hi,

I just purchased a used rocket and I notice there were some side to side play on the steering mast (between 2 - 3 cm) the seller says its normal. I tighten the hinge at the end of the mast but its useless. this is my second bent and my first one was a bike e . also I really don't like the T bar. I like my hands at 3 and 9 position. ( I also changed it on the bike e) Is there any way I can solve these issues without switching to a different mast? tks

The side-to-side play that you're feeling is almost surely coming from the Rans "flex stem". Terra Cycle has a replacement "Glide Flex" that is a much better design and removes all of that play. They are beautifully CNC machined. What they aren't is cheap. If you don't want to pay for a replacement mast, you're going to gag when you find out how much Terra Cycle parts can cost.

What does your handlebar look like? Rans has produced 2 different versions. In one the handlebar is welded to the top of the mast. If yours is like that you're pretty much limited. I suppose you could check out mountain bike bar ends to see if you can find a shape that you can clamp on to get the hand position that you're looking for.

In the other the handlebar is clamped to the top of the mast. If yours is like that, you could buy a replacement handlebar for about $25.00. You'll probably also have to buy all new cables and housings (get a tandem cable for the rear shifter).

FWIW, I just bought a used Rocket myself. I'm waiting for a chainring, new chain and seat cushion cover so that I can finish assembling it. With luck the parts will all be in by Thursday.

tks for the info. I don't think terra cycle is a option for me. I'll try putting a washer in the hinge to see if that will help. my handle bar is welded to the mast

Now you've got me experimenting.

Unless you've got some really thin shim stock, I don't think you are going to be able to fit a washer into the inside of that hinge.

I've got a couple of Rans bikes, one with a flex stem and one with a Terra Cycle glide flex. The Terra cycle is a one sided hinge so the pivot bolt can be easily snugged to take out all of the rock. I thought about cutting one side out of a Rans flex stem hinge, but the Terra cycle has about twice the material at that point. I'd rather not kill myself experimenting with this. I found that by really tightening down the Rans hinge I could take out most, if not all of the rock. That makes it a harder to flex but I don't think that will bother me. I'll know in a week or so.

I put a RANS flex-stem on my V-Rex. At the time, the Flex-Stem was $15 or $20, while the Glide-Flex was $115. I don't ride the V-Rex much. I do have Glide-Flexes on my Baron and my M5 CHR. There's no comparison in how they feel; the Glide-flex is smooth and without play, while the Flex-Stem... isn't.

I had the same prob a while back on my Vivo, which mite have the same bar setup as yer Rocket. Fixed it with a metal shim that took up the slack. The shim ackshully was a lil toggle switch faceplate! Twas the only thing in my spare parts pile w/ the rite thickness.