There's a huge gap between the top plate and stem. When I bunny hop or put just a little too much pressure on the handlebars they start rotating forward. Not sure if I should get another stem or a different pair of handlebars. I checked the clamp diameter of the handlebars and it's 22.2cm, so there's no way I need thinner handlebars right? But idk if there are smaller stems than 22.2cm. Thanks for the help!
by candlewizard
13 Comments
I don’t think the gap looks excessively wide. You probably just need to cinch the bolts down a bit more.
The top cap is never 100% flush. So the gap is totally normal. What could be the issue for your bars movin, is paint underneath the stem.
Take off your bars and clean them and the stem. Also maybe rough them up with Sandpaper.
Sometimes the lose paint between bars and stem makes it move.
Yes
Gap looks fine
Sometimes I wonder
there’s supposed to be a gap, but the handlebars are not supposed to rotate. you need to learn the right amount of force to put on the bolts to make them tight enough, but not too tight that you crush the bars
U stupid?
The gap is even, all is good. Don’t trip
I think your bars are missing some thread inside them. Is valid to take them out and verify if they still have the mounting threads, that connect with the stem
Having that many headset spacers is not normal
Take apart again, Clean the inside of the clamping area of the stem, and clean off the knurled part of the bars. If the bars are moving then there metal debris now between the bars and stem.
like posted above always tighten in an X pattern.
There always needs to be a gap for the stem to tighten down properly. Also don’t listen to others about the spacers on the forks, that is normal as long as the stem isn’t clamped barely on the forks.
Once you’ve cleaned and tightened bars back up; try some hard bunny hops. If the bars move again, take apart again and take sand paper to the clamping area of the stem. Rough up the paint, and clean again. You can also rough up the knurling on the bars too.
See if torque specs are published, then follow that.
Looks fine. If there wasn’t a gap, then you would question if it’s clamping on the bars or if it’s just bottomed down.