Help me fix Habanero mt bike?



Several years ago I bought a Habanero mt bike.

I bought a 17 inch frame which I think in retrospect
was a bit small for me

I have plenty of adjustability in the seat height.....
but where I find it really uncomfortable is in my
handlebar height and the "reach" to the bars.

My bars need to be higher......and farther forward
towards front wheel.

Can I just replace the neck on this bike to solve this
problem?

Isn't there something called a riser neck..... that
angles at say 120 degs....and will allow greater reach
and height? My current neck is at 90 degs

If yes..... are BOA necks a good brand to get? If
yes... any advice on what model BOA to get?

Any and ALL advice will be appreciated as I have a VERY
high quality bike just setting unused cause its
uncomfortable to ride.

Thanks in advance!
 
>Several years ago I bought a Habanero mt bike.
>
>I bought a 17 inch frame which I think in retrospect
>was a bit small for me
>
>I have plenty of adjustability in the seat height.....
>but where I find it really uncomfortable is in my
>handlebar height and the "reach" to the bars.
>
>My bars need to be higher......and farther forward
>towards front wheel.
>
>Can I just replace the neck on this bike to solve this
>problem?
>
>Isn't there something called a riser neck..... that
>angles at say 120 degs....and will allow greater reach
>and height? My current neck is at 90 degs
>
>If yes..... are BOA necks a good brand to get? If
>yes... any advice on what model BOA to get?
>
>Any and ALL advice will be appreciated as I have a VERY
>high quality bike just setting unused cause its
>uncomfortable to ride.
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>


Yup, you can get a longer stem and/or one with a greater rise. You can also
look for a pair of riser handlebars if you're currently running flat bars.

That said, you may not be all that fond of how the bike handles with the new
hardware on it.

Or, you could sell the Hab and buy a bike that fits. You'd certainly take a $$
hit, but it's you'd have a bike that fits.

Oh, and buy from a shop. Habs are great, but if you don't know how to get a
bike that fits, don't buy mail order.

As for specific brands of parts, until you get the fit dialed, get the cheapest
stuff you can find. Once you know what lengths and rises you like, then buy
spendy stuff. The Profile BOA is a perfectly adequate, if ugly, stem. I've had
one on one of my bikes for two years with no trouble at all.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
>Yup, you can get a longer stem and/or one with a greater rise. You can also
>look for a pair of riser handlebars if you're currently running flat bars.


Im pretty sure they are flat bars. So a set of riser
handlebars might be an easier better fix than changing
stem out huh?

Any specific recommendations of a GOOD quality set of
riser bars to buy?

>That said, you may not be all that fond of how the bike handles with the new
>hardware on it.


True.

>Or, you could sell the Hab and buy a bike that fits. You'd certainly take a $$
>hit, but it's you'd have a bike that fits.


Yeah I thought of that as well.... just sell the bike
take my loss and buy another bike. Actually my main
form of riding is commuting to work.....so a Hab cross
bike might be a better "type" of bike for that huh?
 
[email protected] wrote:
>> Yup, you can get a longer stem and/or one with a greater rise. You
>> can also look for a pair of riser handlebars if you're currently
>> running flat bars.

>
> Im pretty sure they are flat bars. So a set of riser
> handlebars might be an easier better fix than changing
> stem out huh?


No, swapping out a stem is much easier than installing a new handlebar. To
switch to a riser, you have to remove grips, shifters & brakes -- and MAY
have to change cables if current ones are too short. (Also possible with
the new stem, but not quite as likely; plus at least the
grips/shifters/brakes can stay put.)

> Any specific recommendations of a GOOD quality set of


>> Or, you could sell the Hab and buy a bike that fits. You'd certainly
>> take a $$ hit, but it's you'd have a bike that fits.

>
> Yeah I thought of that as well.... just sell the bike
> take my loss and buy another bike. Actually my main
> form of riding is commuting to work.....so a Hab cross
> bike might be a better "type" of bike for that huh?


How long a commute? Have you tried skinny "road-type" tires on your current
bike?

Swap that stem, change those tires, enjoy your bike.

Bill "go to an LBS if you need help w/changes" S.
 

>No, swapping out a stem is much easier than installing a new handlebar.


Ahh yes..... you are right. Thanks for head up!

>How long a commute? Have you tried skinny "road-type" tires on your current
>bike?
>
>Swap that stem, change those tires, enjoy your bike.


Not very far commute really

And yes.... you are right i should just take it to LBS
and have them do it

Problem is Id have to take it to St Louis which is a
two hr drive south of here. I live in very small town
with no LBS

Do you have any advice on what brand/model stem to tell
local LBS to try/use?

This is a VERY high quality bike...and I don't wanna
cheap out and put a cheap stem on it. Plus.... do you
think the LBS will give me any credit for my old stem?

Also..... have any rough idea what it might cost to
have LBS do everything?
 
[email protected] wrote:
>> No, swapping out a stem is much easier than installing a new
>> handlebar.

>
> Ahh yes..... you are right. Thanks for head up!
>
>> How long a commute? Have you tried skinny "road-type" tires on your
>> current bike?
>>
>> Swap that stem, change those tires, enjoy your bike.

>
> Not very far commute really
>
> And yes.... you are right i should just take it to LBS
> and have them do it
>
> Problem is Id have to take it to St Louis which is a
> two hr drive south of here. I live in very small town
> with no LBS
>
> Do you have any advice on what brand/model stem to tell
> local LBS to try/use?
>
> This is a VERY high quality bike...and I don't wanna
> cheap out and put a cheap stem on it. Plus.... do you
> think the LBS will give me any credit for my old stem?
>
> Also..... have any rough idea what it might cost to
> have LBS do everything?


Have you contacted Mark Hickey at Habanero? He would be more than happy to
advise you, I'm sure.

The Profile BOA stem is fine; there are also great deals available on Easton
stems right now (fancier name and finish). The trick is knowing what size
to buy, and how to install it correctly. Any book or website on basic bike
maintenance should have all the info you'd need.

Skinny tires are also easy to try, and will make a BIG difference in your
commute ride, assuming it's all on pavement.

Bill "any friends who ride/wrench a little?" S.
 
>Have you contacted Mark Hickey at Habanero? He would be more than happy to
>advise you, I'm sure.


Nope..... haven't yet. Hoped maybe he'd see this and
chime in.

If not..... Il email him direct with some pics of my
bike so he can "see" what Im talkin abt. <G>

At any rate... i wanted to get some opinions on how
best fix the problem first.
 
[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Several years ago I bought a Habanero mt bike.
>
> I bought a 17 inch frame which I think in retrospect
> was a bit small for me
>
> I have plenty of adjustability in the seat height.....
> but where I find it really uncomfortable is in my
> handlebar height and the "reach" to the bars.
>
> My bars need to be higher......and farther forward
> towards front wheel.
>
> Can I just replace the neck on this bike to solve this
> problem?
>
> Isn't there something called a riser neck..... that
> angles at say 120 degs....and will allow greater reach
> and height? My current neck is at 90 degs
>
> If yes..... are BOA necks a good brand to get? If
> yes... any advice on what model BOA to get?
>
> Any and ALL advice will be appreciated as I have a VERY
> high quality bike just setting unused cause its
> uncomfortable to ride.
>
> Thanks in advance!


Yeah, having a bike that doesn't quite fit sucks.
Luckily, there are ways to remedy it. Here's some examples:
http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/meet/multiwheel/index.html
Get in touch with Vog the Smeltor. He should be able to help you out.

/s
 
[email protected] wrote:

>>Have you contacted Mark Hickey at Habanero? He would be more than happy to
>>advise you, I'm sure.

>
>Nope..... haven't yet. Hoped maybe he'd see this and
>chime in.


MMmmmmm... it could happen! ;-)

>If not..... Il email him direct with some pics of my
>bike so he can "see" what Im talkin abt. <G>
>
>At any rate... i wanted to get some opinions on how
>best fix the problem first.


Of course, we'll be more than happy to help work out any fit issues.

If you have a general idea of what kind of changes you need to make,
the following chart should be very useful to determine the stem you
need to put the bars right where you want 'em...

http://www.habcycles.com/fitting.html

To use it, you just plot your current stem on the chart, go up and/or
back and forth how ever far you want to move them, and then pick the
closest stem to the intersecting point to get there.

FWIW, I ride a "urbanized" MTB probably 5,000 miles a year in the
Phoenix area and find it works out very well.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame
 
>Of course, we'll be more than happy to help work out any fit issues.

Mark....

Can I email you some digital pics of my current
bar/stem on my Habanero mt bike so you can advise me
better maybe?
 

Similar threads