Foldable Bikes Party: How to adjust handlebar height

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One of the key things we do to make our test bikes handle better is adjusting handlebar height. Often, the off-the-shelf bar height doesn't lend itself to optimal handling.

Riders will often experiment with saddle height, tyre pressures. bar angle and suspension settings, but few are aware of the benefits of bar height. Bar height is also known as saddle-drop, measured by how far the top of the saddle sits above (or below) the bars. Elite riders normally have drop, where their bars sit below the saddle, whereas recreational riders usually don’t.

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Generally speaking, a lower handlebar height reduces your centre of gravity. By placing more weight over the front wheel, you increase traction. Additionally a lower bar height provides a more centred position between both wheels to improve bike control, especially during climbing. These traits are even more noticeable off-road, especially with larger wheeled bikes (29ers).

There is a limit: going too low can make the bike difficult to control. Luckily, experimenting with bar height is easy and most often free. The guide below applies to modern threadless style stems and headsets. If your stem has bolts pinching it onto the steerer tube, it’s most likely threadless.

Time: 15 minutes
Skill rating: Easy
Cost: Free

Tools you’ll need

A multi-tool or a set of Allen keys
A torque wrench or pre-set Torqkey is recommended, especially if working with carbon or lighter parts
Some stems, such as those from Zipp, Ritchey and Syncros, will use Torx keys rather than Allen bolts and so a T20 or T25 Torx key will be required