funny steering issues

[FluffyChicken]

My front end on my recently built bike felt really crap switched the Continental Explorer Pro to a Continental Twister SS and it feels much much better.

Handlebars are a bit odd, but then they are super wide especially to what I was used to, that and my front end is now a touch higher.

80mm seems very short, these 15" bikes ?
(Clicking on the link to it now)
120 to 150mm would be normal for this era bike.

You might feel LAG from the MAGs as you turn, though going faster wouldn't normally make this worse (normal slower twisty stuff, but you don't notice it after a bit and in fact I found it weird going on my rigid bike )

MAG would not alter the geometry much especial when riding the bike.
They are the correct pressure ~40PSI

EDIT just seen the post and they're MAG20's not 21's


EDIT again
it does look very high and short in the stem area.
Loose the spacer and just use the normal 1mm or so that it would have had, could you not try one of your other stems on it ?

 

[lewis1641]

Its the first time i've ridden it so nothing really to compare it to! I do know that the wheels are not particularly light. I will check everything again and definately swap stems over. Cheers for advice guys

 

[legrandefromage]

make sure no washers are missing and that you have the right type of bearings in the headset - some fit and feel right until a load is placed and the bearing cage starts rubbing against the bearing cups.

With older suspension forks, the legs flex which makes steering feel weird. Make sure the fork brace is tightened up along with all associated fork bolts/ wheel QRs.

 

[otherself]

If it's new installed stuff it takes a few good miles to bed-in as they say, give it time. If it persists you've either over-greased it or the area the crown race sits on the lower fork isn't quite level (they're easily damaged from any prior removal of the race with screwdrivers and mallets).

 

[FluffyChicken]

If you don't mind traveling across the big bridge north of you I have rockshox pumps you can borrow and probably one or two stems to try (quill) if needed.

 

[lewis1641]

Thanks for the offer fluffy but i've a fair few stems in the shed and a pump so should be sorted on that front. They have 40 psi in each leg.headset is an unknown as it came with the bike. Think i'm going to replace it to be honest then i know i can discount it as being a problem. It looks pretty battered anyway. Not checked forks for tightness so i.ll do that too. Cheers again.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Quick one, the 'unneeded' spacer in the headset. Is it there because you're steerer is too long and the person before was too lazy to cut it ? They came in 3cm increments of length so you may be able to cut it down.. assuming you're at the top of it's length and not the bottom.

 

[lewis1641]

Had an hour for a quick ride this evening so took the khs out again. Didn't have time to strip the headset but did put a 140mm kore stem on. The problem is definately still there but the change of stem is a definate improvement though. I will take all advice on board though

 

[FluffyChicken]

I'm having a look over the pictures..
Other than try a different headset or forks just to make sure..

To make it look proper drop the fork crown down the stantion so that 3mm of stantion is showing. That's the standard setting for them. It looks like you have them at the top of the stantion at the moment.

 

[lewis1641]

they are right at the top. i'll adjust that.

having swapped the stem i am now convinced its the headset so i'm on the lookout for a replacement.

the stem made some difference but i had convinced myself it would make all the difference! if only life was that easy.

thanks for the tip on the forks. also didnt know theyt were 20's so cheers for pointing that out.

dave