Stem fitting instructions
How to fit your Sturdy Cycles titanium stem, and the optional computer mount and accessories. Every step has a short video. Read the whole page before you start.
Before you start
Important
The stem holds your handlebar and steers your bike. If you are not confident fitting it, have it fitted by a qualified bicycle mechanic.
Use a torque wrench for every bolt and never exceed the values in these instructions. Start at the lower end of any range: it is almost always enough.
Apply anti-seize to every thread before fitting. All torque values here assume anti-seize has been used.
Carbon handlebars and carbon steerers: apply carbon assembly (grip) paste to the clamping surfaces.
Fits: 1 1/8 in (28.6 mm) steerer and 31.8 mm handlebar clamp.
What’s in the box
| Item | Part | Qty | Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stem body | 1 | |
| 2 | Headset spacer (shown for reference, not supplied) | – | |
| 3 | Top cap | 1 | |
| 4 | Headset preload bolt, M6 | 1 | T25 |
| 5 | Barrel nut | 1 | |
| 6 | Raised countersunk bolt, M5 × 16 (pinch and rear face plate) | 4 | T25 |
| 7 | Face plate | 1 | |
| 8 | Countersunk bolt, M4 × 12 (front face plate) | 2 | T20 |
Optional computer mount kit
| Item | Part | Qty | Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Computer mount | 1 | |
| 10 | Pivot washer (fits one way round: see step 5) | 1 | |
| 11 | Low cap head bolt, M5 × 8 | 1 | T25 |
| 12 | Computer clip (Garmin / Wahoo) | 1 | |
| 13 | Clip screws, M3 | 2 | Usually 2 mm hex or T10 |
| 14 | Camera / light adaptor | 1 | |
| 15 | Adaptor screws, M3 | 2 | Usually 2 mm hex or T10 |
Tools and materials
- Torque wrench covering 1–8 Nm
- T20 and T25 Torx bits
- For the accessory screws: a key to suit the screws supplied with your accessories, usually a 2 mm hex key or T10 Torx
- Anti-seize compound
- Carbon assembly (grip) paste, if your handlebar or steerer is carbon
Torque summary
| Joint | Item | Thread | Key | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headset preload | 4 | M6 | T25 | 1–2 Nm |
| Steerer pinch bolts | 6 | M5 | T25 | 5 Nm* |
| Face plate, front: tighten FIRST | 8 | M4 | T20 | 5 Nm |
| Face plate, rear | 6 | M5 | T25 | 5 Nm* |
| Computer mount | 11 | M5 | T25 | 5 Nm |
| Accessory screws | 13, 15 | M3 | 1–2 Nm |
All values with anti-seize on the threads.
* Metal handlebars and steerers
Metal-on-metal clamping surfaces can have less friction, and friction (grip) paste is less effective on them. If the M5 pinch bolts or rear face plate bolts (6) do not hold securely at 5 Nm, it is safe to increase them to 6–7 Nm.
Never exceed 7 Nm, and never go above 5 Nm on a carbon handlebar or carbon steerer.
Why the torque figures matter
A torque wrench doesn’t measure clamping force; it measures how hard the bolt is to turn. Most of that effort, typically 85–90%, goes into overcoming friction in the threads and under the bolt head. Only the rest actually stretches the bolt and clamps the parts together.
Change the friction and you change the clamping force for the same reading. A lubricated bolt clamps considerably harder than a dry one at the same torque, so our figures assume clean threads with anti-seize applied. Stainless and titanium bolts in particular must never be fitted dry: the threads can gall (cold-weld), giving a false reading and damaging both parts.
Use only the values in these instructions, not figures from other components, and start at the lower end of any range. Over-tightening is the most common cause of damaged carbon handlebars and steerers.
Fitting the stem
Step 1: Fit the stem
- Fit the barrel nut (5) into the stem from below. Apply anti-seize to the pinch bolts (6) and screw them into the barrel nut a few turns only, so the clamp stays fully open. They hold the barrel nut in place while you fit the stem.
- Fit headset spacers to the steerer as required.
- If the steerer is carbon, apply carbon assembly paste where the stem clamps.
- Slide the stem onto the steerer. If it doesn’t slide on freely, loosen the pinch bolts a little more.
Step 2: Set the headset preload
- Fit the top cap (3).
- Apply anti-seize to the preload bolt (4) and fit it through the top cap.
- With the pinch bolts still loose, tighten the preload bolt just enough to remove play from the headset: 1–2 Nm. The steering should still turn freely.
This step assumes your steerer has already been cut to the correct length for your stem and spacers. Cutting the steerer is covered in our separate headset fitting instructions.
Step 3: Tighten the steerer clamp bolts
- Align the stem with the front wheel.
- Tighten the pinch bolts (6) evenly to 5 Nm.
Step 4: Fit the handlebar and face plate
- If the handlebar is carbon, apply carbon assembly paste to the clamp area.
- Position the handlebar in the stem and fit the face plate (7).
- Front bolts first. Fit the two M4 front bolts (8) with anti-seize and tighten them until the gap between the face plate and stem is fully closed: 5 Nm.
- Then fit the two rear M5 bolts (6) with anti-seize and tighten to 5 Nm.
Optional computer mount
Step 5: Fit the computer mount
- Locate the computer mount (9) on the face plate.
- Fit the pivot washer (10) with its curved face towards the mount and the flat face towards the bolt head.
- Apply anti-seize and fit the M5 × 8 bolt (11) loosely.
- The mount pivots around the handlebar: set it to the angle you want.
- Tighten the bolt to 5 Nm.
Step 6: Fit the computer clip and accessories
- Fit the computer clip (12) on top of the mount with its two M3 screws (13): 1–2 Nm.
- Fit the camera or light adaptor (14) underneath with its two M3 screws (15): 1–2 Nm.
The end of the mount has four M3 threaded through-holes on a 20 mm circle, so accessories fit on top and underneath. Depending on the combination, some fit rotated 90° using the other pair of holes. The clip and adaptor you receive may differ in shape from the drawing but fit the same way.
Accessory limits
Maximum 2.4 mm thread engagement from each side. Screws from the top and bottom share the same holes and must not meet in the middle. Choose screw lengths to suit your accessory.
Maximum total payload 250 g. Where possible, fit accessories underneath and hanging rearwards, so the weight sits further under the stem.
The mount works as a lever. The further an accessory sits from the handlebar, the more leverage its weight has on the mount, and the more it shakes on rough roads. Going over these limits won’t usually cause a sudden failure, but the extra vibration shortens the fatigue life of the mount and makes your computer harder to read.
Looking after your stem
- Check all bolt torques after your first ride, and periodically as part of routine maintenance.
- Re-apply anti-seize whenever a bolt is removed and refitted.
- After a crash, inspect the stem, face plate, computer mount and bolts carefully for any signs of damage. If in doubt, send it to us for inspection or take it to a qualified bicycle mechanic.
Questions? Contact us.
Warranty
Everything we make is guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner against defects in design, materials and workmanship. If a part we made fails because of a defect, we will repair or replace it.
Parts we buy in (the bolts, computer clip and camera / light adaptor) are covered by their makers’ warranties rather than ours.
Not covered:
- crash or impact damage
- damage from fitting or use that doesn’t follow these instructions, including over-tightening, fitting bolts without anti-seize, or going over the accessory limits
- modified parts
- normal wear and cosmetic marks
To make a claim, contact us with your order number (your order confirmation email is your proof of purchase) and photos of the problem. Stop riding a part you think is damaged.
This guarantee is given by Sturdy Cycles Ltd, The Old Tannery, Lower Keyford, Frome, BA11 4AR, United Kingdom. It applies worldwide to products bought from us or an authorised dealer. It is in addition to your legal rights as a consumer and does not affect them. See also our terms of service.
Revision history
| Rev | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| A | October 2026 | First issue |
This page is document SC-IP-ST-001 revision A. The PDF version has the same content.