Brake levers top tube clearance

[THEFALLGUY]

Most picks of hardtails i see on websites and in mags have virtually no spacers under the stem. This means in a crash the bars will spin and the levers will whack the top tube. I am a bit scared of this so inspace the stem up and tilt the levers far enough to clear my frame because i dont want to knacker it. Does anyone else care about this or is it just me.

 

[02gf74]

Yes it is a problem and many a frame has scratches and even dents because of it.

Two things you can do. Do not fully tighten the bolt for the brake lever clamp but just enough to stop it moving, so in crash, the lever can move.

Use Al alloy bolts, these cannot be done up as tight as steel or Ti - see above, plus in a crash may even sheer off, same principle as waisted alloy rear mech hanger bolt.

Or just not crash. Crashing isnt the main problem, most of the damage caused to my bikes is either during transport or falling over.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

All my bike builds have this uncanny knack of touching the top tube with the end of the bars. A good reason for not having bar ends on them. Rubber grips don't bend tubes.
Never come across this scenario though. Can you get plastic covers for the bolt heads? Like they have on ITM quill stem bolts.
Just an idea

Mike

 

[THEFALLGUY]

Interested to try dropping them so low the bars touch the top tube and not the brake levers. I have mine setup so the levers clear the top tube now with a few spacers. It feels comfy i just wondered what everyone else did.

Cheers for the replies