Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Threaded stem question relating to steer length and limit of spacers possible

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Threaded stem question relating to steer length and limit of spacers possible

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-10-14 | 06:42 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 9
From: harrisburg, pennsylvania

Bikes: 1976 Schwinn Super Le Tour, tricked out with modern components. Shimano Alfine 11 internal gear hub. Dynamo hub. Titanium racks and bottle cages. Mercier Kilo Wide Tire dropbar singlespeed

Threaded stem question relating to steer length and limit of spacers possible

On my current setup, I have the super-tall Nitto Technomic stem, because it makes my 51-year-old neck and shoulders feel so much better to put the bars up above the seat. I'm installing a new threaded fork, for a number of reasons, and as a NOS fork, uncut, the steerer is quite a bit longer than the steerer on the current fork. If I leave the new fork uncut, I could put a bunch of spacers into the new threaded headset that I will be installing and then use a stem that is not as tall as the Nitto Technomic, but still achieve the approximate same bar height. I figure the advantage to this is the lightness of alloy spacers compared to the extra length of the tall technomic stem. And I am guessing that the aesthetics might be better with a long steer with spacers instead of a cut steer in a more flush headset with that nerdy-old-man-tall Technomic.

If I go the spacers route, will it look crazy or ugly? And is there a limit to the amount of spacers you can stack on a threaded fork headset? The long steerer has plenty of threading depth on it, so I'm ok with threads if I must cut it, but I would rather not cut it if I can get away with it.

Comments, please?
motorapido is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-14 | 06:48 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

You want the stem's quill expander to be below the threads in the steerer so you don't want the steerer so long the stem doesn't clear the threads. However, some steerers are butted and thicker walled toward the bottom. Your Technomic should work if it's not so far down that it hits any butted section. You can use spacers between the top race of the headset and the locknut with that caveat in mind.
HillRider is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-14 | 06:51 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 9
From: harrisburg, pennsylvania

Bikes: 1976 Schwinn Super Le Tour, tricked out with modern components. Shimano Alfine 11 internal gear hub. Dynamo hub. Titanium racks and bottle cages. Mercier Kilo Wide Tire dropbar singlespeed

Ah, gotcha. Thanks. The threaded section is weaker due to material loss when the threads are cut, and if the expander wedge is in the threaded section, it would distort of split the steerer? Is that the reason for the below-the-threads mandate?
motorapido is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-14 | 07:07 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Originally Posted by motorapido
Ah, gotcha. Thanks. The threaded section is weaker due to material loss when the threads are cut, and if the expander wedge is in the threaded section, it would distort of split the steerer? Is that the reason for the below-the-threads mandate?
Exactly.
HillRider is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-14 | 07:09 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Likes: 10
Threaded forks allow greater adjustability than threadless forks. On the latter, you're limited in the number of spacers you can put in to raise the bar to an acceptable height and more often not you'll need a stem riser and an adjustable stem to get the fit dialed in.
NormanF is offline  
Reply
Old 07-11-14 | 05:43 AM
  #6  
alcjphil's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,655
Likes: 2,253
From: Montreal, Quebec
On any threaded fork, the threaded portion has to extend far enough so that you can adjust the top race. Often forks with longer than necessary steer tubes are not threaded far enough for a shorter head tube. As already noted, the threaded portion is not as strong as the threaded portion of the steer tube. This means that even with a longer steer tube and spacers you cannot raise the stem and higher than you could with the steer tube cut to the minimum length
alcjphil is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mr IGH
Framebuilders
9
11-11-17 09:06 AM
ssmwalker
Bicycle Mechanics
20
11-13-16 12:57 PM
azgreg
Bicycle Mechanics
18
01-04-14 10:54 AM
ebgbz
Bicycle Mechanics
24
02-22-13 04:02 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.