I’ve just bought a second hand set of forks for my bike but the steerer tube is a bit too short. I don’t have the forks yet but I know it has been cut to 180mm. I have looked into getting it extended but have found that it is definitely not an option. So, I am trying to save as much tube space as possible by getting a smaller headset and stem (if possible) I can get a new headset and save at least 25mm.

Just wanted to know if anybody could recommend a very slimline stem and headset if possible? I saw a slim stem on a forum but can’t find it now. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, cheers.

Should mention, it’s a mtb 1 1/8 steerer and integrated headset I have at the moment.

Sunline V1 Am its strong, looks good and is just over 30mm I know its about 10mm shorter than the likes of Thomson etc.

I did the same took a punt on some fox 36’s with a 170mm steerer….paid off….just! Could have saved 10mm on a low stack headset too, crank bros do some.

See pics

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8244950/

is it that set of fox forks on ebay you got?

Is that question to me?

Shortest combo I know is CB cobalt headset and spank spike stem .

what forks are they? I just had a new steerer fitted on my marz 66 forks for £37.50 posted.

fast service from the guys at windwave (apart from the fact that people dont talk to each other there!! means i cant use my bike this weekend and have to wait till Monday now)

I don’t think the cobalt will give me enough to play with. I found this

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-comp-press-fit-semi-1-18-inch-headset/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk&utm_content=Ritchey-Ritchey_Comp_Press_Fit_Semi_1-1%2f8_Inch_Headset-Black

Not sure if the 10mm means stack height or not but it looks pretty small. Excuse my limited knowledge, does semi integrated mean anything majorly different?

They are Fox F120 RL. I called a local shop who then called Mojo who quoted £245 to replace all the upper part. Apparently that was the only safe way to do it? That’s more than I paid for the forks.

integrated headset I have at the moment

You’ll not get a lower headset then, it’s already all in the head tube.

Pic of your current setup? If it has a spacer cone you can take that out, otherwise don’t see you saving 25mm on stem, sorry! Schoolboy error not checking the length first…

Specs for Spank Spike:

SPIKE STEM

Bar Bore Ø31.8. Stack Height 26mm
Sex Bolt 8mm. High Torque Lock-Down

3D Forged CNC Construction

Zirconium Doped Alloy

Length: 35mm

Weight: 150g + 20g (Top Cap & Rose Bolt Assembly)

Color: White/Black/Chrome

Custom Stem Top Cap And Rose Nut

I’ve got one to get rid of in black/chrome if you’re interested.
Note 35mm length – not much use if you’d be climbing!

Sorry it must be semi integrated then. It’s a Ritchey comp I installed myself, can take it out easy. It’s 30.2mm so that’s why I am thinking I can save a bit of space.

If your headset top bearing cover is already slim like the cane creek zero stack headsets come with your probably at the lowest.

Bye bye spacers and hunting for a stem is going to be the best way like you have mentioned.

Could look for a damaged set of 32’s with longer steerer going cheap and swap internals etc bit of a ball ache.

http://www.canecreek.com/manuals/Headset_Instructions/AER/AER_ZS_Instructions.pdf

I don’t have my bike at the moment to measure.

This is my headset. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ritchey-Comp-V2-Std-Headset/dp/B002ZDP7YO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341606737&sr=8-2

Pretty huge looking compared to this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ritchey-Comp-Press-Semi-Headset/dp/B0056F9L8G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1

or am I missing something?

Does anybody know, if I cleared enough space with a smaller headset, would one of these be useful if I got enough steerer for it to attach to?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bbb-bhp-22-steerer-tube-extender/

Ugly I know, but I like my Easton stem.

dont fit a crank bros headset, the time you spend trying to maintain it will outweigh any saving you made on the forks…

I was going to get the canecreek zerostack. 12mm is pretty good.

Why is it impossible to extend the steerer?

My local shop said it wasn’t safe. I’m not a heavy rider, usually just road but I was told it wasn’t worth getting a new tube welded on or anything.

I ran some Pace rigid forks a few years ago. Steerer came to just under the top stem clamp bolt. I popped in a bit of cut steerer & used one of them long Amoeba Headlock bolts. Never budged. I had a stepped sleeve turned at work that I was going to fit but never needed it.

Can you not sleeve it then weld a piece of 1/1.8 tube on? Should make the weld strong?

I thought that but the store said it’s not a good idea. Not sure myself really. I do have some spare tube, maybe I should ask a local mechanic.

Did you use the Amoeba headlock alone?

FSA and Sunline tend to be slimmer stems at 35mm compared to most which are 40mm. Not a massive saving but it all helps….

I don’t have my bike at the moment to measure.

This is my headset. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ritchey-Comp-V2-Std-Headset/dp/B002ZDP7YO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341606737&sr=8-2

Pretty huge looking compared to this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ritchey-Comp-Press-Semi-Headset/dp/B0056F9L8G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_1

or am I missing something?

These are for 2 different headset standards. If you’ve the first one, you can’t fit the second.

Also:

can take it out easy

You say you can remove a headset easily but don’t know the standards are different? By easy, do you mean “easy as I have a rocket tool, but know it needs a lot of force”?

This may be a helpful read for you:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/headset-standards

Dude have a look at point one racing split stem. It’s a beautiful stem that requires a shorter steering tube

Check it out and you’ll not be disappointed

Had a simialar problem recently.

The Crank Brothers headset is useless really. You should look at the acros one, its a lot better quality.

http://www.balfa.co.uk/parts/headsets/ahead-headsets/ah-01-stainless-headset

Then a Spank Spike single bolt stem.

Combined these are as low as you can really get and about 48 – 50mm total height from top of tube.

I removed the headset that was in my frame when I got it. I made myself a tool and with a lot of force, it came out, so that is no problem.

Sorry for my limited knowledge, is this not the sort of thing I need? It would be perfect if so.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cane-creek-40-series-zerostack-1-18-inch-headset/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk&utm_content=Cane_Creek-Cane_Creek_40_Series_ZeroStack_1_1%2f8_Inch_Headset-Black

I have a Specialized Rockhopper and this is the headset I currently have in it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ritchey-Comp-A-Head-headset/dp/B005K8KU2A

My local shop said it wasn’t safe

I thought that but the store said it’s not a good idea.

So welding’s not strong/reliable enough, how do they think the rest of the bikes held together?

Sorry for my limited knowledge, is this not the sort of thing I need? It would be perfect if so.

No, that requires a larger (44mm) internal diameter head tube, yours is 34mm.

Read that last link I posted. Or look at
http://bicycleheadsets.com/uploads/SHIS_PR_TECH_DOCUMENT_v2__3_.pdf
which lists them all (there’s a lot of combos possible!)

There are different standards of head tube, and different steerers.