Vital Tech Tip: How To Adjust Your Steering Stem

Feel like you need to tighten or loosen your steering stem? Take a look and see how Michael Lindsay explains step by step to do just that.

[FixinRide-Official-]

I gotta report back on this... I was informed by a buddy that my steering was too loose and could be why my turns are bit more unstable... I tighten my steering Stem up a bit and WOW. What a difference!? I hold line much better! Thanks.

[carreteras]

good, clear video. the top triple clamp nut on my YZ125 is 105 ft lbs! just make sure to check the service manual for proper torque specs. the long wrench gave you good torque, though.

[loco-moto]

That’s how to videos are great man I couldn’t find a video like this till now.

[midmichiganorv]

Fixed my bike within few minutes thanks

[vaguincolombia]

Thank you so much for your video. It helped me a lot.

[FixinRide-Official-]

MIKE... Why do you personally like the amount of tightness that you do? And how do you feel about steering dampeners?

[tannerrogers]

I like mine cranked. I go through bearings way too fast but it's worth it lol

[RideWithTheWolf]

So, if you tap on the top clamp it will come off and you can lube the top bearing without removing the forks right? :D

[vanakunn]

Is the ease of steering only due to bearing tightening or may be smth else (i.e. front end height) as well? I have 2023 beta rr300 and on slow speeds have the "too easy stearing" / the front wants to max to one or other side real easy (need to fight it to correct the steering) which makes landing quite unstable (i.e jumping logs, etc). Once i hav weighted the bike and tilted even a bit to either side, it instantly wants to go full steer. I know, stronger arms would not hurt 😅 just that my old ktm exc 250 didn't have such behaviour and was rather "tank" - needed to use strength to steer the bike rather than as with beta need a lot of strength to countersteer

[allanmcelroy]

IS it then my steering stem or forks I have to adjust? Was trying to safety my 84 kawi 550 and struggling with 1/8 in of free play between tight bottom nut and plastic rubber stem cap (keep dirt out of grease).

[ChristisKing]

i loosend mine too much and it dropped 2-3 inches from where the centre bolt connects. any tips on getting it back up its hard to wiggle it back up

[Cize]

The other day I went to hop on my bike and the Handle bars were stiff/ stuck at first, but I just gave it a little push and it broke loose. Also All of a sudden my bike started feeling wobbly and like it doesn’t wanna lean in corners or turn well, along with the handle bars just feeling weird. Would this be the steering bearings or what?

[BadRobotica]

Hey folks
Question? What the did he say after Hello?

[Mrjon]

Why can’t you do the bottom triple clamps and losen the top center? This would save your fork height being wrong after right?

[dw]

Does the front end need tobe off the ground to adjust and tighten up the streeing

[ronniealbano]

Hi! I'm planning to buy a 2010 GSXR 750 and it's just hard to steer. Is this one will work to solve the problem? Thank you!

[roadwarrior]

isn't there supposed to be a lock washer with tabs you have to bend down first?

[S.L.T.S.]

I got a 2021 rmz 250 and the back end of the bike is to loose how do I adjust that

[Viggen]

Why no torque wrench for the upper nut? Lol

[ryanrodriguez]

Michael bud i really appreciate your videos but you only should loosen the bottom pinch bolts not the top, this ensures you wont change the fork height and then go back and tighten the lower pinch bolt. of course that's only if your tightening the steering stem. Idkn maybe im over thinking this and just go ahead a loosen the top.