One objective may be "to be able to remove stem and bars without disturbing the headset either will do"PH wrote: ↑3 Jun 2023, 10:30amIn what way?maximus meridius wrote: ↑3 Jun 2023, 7:49amNot quite the same effect though, if you think about it.PH wrote: ↑2 Jun 2023, 8:52pm
Yes I can see how that might be useful in that circumstance, though the same can be achieved with a locking spacer, like this one:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/headsets/pr ... nch-black/
They're not the same, but if the objective is to be able to remove stem and bars without disturbing the headset either will do. I first came across locking spacers on travel bikes where they're used for just that purpose.
The NVO does that. But it does other things too:
1. It always orientates the stem/handlebars correctly.
2. If you have the stem installed lower than the top of the steer tube, it means you don't need to remove any spacers which are higher than the stem.*
Both of which make re-assembling the bike when I get it out of the back of the car faster.
Cheers.
*With the problem-solvers thing it might be that spacers above the stem aren't strictly necessary. But I don't like having bare unprotected stem open to the elements. So I blather mine with grease, and then cover it with spacers (which stops me getting grease on my hands/clothes). Having just found some rust on this stem I think this is a good policy. Also missing spacers above the stem would look god-awful. See "uncut steerer" for reasons why somebody might have a steerer higher than the stem.