How to Raise Handlebars on Specialized Bike? – 3 Easy Method

Specialized Bikes Components Inc. is a magical name in the bike industry. This company has been serving the market with versatile styles of bikes ranging from mountain to e-bikes. So, you can grab the opportunity to have the best bike for riding on and off the tracks. But one prominent part of buying these bikes is sizing the bike or adjusting the handlebars. Then, how to raise handlebars on specialized bike?

Raising handlebars depends on the type of setup of the specialized bike. Also, the headset stem pattern may require different treatments to raise or lower the height of handlebars. All these processes require slackening the bolts using necessary tools and securing them again after adjusting the requirements.

Many bikers face difficulties when they don’t adjust the height of bike handlebars. In this post, I will discuss the variation of handlebars, their importance, and tutorials for raising handlebars on specialized bikes.

Why You Should Adjust Specialized Bike Handlebar Height

A raise of the handlebar can offer the biker multiple benefits. Individual comfort, better safety, and cheerful experience are notable among them. I want to let you learn why you should experiment, lower, or raise the height of handlebars in this part.

Some of the possible benefits of raising the handlebar:

• Impact on child growth

Raising handlebars can accommodate the child or teenager’s growth adequately. Suppose you have bought a specialized mountain bike for the kid. But the kid may not reach the handlebar, or it’s too small, making the kid’s posture unhealthy. Over time, the height of children grows. So, you must raise the height every few months to a year.

• Making a bike ready for a gift

Maybe you are expecting to regift a Road/Mountain bike (specialized bike) to the loving children or relatives. Otherwise, you may want to recycle the bike. For these regift and recycling purposes, it is better to raise the height of the handlebars so that the bike can be useable for additional times.

• Enhancing the visibility

It is always important to maintain better visibility when on the bike. It can lessen the chances of bike accidents. In case you are riding with a low handlebar, you may need to hunch over the handles to ride the bike. Some specialized bikes, like mountain bikes, have slightly lower handlebars than the seat height. Once you raise the height of the handlebar, it will give you the best control and comfort.

• Superior comfort

Raising the handlebars of a specialized bike has several health benefits and keeps you in comfort. Typically, many bikers get body pain, numb limbs, and distress while riding bicycles. Unfortunately, it has a connection with the low-height handlebars. When you hunch forward, the consistent bend of the upper body can cause those pains. To ensure a perfect hip and neutral spine, you should increase the height of the handlebars.

• Preventing injuries

Too loose or tight, inappropriate width of handlebars can lead to unexpected injuries. Also, you may lose track and fall because of faulty handlebar settings. If you can set them properly, there might be fewer chances of wounds and losing the race.

• Types of Handlebars on Specialized Bikes

The types of handlebars are essential to know before you start adjusting the height. Different types can fulfill specific purposes. Here is an example: specialized racing bikes have a handlebar that gives you proper control while pedaling the bicycle quickly.

Generally, you can find bikes with these types of handlebars:

1. Flat: You can keep your body position slightly bent to the front. It helps you keep a sore-free body after riding for a sufficient time. A flat handlebar is common in tour and mountain bikes.
2. Drop: If you love to gain speed while biking, drop handlebars are most suitable. These handlebars allow your upper body to bend more to push your weight to the front part of the bike.
3. Cruiser: You can sit upright to hold the cruiser handlebars. Mostly, these bars are available on cruiser bikes. But some comfy bicycles can also have these handlebars.

How Can You Raise the Handlebars on a Specialized Bike?

There are three essential parts of increasing the height of bike handlebars.

These are:

• Raising bike handlebars having a threadless headset system
• Raising bike handlebars having a threaded headset system
• Modification of the angle of the handlebar

You can adjust any bike’s handlebar heights if you know all these setups.

Let’s check out how you can do the task of raising the bars:

Raising bike handlebars having a threadless headset system

Raising this type of handlebar is the easiest one to increase the height. If you have a bike with little scope to adjust the stem, you may need to buy a new stem to match your height. It will help you distribute bodyweight properly.

Raising this type of handlebar is the easiest one to increase the height. If you have a bike with little scope to adjust the stem, you may need to buy a new stem to match your height. It will help you distribute bodyweight properly.

You can see three bolts in any threadless headset. Among them, one is big, and the others are small. Altogether they can hold it in the right position.

Follow the below steps to increase the height of a bike handlebar with a threadless headset:

• Take an Allen key to loosen and unbolt the cap of the stem. It will keep the handlebars in the right position. Also, reducing the bolt can solve the desired modifications. Then, keep the long bolt and cap in a better place from where you can retake them to reinstall.
• You can unwind the two small bolts to release the stem grip using the Allen key. It can make handlebars and stem from the tube in the exact frame.
• You should stay cautious about breaking any wires those are connected to the derailleurs. Take help from the Allen key to do so.
• Based on the expected height, you should enhance or reduce the spacers. If the old spacers are not working well, you can pick them on from the nearby bike stores.
• Reinstall the stem cap bolt after returning the bars over the bike spacers. Then, use your fingers to tighten the bolt.
• You should maintain the alignment with the front wheel and the placement of the stem. I suggest you spend enough time placing the stem correctly. After putting it properly, you can tighten the bolts.
• Lastly, inspect the headset to see if everything is set appropriately. Also, ensure the tightening of all three bolts. Bike brakes will function properly if you have set things correctly.

Raising bike handlebars having a threaded headset system

Threaded headsets have a unique stem design. Its stem starts from the bike frame and then curves towards the handlebars to confer. Mostly, this headset system is available in vintage models of bikes.

You can start working by following these steps:

• Take the Allen key and start unbolting the bolts that are above the stem.
• Use a wrench to unwind all the locknuts.
• Now, separate the handlebars from the bike frame.
• Please take out the stem and eliminate any dirt or grime on it.
• After cleaning, dry the stem and put some grease on it.
• Place the handlebars back into the bike stem.

Reinstate the stem to its correct place and tighten all the bolts you removed.

Modification of the angle of the handlebar

Many specialized bikes have adjustable stems to help you set up the angle of the handlebar. These stems may have bolt placement where the stem and frame meet.

 If you want to modify the angle, you can follow two methods:

First Method:

• Take an Allen key and loosen the bolt.
• Adjust the angle you want.
• Tighten the stem again faster.

Second method:

• Take the Allen key and loose all the screws which are placed at the intersection of the handlebar and stem.
• Adjust the angle that you desire after loosening the screws.

It would be best to consider how much height you want to add to the bike handlebars during these angle adjustments. Ensure the adjustment gives you sufficient comfort and relaxation from any pain or numbness.

Final Verdict

How to raise handlebars on specialized bike? I think you can take it as a DIY task. Also, you can use only a few tools like an Allen key and wrench to adjust handlebars’ height. But every time you raise the height, test it fast to know things have gone well. After all, a perfect raise can give the ultimate comfy of riding a specialized bike.

I hope you have a good day from now on!