Threaded steerers question - clueless content

[leapgate]

Hi all,

When I bought my first "proper" MTB in '94 it had a threadless headset, as has every other bike I've owned since. I therefore have little knowledge of the world of threaded steerers.

My question is this: how critical is the length? I am looking for a P2 to go on my Kilauea, the fork in situ has a 163mm steerer. There's a P2 in the for sale section here with a 160mm steerer. Is that 3mm loss going to result in certain death, or be completely fine?

The bike will be ridden properly once it's up together, so it needs to be strong enough for proper off road, not just pootling duties.

TIA

 

[marc two tone]

hi, with threaded steerers, the headset is also factored in. i.e stack height. the lower the stack, the longer the steerer you will have spare and vice-versa.

providing you're sticking with the same headset, have a look at the top end of the headset. if there is any spacers that you can ditch or swap for a slimmer one then, that may buy you a mil or two. beyond that, undo the threaded top locknut and, by hand, wind it fully down and see on the inside how far up the locknut the steerer comes.

If it virtually touches the top, or butts up even when fully nipped up.. you have a mil or two to spare in that department(no more than 2mm though). so, you may be able to absorb the 3mm difference without changing the headset. as for the top locknut, you could even swap it out for a shallower one. over the years i have noticed that some are slightly deeper than others by 1-2mm. another option perhaps?

Depending on how much you need/want the p2's...it is also worth considering changing the headset for one with 3mm or so less stack height. you can always have excess steerer as you can fill-in with spacers. too short and it gets tricky.

good luck mate.