Handlebar stem

[papaw1]

ok I got a lot of great advice yesterday on a shifter, lets see how ya do on this, I have a giant mountain bike with a 23" frame which is nice when you're six foot six inches tall, what I'd like to do is change the handle bar stem to an adjustable one. looking on ebay I see several of them but there a lot of different sizes, my question is what size do I need? I plan on reusing the handle bars which I don't know? do I need a certain size for those as well? or just for the stem? you pulled me out of the fire yesterday can you help with this as well? thanks in advance, I love to ride but I am a novice at working on them.

[Joe_W]

Without pictures or an exact description of what you have (and with my crystal ball currently being polished...) we cannot really help you.
If you have a threaded headset you are lucky, getting a longer / different / adjustable stem is easy. For the more modern headsets: there are some adjustable stems, but I guess they might need a longer steerer tube on the fork, though this is hard to say without seeing what you are writing about.

[DrLewall]

I too need to add a longer stem to the steering head as I am too hunched over on my bike..it's tough on the shoulders and all. I wonder though, if making it taller puts undue stress on the neck and if so, is it worth the effort to change it out?

[nfmisso]

guys; as Joe says, if you do not provide enough information, we can not help you....

[1FJEF]

Also, after you've shown pictures, so we can see if you have a threaded or quill stem in 1" or 1 1/8", (which aren't actually 1" or 1 1/8"), or a threadless, I want to suggest changing the handlebars.

Your current MTB bars have the grips oriented for power & control.
Cruiser bars come up, out & back, for comfort, but at a price, as the grips are no longer perpendicular, but angled back.

Your current bars probably have a 2.5" rise. MTB high rise bars are very difficult to find with more than a 4.5 or 5" rise. I have found that about 7" is often what I need, but I can't find it. Some Electra bikes come with them, but I can't find them, only something close. (The ones on the Electra site aren't the same).
You angle the high rise bars up & back toward you for more comfort with power & control.

If you want a lot of handlebar options, your stem should be purchased for 1" (25.4mm) handlebars.

[RBurrelli]

I think you need to clear up what you are really requesting. I am not sure if you are asking for a longer length of tubing on the headset or a longer stem that attaches to the fork. A stem attaches to the headset and orients the hands by its overall length. So you are asking for a longer stem, your hands are going to be moved further forward. But you state that you want to be taller??