How much bike stem can be above the top of the forks..?

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jiberjaber

Veteran
Location
Essex
As per the subject, I took delivery of my new bike today and after putting it together, took it out for a spin in the dark and wet.

After the test ride it felt as though I was falling over the front wheel, so when I got back, I looked and noticed that there was a 5mm spacer on the top of the fork and the stem was pointing down so decided to swap the stem round and put the 5mm spacer with the other spacers.

The stem is a Richey one and on the options, I chose the 'comfort' install of the stem pointing up but this isn't how it was out of the box. It comes with 20mm of spacers, 10 and 2x5mm.

The result is as per the attached photos. However this leaves top of the fork about 5mm below the top of the stem.

standalone


standalone


standalone


I've torqued it up and it all seems OK, so I guess I am just after some reassurance that it will be OK??

Thoughts please.... :smile:

thanks in advance....
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
It should be OK, but I would stick the spacer on top. You ideally want the stem to bite the full steerer as it can stop over stressing it.

You won't notice the 5mm as you've flipped the stem up.

That's my preference to ensure the stem gets full purchase on the steerer with a small spacer on top.
 

ayceejay

Guru
Location
Rural Quebec
Yes, that was my concern, seems odd that it comes with 20mm of spacers but you cant use 5mm of them! :wacko:
I think the idea is that you use a combination of the supplied spacers that offer your ideal height and cut off any excess steerer which you don't seem to have a lot of which may suggest that the frame is the wrong size.
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
I tend to go for about 3mm of stem above the steerer. The centre of the top clamp bolt should be at least below the top of the steerer to be secured properly.
 
OP
OP
jiberjaber

jiberjaber

Veteran
Location
Essex
I think in the config I had earlier (all 20mm spacer below the stem) it was probably borderline the CL of the top bolt being at the top of the fork tube...
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
I think in the config I had earlier (all 20mm spacer below the stem) it was probably borderline the CL of the top bolt being at the top of the fork tube...
Certainly looks like it in the bottom pic
 
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