Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Fork Steerer Tube Length

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Fork Steerer Tube Length

Old 07-05-19, 07:49 PM
  #1  
alij2018
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 100
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Fork Steerer Tube Length

Hi,

I ride a 29, supposedly Medium size frame, and my current fork's steerer tube from crown to top is 190mm approximately.

I will change the fork soon. The fork I am buying has a 220mm steerer tube length. I want to know these:
  • What is the recommended steerer tube length? Should I cut mine to 200mm or something? I tried to simulate a 20mm increase in height of the handlebar and it seems it does not make much difference.
  • Is it true that is it recommended to not use more than 30mm spacers between the stem and top headtube? If yes, does this mean, from this, I can guess the correct steerer tube length by placing 30mm spacers under the stem plus the stem and cap and cut the excess?
  • What is your steerer tube length, assume you ride a 29 bike?
Thanks
alij2018 is offline  
Old 07-05-19, 09:38 PM
  #2  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10902 Post(s)
Liked 7,391 Times in 4,148 Posts
My steerer tube length should have 0 to do with what yours is. I'm 6'5 and have a larger bike, therefore a longer steerer tube.

1- insert new fork into head tube.
2- add spacers as needed.
3- mark location where stem should be.
4- remove fork and measure the steerer from crown to your mark. There ya go- that's how long it should be.


A steel steerer can hold more spacers than a carbon steerer.
30mm of spacers is consistently claimed, but conservative.
40 or 45 wouldn't make me think twice and I've seen that listed for some brand name forks too. It all depends on how you ride and how hard you are on the front end. One of my kids has a carbon road fork with 45mm of spacers...she is 70# nothing will happen.
There is not definitive point at which your fork's steered will snap.

Either way you are pretty screwed, if I'm reading your post correctly. You have 30mm of steerer above your head tube and in that space you need to squeeze the top of the headset and stem?
mstateglfr is offline  
Old 07-06-19, 01:17 AM
  #3  
MikeyMK
Cycleway town
 
MikeyMK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Milton Keynes, England
Posts: 1,402

Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 169 Times in 117 Posts
As long as it's long enough you can have it how you like. As it's longer than the old one, no worries there. Use spacers for the extra length, you can mount spacers on top of the stem as well as below it, can flip the stem upside down too, to get the handlebar precisely where you want it.
MikeyMK is offline  
Old 07-06-19, 11:26 AM
  #4  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
Steel steerer fork guy, here..

I suggest riding with spacers above and below the stem, for a few months ,

play with height, swapping spacers, over and under.. until you find what is most comfortable..


then have the shop cut it .. their saw guide is going to give a perfect cut..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 07-08-19, 06:01 AM
  #5  
bcpriess
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289

Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times in 12 Posts
Why cut it? Seriously,as a taller person I can't stand it when I am looking at used forks/bikess that have been ruined by someone thinking they need to cut off the "extra" steerer length.
bcpriess is offline  
Old 07-08-19, 06:07 AM
  #6  
subgrade
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Saulkrasti, Latvia
Posts: 898

Bikes: Focus Crater Lake

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 391 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times in 204 Posts
Originally Posted by bcpriess
Why cut it? Seriously,as a taller person I can't stand it when I am looking at used forks/bikess that have been ruined by someone thinking they need to cut off the "extra" steerer length.
An excess length of steerer tube poking out above the stem may become a safety hazard in a crash. Also, it looks ugly, at least in my eyes.
subgrade is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wants185s
Bicycle Mechanics
13
09-01-16 07:07 AM
lineinthewater
Bicycle Mechanics
27
02-05-13 08:24 PM
MrSparkles
Fifty Plus (50+)
13
11-08-12 11:07 AM
roadrunnerblink
Road Cycling
10
05-05-12 12:39 PM
GetUpnGo
Bicycle Mechanics
5
07-28-10 03:36 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.