My only experience with a handlebar shim was quite positive. On one bike I replaced the drop bar with an Albatross bar that's 25.4 mm. On this bike I use a stem riser with a threadless stem and removable faceplate to make switching stems easy. I installed the Albatross bars on a cheap (I think it was Kalloy) stem that's 25.4 mm, and couldn't get the stem tightened down enough to prevent the bar from rotating in it, even though bar and stem were both 25.4 mm. I was nervous the entire time I was out on the one ride I took with this setup. I swapped the Kalloy stem out for a VO stem with a 26.0 mm clamp used a Nitto 25.4 to 26.0 shim, and it's rock steady---I can't move it with any reasonable force (in other words, I didn't jump up and down on it, but when I press down harder than I ever will when riding it doesn't move).
I think Rene's right that it could be tricky to install a shim in a traditional threaded stem with little clearance for the shim, but once that's done it should be solid. On Monday, May 29, 2017 at 11:44:22 AM UTC-4, René wrote: > > My experiences with the Nitto shims to try to fit 25.4 bars on 26mm stems > is the following: > - Once everything is set, they work very well. > - Installing them is a total PIA, as I end up scratching the bar since > it's so hard to slide them and adjust them in place when the center of the > bar is inside the stem. And I use the Nitto stem stretcher tool to open the > jaws of the stem to try to slide the three pieces in (2 shims + bar). > > Maybe I haven't figured the way to do it correctly, which may require two > people + who knows what else, but as I stated, I end up scratching the bars > multiple times. > > If anyone knows of a procedure to do it without scratching the bars, > please share. > > René > > On Mon, May 29, 2017 at 8:16 AM Sheldon Rothenberg <srthor...@gmail.com > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> I seek wisdom on the mysteries of shims. I get that shims are a device >> that enable one to use different dimensioned handlebars for your bike. Does >> using one compromise safety or integrity? Would using one make it harder >> for a klutzy non-mechanic to remove handlebars for shipping and reinstall >> as in packing a bike for shipment and unpacking for the ride? >> >> The context is my preparing for an overseas bike camping trip. The >> moustache handlebars (handlbar mustache shaped)that are on my Rivendell >> All-Rounder are not very compatible with my Ortlieb handlebar bag. In >> looking for alternative handlebars that would give more clearance and have >> slight drops in-between road and mountain bars, I found different but >> suitable bars from two sources. A Nitto model sold by Rivendell would >> require a shim. A one sold and made by Velo-Orange would not. In other >> words, should I make shim or non-shim a deciding factor or is it irrelevant >> in ease of packing and unpacking? >> >> >> Shelley >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com >> <javascript:>. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
