In my limited experience of these new-fangled threadless forks, I've observed that two-bolt stems creak more than four-bolt stems. Does this concur with others experience? I ask as the bike I ride the most has a handlebar creak and a two-bolt stem. I detest creaking and would gladly lay down some cash and labour to replace it with a 4 bolt version. The other variables in this is the standard vs oversize handlebars (thinner version on the 2-bolter) and 1" vs 1 1/8" steerers.
DeF.
-- e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.
In my limited experience of these new-fangled threadless forks, I've observed that two-bolt stems creak more than four-bolt stems. Does this concur with others experience? I ask as the bike I ride the most has a handlebar creak and a two-bolt stem. I detest creaking and would gladly lay down some cash and labour to replace it with a 4 bolt version. The other variables in this is the standard vs oversize handlebars (thinner version on the 2-bolter) and 1" vs 1 1/8" steerers.
Easton have the following to say about 2 bolt vs 4 bolt :
In my limited experience of these new-fangled threadless forks, I've observed that two-bolt stems creak more than four-bolt stems. Does this concur with others experience? I ask as the bike I ride the most has a handlebar creak and a two-bolt stem. I detest creaking and would gladly lay down some cash and labour to replace it with a 4 bolt version. The other variables in this is the standard vs oversize handlebars (thinner version on the 2-bolter) and 1" vs 1 1/8" steerers.
Easton have the following to say about 2 bolt vs 4 bolt :
I have 2 bolt stems on all my bikes, they don't creak. What's wrong on yours?[/QUOTE] me hiver!
use some teflon grease (red stuff) on your bolts, and don't leave the bolts for too long without an adjustment...dry bolt thread squeak avoided
you'll get some where the stem may rub the bars, but shouldnt really if they are both the right diam. and proper torque in the bolts (5Nm is enough usually)
In my limited experience of these new-fangled threadless forks, I've observed that two-bolt stems creak more than four-bolt stems. Does this concur with others experience? I ask as the bike I ride the most has a handlebar creak and a two-bolt stem. I detest creaking and would gladly lay down some cash and labour to replace it with a 4 bolt version. The other variables in this is the standard vs oversize handlebars (thinner version on the 2-bolter) and 1" vs 1 1/8" steerers.
Easton have the following to say about 2 bolt vs 4 bolt :
I have 2 bolt stems on all my bikes, they don't creak. What's wrong on yours?
me hiver!
use some teflon grease (red stuff) on your bolts, and don't leave the bolts for too long without an adjustment...dry bolt thread squeak avoided
you'll get some where the stem may rub the bars, but shouldnt really if they are both the right diam. and proper torque in the bolts (5Nm is enough usually)
Hmm, OK. I'll check the torque on the stem and make sure the bolts are greased. Might clean the stem and bars too to make sure there's no grit and see what happens. 50 inch pounds equals 5.6 Nm - I'll see how that goes.
DeF
-- e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.
In my limited experience of these new-fangled threadless forks, I've observed that two-bolt stems creak more than four-bolt stems. Does this concur with others experience? I ask as the bike I ride the most has a handlebar creak and a two-bolt stem. I detest creaking and would gladly lay down some cash and labour to replace it with a 4 bolt version. The other variables in this is the standard vs oversize handlebars (thinner version on the 2-bolter) and 1" vs 1 1/8" steerers.
Easton have the following to say about 2 bolt vs 4 bolt :
I have 2 bolt stems on all my bikes, they don't creak. What's wrong on yours?
me hiver!
use some teflon grease (red stuff) on your bolts, and don't leave the bolts for too long without an adjustment...dry bolt thread squeak avoided
you'll get some where the stem may rub the bars, but shouldnt really if they are both the right diam. and proper torque in the bolts (5Nm is enough usually)
Hmm, OK. I'll check the torque on the stem and make sure the bolts are greased. Might clean the stem and bars too to make sure there's no grit and see what happens. 50 inch pounds equals 5.6 Nm - I'll see how that goes.
DeF
-- e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.[/QUOTE] check the torque for your stem , it should be printed on the stem somewhere, if not then maybe check manufacturer's web site or your LBS, they are all different, my suggestion of 5Nm is as printed on my stems for two bolt face plates on my Deda, BBB, & ITM alloy stems using stainless bolts...
check the torque for your stem , it should be printed on the stem somewhere, if not then maybe check manufacturer's web site or your LBS, they are all different, my suggestion of 5Nm is as printed on my stems for two bolt face plates on my Deda, BBB, & ITM alloy stems using stainless bolts...
The thing to remember is that it's not so much the stem that matters, but the bars. It's not the stem that gets crushed by overtightening. That's why it's odd that bars don't have some recommended clamping force and that manufacturers aren't more cautious about bar & stem combinations.
check the torque for your stem , it should be printed on the stem somewhere, if not then maybe check manufacturer's web site or your LBS, they are all different, my suggestion of 5Nm is as printed on my stems for two bolt face plates on my Deda, BBB, & ITM alloy stems using stainless bolts...
The key is to make the bolt torque even.
Surely a four bolt stem spreads the load over the clamped area of the handlebars better than a two bolt stem (assuming the bolts are tightened to the same torque). This is acknowledged in the Easton article after an inconsequential point about bolt thickness.
check the torque for your stem , it should be printed on the stem somewhere, if not then maybe check manufacturer's web site or your LBS, they are all different, my suggestion of 5Nm is as printed on my stems for two bolt face plates on my Deda, BBB, & ITM alloy stems using stainless bolts...
The key is to make the bolt torque even.
Surely a four bolt stem spreads the load over the clamped area of the handlebars better than a two bolt stem (assuming the bolts are tightened to the same torque). This is acknowledged in the Easton article after an inconsequential point about bolt thickness.
It shares the compressive load, but sharpens the bending points by removing the ability of the bars to pivot around the line joining two bolts. At least, that's my understanding. Been a long time since I did any real engineering and that was only statics 🙂
