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    Cutting fork for new stem

    Hey guys,

    I just got my new stem (Shadow Finest, 44mm) and put it right on my new fork (Kink Stoic 20mm).

    I have to use 2 spacers under the stem now. My very old stem did sit absolutely flush with 1 spacer on the Kink fork, but the new one was too loose with just 1 spacer.

    I don't like spacers and would like to cut the fork with my pipe cutter. Am I assuming correctly that I need to cut the exact height of the 2 spacers from the fork?

    Also, is the Shadow Finest stem somehow lower than other stems? Will my fork fit other stems when I cut the fork to fit the Shadow stem perfectly?

    I really don't want to fuck up my new fork.

    Thanks a lot!

    by DK_Post

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    8 Comments

    1. Alvinthf on

      Check your old stem vs new stem fork steerer height, that’s likely your difference. Measure twice cut once, a pipe cutter while it does the job, it’ll thin the pipe cutter as it’s meant for copper and other soft alloys not heat treated 4130 cromolloy steel.

    2. unrealcyberfly on

      Both pinch bolts need to pinch the tube so cut it a couple of mm below the top of the stem. Double check if the threads go deep enough for the top cap to compress the head set. That’s about it.

    3. 2wheelzrollin on

      Cut as much as needed to have the steer tube sit just below the top of the stem once fully conpressed

    4. DK_Post on

      Thanks for the answers. I’ll give it a shot with the spacers and cut the fork if i find the bars are too high.

    5. clickyspinny on

      You can put the spacers on top and do a couple rides just to make sure you like set up before you cut it

    6. OWDSKL on

      I had a similar issue with my new forks, but I don’t have the means to cut them so I ended up putting the spacers ontop of the stem, with the compression bolt ontop of that. This meant I could still maintain the same overall bar height, and I was still able to tighten everything down enough that I’ve had no issues.

      I actually started with about 20mm of spacers out the top, but adjusted it to 10mm on top and 10mm below in the end.

      Maybe not what you’re after, but is a good way to test out the different spacing options without cutting your forks and messing anything up.

    7. mattogeewha on

      I’d advise against it if you could. I have a cut fork, and across 3 frames, they all fit completely different.

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