I have a Santana Arriva from the late 90's and I want to extend the 1 1/4" steerer. There aren't any riser extenders or riser stems available for 1 1/4" steerer. I was wonder if it makes sense to take a steel 1 1/8" steerer tube and slide it into the 1 1/4" steer then have it welded into place. I could add another 3" to the steerer and be able to use 1 1/8" stems. Preloading the headset could be done with correctly sized spacers.

Am I crazy? Any other ideas for extending the steer? Custom stem? (The frame is already a large.)

Threadless headset? If so then it would be simple to add an extension of the same diameter with an internal sleeve to butt the two tubes together.


If threaded then what you describe is a good choice. Andy.

If it's a threaded fork, perhaps something like this in conjunction with a riser stem?



https://www.amazon.com/Nitto-Stem-Co.../dp/B001LXM5W6

Looking for a riser stem? There are a bunch on eBay.

1 1/4 Stem | eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-1-4-Threa...-/401434684562
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-Conta...-/201912760210
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ritchey-WCS...-/172666413869
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-Conta...-/201912766758

1 1/4" threadless, not threaded.

edit: I didn't notice that 70mm stem with 30* rise, that gets it close, thanks!

Extending the steerer and maintaining the 1 1/4" steerer keeps the orphan 1 1/4" stem size.

The Nitto extender only adds ~1" otherwise it could be made to work with threadless. I wasn't able to find a longer extender that fits inside the 1 1/4" steerer. Perhaps I could build my own riser using some 1 1/8" aluminum tubing since it's a straight shot, no machining needed.

I have a 1 1/8" steerer tube in hand, it fits nicely, why sleeve a 1 1/4" if 1 1/8 is strong enough and allows the more common stem size? Make a 6" section, 3" inside the 1 1/4" steerer, weld a bead.

-I'm not promoting any standard. Just listing some options with the least change of OEM spec first.


-I'm not a welder so I have no strong opinion of welding VS brazing or bonding. But I do question a length of tubing slid into another tube for 3" and with such a small joined area at one end of the overlap. Perhaps my inexperience in fabrication is causing my concerns. It seems to me if the joining method (between the steerer and the extension) is sound the 3" of overlap is in needed and a possible source of creaks. Andy

If you're looking to sleeve a tube inside the steerer, I would think you would need it welded at both edges of the overlap. This is usually how lap joints are done, at both edges.

Great suggestions, thanks. I'm going with the Nitto extension. That'll give me a steerer length of ~275mm + 25mm~40mm or over 300mm. That and a 35* riser will get me 50mm~60mm rise which is more than enough for now. If I need more as I age I can make a longer riser with some aluminum tubing.

What you suggest can be done in general. I'm not sure about the reducing of size but here's a video of how Rody at Groovy Cycleworks does this same thing:

Here's what I did:
Pushed the starnut down into the steerer tube far enough to allow the Nitto extender to insert into the steerer to the "Max Height" line. (3/8" socket extention works very well)
Nitto extender fits perfectly.
I'm using two stacked 31.8mm seat post collars to secure the steerer and maintain the preload.
I'm using a stack of spacers and the headset top plate to set the preload before inserting the Nitto extender.
The collars have a lip so I used a rattail file to remove it.