AeroEagle1

I bought this Giant ATX880 back in 1995 but never like the position you are in when riding it. It feels like you are about to go over the handlebars all the time and the tires are not right for what I am riding on surface wise. Is there some component or components that will correct this? I am hoping to raise the handlebars a few inches. Currently it has a DIA Compe AHeadset with a Tranz X Zanzi stem and Answer Alumilite 7075 handlebars. Put these handlebars on in hopes of getting it raised up but still to low. Any suggestions on what I can do to raise the handlebars up? As for the tires it hand some Panaracer Hard Core Dart's on it which are 2.10 wide a few years back was looking for something in between the Panaracer and a slick but could only find a slick that is 1.5 wide. Hoping one of the manufacturers has come out with a tire that is 50% hard surface (cement/blacktop) and 50% off road trail riding that is 2 iches wide. Any suggestions would be helpful. I post a similar thread on the General Discussion Page but no one has replied.
Any ideas and what components would be helpful. Thanks

Maelstrom 

Get 2" ride handle bars. That should boost you up a bit more. Usually in the dh section of your bike store. Also change out your stem for a higher rise. Both of these will change the feel of the bike greatly but should sit you back in your bike a bit more for confort.

AeroEagle1

I have never seen a set of handlebars with a 2inch rise an inch maybe but nothing that high. As with the threadless headset most I can find don't have a length or height for them to know the rise if any is possible and look to be the same, short in length. The stem component looks to be at 30 degree rise but it also extends out to the handlebars. It also is only 1 3/8 inch from the top of the frame to the bottom of the stem. Is there a stem that is more of a 45 degree and how can I get the headset to raise it up. Any components that will accomplish this. From the owners manual it has the generic Giant stem picture which is not what is on my bike it has two or even more components that make uo what they call the stem expander bolt in picture. What is needed to rise up the headset if that is what it is called. I am a Novice when it comes to what part is what. Thanks...

AeroEagle1

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for my situation???

Maelstrom 

A lot of dh or freeride handlebars have 2" rise. I ride with 1.5 myself...

FSA DH400 comes in 2" rise for example.

This stem has an adjustable rise https://www.mtbreview.com/reviews/Ste...ct_87841.shtml

The combination should fix your problem.

AeroEagle1

Thanks I will look into these can you tell me what dh and freeride mean I am not into the MB terminology to be in the know...

Maelstrom 

Downhill is a downhill bike used to go down extremely steep section of mountains where you want the front end extremely high so you don't tip. Freeride is more or less a combination of downhill and xc depending on what type of freeriding you do. Right now there is no defined freeride. It is left up to the rider so there is many definitions.

AeroEagle1

Thanks again. Next question what is meant by length of a stem example 50mm, 75mm or 100mm is that the distance from the front of fork tube that the part of the stem is connected to out to the handlebars? whether it is straight, or a some degree up or down?

Thanks Again for all your Information...

Maelstrom 

you have two measurements on a stem...one from the steertube to the end of the stem and one that measures the angle. Each length is designed for a specific purpose. 50mm is usually left for freeriding/dh where the short cockpit (riding area on bike) allows them to twist and control their bike in fast very technical sections. 75mm is kind of a combination of both but most hardcore freeriders still find this too long as it stretches them out. 100mm is xc. It pulls your body forward putting your into a racing position over top of the toptube. Since you want to change your riding position you will probably want something on the short side so measure (or get a shop to as I am not sure EXACTLY how to measure).

The angle measurement on that stem goes form -10 to +60 degrees I think. At +60 degree + a 2 inch rise on a 50mm stem you have shrunk the cockpit GREATLY while raising the front end signifgantly too. The adjustable stem will allow you to make any small adjustments in case it is too extreme a change for you.

tFUnK

get a new bike and sell me this frame =]. i think the geometry will be off no matter how you tweak it unless you run a frankensteinish setup that will be ugly as well as sketchy. but what they said... higher stem, riser handlebars, longer fork...

Maelstrom 

True enough. A new fit frame would be best to fix this big a problem...

auger

i think i ride with a 3 inch rise! my downhill bars have a big rise i have never measured it but its big, what i do is slam my seat all the way back, big rise bars and a stem that has like a 16 deg. rise works for me

johnbigbooty

You might want to try a seat post with some setback, too. Thompson makes the best, and most expensive, but Ritchey and others make setbacks, too. They put your center of gravity back about an inch. Seems subtle but it makes a huge difference.

Maelstrom 

They are still 2inch

AeroEagle1

Thanks for the info I have ordered a Zoom 75mm Stem Riser and am going to try that as my first step. If that does not correct it then maybe a set of handlebars with a rise in them. I guess it is a try this try that and see how each works... Take Care...

sparticus

a. riser bars, try online @ sites like jensonusa.com and pricepoint.com

b. put more spacers into your stem

c. get a bigger rise in your stem

d. lower your saddle

e. get wider tires, 2.1 sounds good for all around riding

f. a very expensive solution: get a longer fork!

hope this helps

AeroEagle1

Thanks your suggestions...
I currently have on order a Zoom 75mm Stem Riser which is 2.95 inch rise for the stem which will hopefully raise the handlebars enough if not then find a set of handle bars with some type of rise in them. As for tires, I also have two new ones on order but again they are only 26 X 1.95 from Big Wheel Cycle item number 8629 a semi slick type tire one of only a very few that are wider than 1.75 most are only 1.50 and I currently have a set of 1.5 slicks on the bike now but think a wider semi slick would be a better ride as well as better steering. These tires aren't costly but since I can locate a limited number of semi slicks that are only this wide nothing wider unless it is a more agressive trail and dirt type tire. Very few of the big name tire manufacturers offer a tire wider than 1.95 in a semi slick type like I mentioned above they are only 1.5 or maybe 1.75. I am not sure why but I can only guess since I have been looking off and on for 5 years for a 2.1 wide tire that is a semi slick. When I first was looking only a very small number even had slicks and that was when I bought the 1.5 slicks since then I have visited a lot of the big name sites with the same results and if you inquire as to what they have in the way of tires they sometimes don't respond and if they do the recommend the 1.5 slicks because that is all the carry. You really need to know just what you are looking for to find it by brand and model specific. I visited a local bike shop when they were just opening a second location and saw a set of semi slicks on the 2001 or 2002 models of Giants and they did not carry that brand and most recommended a knobby trail tire which I was trying to get away from. A friend at the time was riding a Mountain Bike on Patrol as a Police Officer at a University and that was 60% cement & black top and maybe 40% gravel, dirt and grass and he said that the knobby type tire was a high drag when riding on a hard surface but he looked for something else and had no success in finding something that was 5 years ago he has since stopped riding.

Being that I have had this bike since 1995 and as of late since moving into a house it has been sitting collecting dust and now in my mid 40's thought since I have the bike I should use it and get some exercise and since hard surfaces is what I will do most of my riding on I have been searching for about a month for some good semi slicks and the one's mentioned above is the only ones that are more inline than any others. Not sure just how good the Pyramid brand is but since it is all I can find they will have to do until the big name tire makers start making a 2.1 or wide semi slick. Again thanks for your suggestions...

AeroEagle1

Just installed the Zoom Stem Riser and the new tires the tires are KENDA Kross Plus a semi slick. I got them from big-wheel.com. They are quick to respond to inquiries. I will try it tomorrow and see how it rides with these new components. Thanks for your Posts...