Beginners: Adjust your stem height

[Justin Fox]

Lots of headset spacers!

New bike owners, chances are your stem is set up high on your fork steerer tube with a bunch of spacers underneath. It's just the way bikes come from the bike shop. If you're new to riding, getting to know your bike takes time and after a while you'll want to set it up your bike so that it's just how you like it.

Adjusting the height of the stem is similar to adjusting the angle of the steering wheel column in your car and makes a huge difference to how your bicycle will feel and handle.

This adjustment should only be made once you're really comfortable with your saddle height and position. If your bum hurts when riding it could be because too much of your weight is on the saddle and not enough of your weight is transferred over the handlebars. Lowering the stem lowers your bars and helps to adjust that balance. More of your weight on the front gives your front wheel more traction in corners and having your bars lower will also aid in climbing (front wheel is less likely to lift up on steep climbs).

Headset Adjustment - Threadless Type
Threadless headsets come on most modern bikes. The bolt in the top cap will put pressure on the stem, which presses everything together.

NOTE: The cap and bolt at the top of the stem do not secure the stem onto the steering column. The bolts on the side of the stem keep the stem from moving once the top cap bolt is tightened.

1. Begin by removing the adjusting bolt in the center of the steering column. Next, remove the top cap.
2. Loosen stem bolts that secure stem to the steering column.
3. Wiggle the stem side to side to loosen and remove stem.
4. Remove a/some spacers and install the stem back onto the steerer tube.
5. Align stem straight to wheel, put those spacers on top of the stem and secure the top bolt and cap. You want to do it up nice but NOT TOO TIGHT.
6. Tighten stem bolts.
7. Hit the front brake and check for play (or a knocking sensation) by pulling back and forth on the bike. If there's play you'll need to tighten the top cap some more.
8. Check alignment of stem and tighten stem binder bolts fully.


Image aboveshows steering tube and stem. There is usually a 3mm gap between stem and top of column. You need this gap to be no more than 5mm. Too little a gap and you might not get enough clamping force when tightening the top cap.


Spacers on top of stem.

The spacers on top of your stem might 'look' a little silly, or even dangerous. But ignore that, ride the bike and feel the difference. If you love the stem lower you can make the move to cut the fork steerer tube and remove the spacers above your stem. Your local bike shop would charge you a small fee, or you can DIY.

[Mesa(aleks)]

Thanks for this justin.Ive been meaning to ask how to do that.

[Dj1]

Who would have there steerer as high as the first pic anyway, you'd smash your chin everytime you went over a bump

[Justin Fox]

Who would have there steerer as high as the first pic anyway, you'd smash your chin everytime you went over a bump

Agreed! I assume he's only "borrowing" a fork, and perhaps isn't allowed to cut the steerer on it? Maybe.

[ukalipt]

what are the pro's and cons of flipping the stem over?
like should you have stem higher on the steerer,
then flip it so it points down or straighter? or visa versa?

[Justin Fox]

Trial and error Matt.

[Jarod]

Keep in mind that cutting down the fork's steerer tube mildly lowers the resale of the forks (and potentially bike).

This is cause if you sell to someone that's bigger than you, chances are they'll want the stem to be higher.

[Justin Fox]

Spot on. I have some Fox Floats in as new condition but the steerer is cut so short that it would only ever fit on a small frame. We recently tried to fit it on a medium sized Giant Yukon and it was short about 10mm.

[Jarod]

Spot on. I have some Fox Floats in as new condition but the steerer is cut so short that it would only ever fit on a small frame. We recently tried to fit it on a medium sized Giant Yukon and it was short about 10mm.

We might have to talk some when I get my single speed frame back from the painters. It's a tiny frame and needs something to replace the original forks.

Assuming they're of no use to you and you want dollars in place of them of course.

[Tim]

what are the pro's and cons of flipping the stem over?
like should you have stem higher on the steerer,
then flip it so it points down or straighter? or visa versa?

Didn't look like anyone answered this so I may as well try:P.
I believe the main reason to have the stem flipped is to get the front end as low as possible so it won't try lift up while climbing steep hills. But for this method to be worthwile you wouldn't have any spacers or run all the spacers on top of the stem.

Flipping the stem is only really worthwhile for hardcore xc racers IMO. I haven't tried it so can't give any feedback on the feel but i believe it would give the steering more of a twitchy feel. Someone who's done it should be able to confirm this though.

I would only bother flipping the stem if you are a serious racer as you may make up time on the uphills but it would make everything else pretty ordinary
Hope I helped...