I've just come to fit my stem and forks onto my Dr Jekyll and the steerer is about 8mm short of the top of the stem. It clears the top clamp bolt but I'm wondering if this is enough. It's a stumpy burly stem so I'd say the steerer comes about 85% of the way up. Is this enough? or should I look for a new stem?
[i]Is this enough?[/i]
No. I know Thomson say 3mm for their X4 stems
[i]should I look for a new stem?[/i]
Yes, FSA stems have pretty low stack heights
I'd probably ride it, but if it's going to niggle you get a new stem, any spacers you could lose?
No there's not a single spacer in the stack. I'll ride it while I learn my manuals but I'm going to order a 40mm stack height stem from CRC before I start jumping.
But if a 40mm stack height stem can hang on OK, what's wrong with using the same amount of steerer in a taller stem? Particularly if you are above the top bolt.
IMHO I would say if the top of the steerer is above the top bolt your prob alright? Also do you like teh stem? If so try getting a headset with a lower stack height if poss - do you like your headset? Thats what I did when I built my HT up - I did all the measuring and totted the stack heinght up and go a headset that I know would fit?
I did it for a while. OK, I wasn't jumping, but I'm still alive 🙂
it should be fine, like brant says if a 40mm stem will grip, why wont 40mm of a 60mm (for example) grip? Ive seen plenty of stems with just a single steerer pinch bolt too, and u say the steerer does clear the top, second bolt.
Come to think of it I rode a bike with a short steerer/stem overlap as you describe for so long I forgot about it.
If YOU dont trust it then change it as you will have a psychological/confidence problem riding the bike, but physics wise it will be fine.
I'd ride it, infact i do ride one almost exactly the same and i jump and do all manner of silly stuff.
Maybe I'll put my wallet away for now then and see how it fairs 🙂 ta for saving me a few quid guys.
I've had this recently. My view is that if the stem tightens up OK and all bolts are overlapping the steerer it should be OK. (Therefore a 60mm stem may not be OK where a 40mm one is, if the upper clamp bolt is tightening onto air).
However I did ride a titec stem which was too low...the upper clamp tightened a bit tighter and what was happening was that the steerer was being forced into the hollow along the stem. Still worked OK though!