Should I Cut Down My Steerer Tube?
One of the most commonly asked questions in cycling is whether or not to cut down your steerer tube. In this post, we look at what it means to cut down your steerer tube, how to do it - and whether or not it would benefit you as a rider.
Where Is The Steerer Tube And What Is It?
Every bike fork has a steerer tube - it’s attached to the top of the fork and fits through the headset of the bike frame. It’s designed to be compatible with the bike's headset, allowing you to steer it.
Steerer Tube Size Guide
There are a few typical rules to finding the right steerer tube for your bike and some standard sizes to work with.
Steerer Tubes typically come in the following sizes: 1.5 inches, 1.25 inches, 1 â…› inch and 1 inch. Most modern bikes have either a 1 â…› or a 1.5 inch of a 1 â…› tapered steerer tube.
Steerer Tube Material Guide
Steerer tubes are most commonly made from either aluminium or carbon fibre, as you would expect only premium & high-end steer tubes are made from carbon fibre.
Why Do People Cut A Steerer Tube?
Steerer tubes are usually supplied in longer lengths than needed - this is intentional so that they can work with several different bike frames whilst also allowing the rider to choose their preferred handlebar height. People cut down these tubes to ensure no long steer tube rises dangerously at the front of the bike.
If you have a full-length steerer tube - it’s almost essential to get it cut down - removing the threat of a lump of metal protruding through the front of the bike. If you are thinking about cutting down the existing steerer tube on your bike, only do so if you need more than two spacers on top of the stem to correct the height.
Cutting Steerer Tube Advantages
It’s widely accepted that cutting down your steerer tube is safer than having the tube poking out of the front of the bike. Many riders also like the clean finish, which sees the stem flush with the headset tube cap. If you are a weight addict looking to shave off every gram of weight from your bike, then there are some weight savings to be gained.
Cutting Steerer Tube Disadvantages
If you want to move your bike forks onto another bike, then you will probably need to leave extra length on the steerer tube to ensure it fits. Cutting your stem down also eliminates the chance of adjusting it in the future. Cut-down forks are also worth less on the used market, as they may not fit several different bikes - another consideration if you consider selling in the future.
How To Avoid Cutting Too Much Off Steerer Tube?
We recommend using a couple of spacers at the top of the stem, which in our view - allows adjustability whilst also protecting the resale value of your bike and its components.
What If My Steerer Tube Is Too Short?
If you have cut too much off your steerer tube or purchased a bike on the second-hand market and the tube is too short, you do have solutions! You can use steerer tube extenders, high-rise stems, and high-rise handlebars.