When bars are turned all the way right, the end of the bar clears the top tube. When turned all the way left, the end of the bar hits the top tube. I think it’s the bars that are causing this, not an issue with the alignment of the headtube. However, I would like to check somehow. Can anyone help me figure out an easy way to check the frame?
by senorhappytaco
3 Comments
If it’s the head tube, the end of the bars that is higher at the top tube will be lower when turned 180° and pointing straight in front of the bike, and the end of the bar that is lower at the top tube will be higher when turned 180°. You could measure from the ground up, or from the tire up, or whatever reference point in front of the bike is directly below the end of the bar. Be mindful that the bike doesn’t move at all between measurements, only allowing the bars to spin on the head tube axis, as this distance from the axis of rotation will amplify and slight changes in bike tilt/pitch.
You could, or maybe should, also measure at 90° turns of the bars just to make sure the head tube isn’t misaligned at just the right angle to show the bars high and low at 180° from your initial measurement.
You’re surprised that bent steel tube from the 90’s seems bent?
It’s guaranteed to not be the frame. Even if you twisted the head tube five degrees from straight, the right and left ends of the bars would still encounter the top tube the same as each other.
This is 100% a bent handlebar. Maybe from manufacturing, maybe from the decades of use.