Clockwork- Bar and stem geometry

[Elsubstar]

I have just got a "97 C16R refurb together, and I put on some retro polished cromo riser bars that a mate lent me mainly cos they looked good. But when I took it out for a shake down ride, found it felt awful! The bars are 580 wide and the stem was only 80 mm long with a 10° rise. I decided to look at the original spec to see what was on the bike originally, I found the stem was 130mm long with a 10° rise with flat bars. What was the common width of bars in 97? I am guessing the original stem and bar geometry set up for the frame would be the best possible position for the frame? I am thinking of replicating the geometry but with wider flat bars and a 20mm shorter stem with the same 10° rise. Does this sound acceptable? By the way the bike is a 17" frame, I am 5'9", the larger end of the scale for the frame size.

I guess what I want to do is get the best out of the geometry it has to offer whilst replicating the look (flat bar). I will probably spray the stem and bar to match the frame so may use an Eastern monkey lite flat bar.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Elsubstar]

geometry-

 

[Elsubstar]

The stem and bars I put on -

 

[Elsubstar]

another pic..

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

Posabuly not the bars, are your forks to long for the frame ?

 

[jax13]

i would try juggling stem height & length if your happy enough with the bar 7 see if you can get comfy before you shell out on everything.

i'm 5'10" and am riding a 17" clockwork with a 0 degree rise, 90mm stem & with a wide-ish flat bar & bar ends it rode well & was nice and comfortable.

I have just swapped out the bar for a ti brahma bar & put the original forks back on which has dropped the a-c measurement by 1 1/4 inches & it actually feels comfier to ride, if a little less upright than before.

the stem you currently have on there may work with a flat bar & bar ends too so have a play about. there is no point in getting it back to factory geometry if it doesn't suit your height & posture.

 

[Elsubstar]

Posabuly not the bars, are your forks to long for the frame ?

The A/C measurement is 420mm and I think the original F7 forks were 380mm, so yes the forks are too big. I am keeping my eye open for some Pace RC30s and/or some F7s but they are few and far between, especially with 1" threadless steerers.

 

[Anthony]

Posabuly not the bars, are your forks to long for the frame ?

The A/C measurement is 420mm and I think the original F7 forks were 380mm, so yes the forks are too big. I am keeping my eye open for some Pace RC30s and/or some F7s but they are few and far between, especially with 1" threadless steerers.

I suggest you re-measure the A-C of that Marzocchi and you'll find that it's at least 460 - so you did need to reduce the stem length to c80-100 to rescue the steering from being barge-like.

It may be that it's the narrow bars that are making it feel unstable, but it can often be that it's different from what you're accustomed to and you need a few hours riding to get used to it.

Of course the other possibility, as it's such a well-bred frame, is that it's embarrassed to be seen in public with bar ends on its riser bars and it's trying to throw you off to get its own back? :shock:

Seriously though, if you took them off, it would make the bar effectively wider and that would help a bit.

 

[Andy B]

I have a 10th anniversary Clockwork (pics in sig)

I'm ~5'9" and the Clockwork is a 17"

It has 620mm X lite XC2 riser bars & a 90mm 10° rise Hope stem with a modern RS Reba fork wound down to 85mm travel (Orange did say the frame could take upto 100m forks)

To me it handles perfectly with the set up I have

I would echo Anthony's thoughts on the bar width

And on the bar ends on risers

Each to their own with bike builds, but for me risers + bar ends is a big no-no

 

[Jussa]

First of all great bike very clean and looking good, my first C16R had a KORE stem and some World Force riser bars, and it did feel weird to ride, replaced with an Original Orange SK8 stem and HotRod's it's a totally new ride, much better, responsive, and generally more comfortable. (Pics in my gallery) my 2nd & 3rd C16R's are going to go along similar lines keep us informed on how it develops if you change the set up. Oh adding the Pace Forks (RC38's) didn't have much effect on handling under normal conditions but off road really complimented the set up, Pace & Orange go together like Port & Cheese

Jussa