aware of.
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Old 07-30-11, 05:12 PM
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So. the disadvantage of having a wider bar is that I might need longer cables? Anything else? I was also considering bar ends, if that makes a difference in this discussion....

If I did need new/longer cables, what could I expect to spend...roughly?

Here's the bike I have....exactly: https://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeS...tare&Type=bike
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Old 07-30-11, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by fishugly
So. the disadvantage of having a wider bar is that I might need longer cables? Anything else? I was also considering bar ends, if that makes a difference in this discussion
Bar ends with a riser bar usually look goofy.

Because riser bars are wider, they sweep back at a bit more of an angle to keep the ergonomics right. That makes most bar ends point outward.

So far as cable and housing costs, I'm going to guess around $20.00 for parts if you can do the work yourself. I buy that kind of stuff in bulk so my guess might be way off.

Last edited by Retro Grouch; 07-30-11 at 06:46 PM.
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Old 07-30-11, 07:36 PM
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Fishugly do you have a picture of your actual bike??

I foresee back pain after 20 mins.
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Old 07-30-11, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ultraman6970
Fishugly do you have a picture of your actual bike??

I foresee back pain after 20 mins.
It's not "mine" but it's the same exact bike: https://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeS...tare&Type=bike
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