Stem for w-i-d-e bars?

[Hog_]

I've got 750mm wide riser bars on the Trials bike, which give awesome control, but there's an issue: the bars flex a little, and often when I pull up on them, there's a clicking sound. This scares me a bit, especially when I'm about to jump up or down something. I think the sound is coming from the stem/handlebar flex situation.

 

The stem is a 2-bolt, with the bolts in the middle. Would a 4-bolt stem make a difference? Does one get stems that have a very wide clamp, maybe even 6-bolt?

 

 

 

[AndreZA]

It's been a while now that 2 bolt stems have been ruled out for MTBing. Get a proper solid short 4 bolt stem. Something like this.

 

 

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/32815.jpg

 

 

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/37128.jpgMampara2009-07-29 07:13:56

[Hog_]

Thanks for the suggestion, although I forgot to add that we use ~100mm stems.

 

Looks like Truvativ make some nice ones with a wide, 4-bolt clamp. Will need to see if I can get one.

 

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

any chance of sourcing one of those old braces they used to make for downhill bars?

 

another biggy that won't break the bank is the truvativ hussefelt.

[Hog_]

 

any chance of sourcing one of those old braces they used to make for downhill bars?

 

The what? Pic please!

 

 

 

another biggy that won't break the bank is the truvativ hussefelt.

 

Was looking at them, also Thomson's 4X stem would work nicely, although even on CRC it's too expensive.

 

 

Questions is: Will a 4-bolt stem reduce the flex?

 

[AndreZA]

I don't know if the 4 bolts will make a difference but the quality of stem will do. I changed from a no-name stem and bars to Ritchey on the roadbike and I can feel the change just by pulling on it. I would just lik the 4 bolts for the piece of mind. If one of those 2 bolts go you are screwed. On the 4 bolt you atleast have a few more bolts to take the stress.

[Guest Big H]

 

Read about it here....

 

www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31143

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest Big H]

 

I have 750mm riser bars on the MTB Tandem and use a BBB stem. No clicking and they work.

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

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[Tumbleweed]

 

any chance of sourcing one of those old braces they used to make for downhill bars?

 

The what? Pic please!

 

another biggy that won't break the bank is the truvativ hussefelt.

Was looking at them' date=' also Thomson's 4X stem would work nicely, although even on CRC it's too expensive. Questions is: Will a 4-bolt stem reduce the flex?[/quote']

 

 

 

sheesh, will look. funnily enough i saw one at the bike shop this morning...on a very old dh bike. it essentially was a bar connected by two braces to the riser section of the bars, and fastened with a hex bolt.

 

 

 

don't know how much a four-bolter will give you, as the flex would occur on the outer reaches of the bar, i'd imagine.

[Dirtbreath]

I think you should lose some weight.

[Hog_]

 

I think you should lose some weight.

 

 

Just a few points:

 

1. It's a fuel tank for a sex machine, not a boep

2. It happens mostly when I pull up on the bars, which leads me to:

3. Maybe just I don't know my own strength.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dirtbreath]

 

I think you should lose some weight.

 

 

Just a few points:

 

1. It's a fuel tank for a sex machine' date=' not a boep

2. It happens mostly when I pull up on the bars, which leads me to:

3. Maybe just I don't know my own strength.

 

[/quote']

 

 

1.That's a lot of fuel for 22 seconds.

2.How many pull ups can you do? I recommend not doing this dangerous exercise.

3. Maybe you are right. AAARRRRRRRRRRR.

 

[TЯΞB]

Hey Hog,

as you know I'm not a small child , and I recently made an important discovery:

 

When I replaced my hardtail frame I wanted to go to oversize bars (just because it seemed a good idea), and ended up scoring a Ritchey Pro Bar for 240 bucks and a "Scud" 100mm stem from my brother-in-law for free  - bless his cotton socks.

 

First ride and I was blown away - super stiff, much more than on my Full Suss. On closer inspection I discovered that both my new bar and stem were lovingly crafted from 2014 ally. This stuff, much like 7000 series aluminium alloys, has significantly higher mechanical properties (higher ultimate yield strength, lower elongation values) than the 6000 series, which are used in most "entry level" and "middle of the road" bicycle components. Some top of the range 6000 series T6 tempered alloys come close, but generally speaking the 7000 series and 2014 alloys are the ****.

 

Off I went to wring the Yeti's neck and lo and behold, the "inherited" Specialized (6000 series) Stem on it visibly flexed this way and that. EA70 bars held firm. Have ordered a 100mm Thomson Elite X4 Stem (7000 series), the Spesh is going in the bin.

 

Chrz,

 

Treb

 

 

[Hog_]

Interesting, thanks Treb.

 

I don't really want to try other bars, since I just got these, but I'll see if I can find the time to go stem shopping tomorrow. I've already got about 3 unused stems in the garage, guess another won't hurt!

 

 

[wiredonkey]

hey Hog

 

any of those unused stems in the garage a 60mm? If so and you want to flog, PM me