The Easy Guide to Raising Your Electric Bike Handlebars

Hopping on your electric bike should be a blast, right? You get that cool breeze in your face and that extra oomph from the motor. But if you're leaning too far forward or your back, neck, or wrists are bugging you, chances are your handlebars are too low. The good news is, on most e-bikes, you can totally fix this yourself with just a few basic tools. Raising those handlebars can make a world of difference in how comfy you feel on your rides.

What Holds Your Handlebars in Place?

Before you even think about grabbing a wrench, take a good look at how your handlebars are attached. The most common way you'll see is with a part called the stem. This thing connects your handlebars to the steerer tube, which is part of your front fork. The stem usually clamps onto the steerer tube with some bolts.

Now, you might also see some ring-looking things above or below the stem. These are spacers, and they're key to setting your initial handlebar height. By moving these spacers around or adding/taking them out, you can change how high your handlebars sit.

Another setup you might see is a gooseneck stem or an adjustable stem. These are pretty cool because they let you change the angle, and therefore the height, of your handlebars without messing with spacers. They usually have a hinged part held together with bolts.

Woman standing by an electric bike at sunset, surrounded by palm trees

Grab Your Tools

Having the right tools makes this job way easier and safer. You'll usually need a set of Allen wrenches (also called hex keys) in different sizes. The size you need depends on the bolts on your stem and maybe other parts. It's smart to have a whole set so you're sure to have the right one. Sometimes, you might also need a torque wrench. This special wrench lets you tighten bolts to a specific amount of force that the bike maker recommends. This stops you from tightening too much and breaking something, or not tightening enough and having things come loose. Your owner's manual should tell you the right torque numbers for the stem bolts. Oh, and a clean rag or towel can be handy for wiping off any dirt.

Raising Handlebars with Stem Spacers

If your e-bike uses a stem with spacers, here’s the play-by-play on how to raise your handlebars:

Find the Stem Bolts: Look for the bolts that are clamping the stem onto the steerer tube. They're usually on the side or the back of the stem.
Loosen Those Bolts a Bit: Use the right-sized Allen wrench to carefully loosen these bolts. Don't take them all the way out yet. Just loosen them enough so the stem can wiggle a little on the steerer tube.
Take Off the Top Cap: Right on top of the stem, there's usually a bolt holding down a top cap. Unscrew this bolt and take the top cap off. Be careful when you do this, because the fork and stem might feel a little loose.
Spot and Move the Spacers: Once the top cap is off, you'll see the steerer tube with those spacer rings above and/or below the stem. To raise your handlebars, you need to move some or all of the spacers that are currently above the stem to below the stem. This lifts the stem up, and your handlebars go with it. Carefully lift the stem off the steerer tube. Slide the number of spacers you want to move from the top to the bottom.
Put the Stem and Top Cap Back On: Slide the stem back onto the steerer tube, making sure it's sitting on top of those spacers you just moved. Put the top cap back on and tighten its bolt just enough to take out any wiggle in the headset (that's the bearing thing that lets your fork turn smoothly). Don't crank down on this top cap bolt yet.
Tighten the Stem Bolts for Real: Now, line up your stem so it's straight with your front wheel, and then tighten those stem clamp bolts. It's super important to tighten these evenly and to the torque number in your manual if you have a torque wrench. Tighten them a little bit at a time, alternating between the bolts (like, tighten one a little, then the one on the other side a little, and keep going) to make sure they clamp down evenly.
Check and Tweak: Once the stem bolts are good and tight, double-check that your handlebars are at the height you want and that the stem is pointing straight ahead. If you need to adjust more, just go through the steps again.

Got a Different Kind of Stem? Here's How to Adjust Those Handlebars

If your e-bike has a gooseneck or adjustable stem, raising your handlebars is a bit different:

Find the Adjustment Bolts: Look for the bolt or bolts on the stem's hinge part. These are the ones that control the angle of your handlebars.
Loosen 'Em Up: Use the right Allen wrench to loosen these bolts. Again, don't take them all the way out. Just loosen them enough so you can change the angle of the stem.
Change the Angle: Carefully tilt the stem upwards. This will lift your handlebars. Keep an eye on any cables or hoses to make sure they're not getting stretched or bent too much.
Tighten Those Bolts Down: Once you've got the handlebars where you want them, tighten the adjustment bolts securely. Again, check your manual for the right torque if you have a torque wrench.
Check and Fine-Tune: Make sure the handlebars feel solid and are at the height you were aiming for. If you need to make small changes, just loosen and tighten the bolts again.

Person riding an electric bike along the beach

Things to Keep in Mind and Safety First Stuff

Cable and Hose Length: When you raise your handlebars, make sure your brake cables, shifter cables, and any wires have enough slack. If you lift the bars too much, you could stretch these and mess up how they work or even break them. If they're too short, you might need to get longer ones from a bike shop.
Steerer Tube Length Matters: There's only so high you can go with your handlebars, and it depends on how long the steerer tube on your fork is. Make sure the stem is still grabbing enough of the steerer tube after you move the spacers. There's usually a minimum amount the stem needs to be inside the steerer tube, and it might be marked on the tube itself. If you go past this, your steering could be unsafe.
When in Doubt, Ask a Pro: If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, or if you run into any snags, don't be shy about taking your bike to a qualified bike mechanic. They know their stuff and have the right tools to get the job done safely and correctly.
Take a Test Ride: After you make any adjustments, always go for a short ride in a safe area to make sure the new handlebar height feels good and doesn't mess with how you control your bike.

Getting your handlebars just right can really make your e-bike rides way better and super comfy. Here at Qiolor, we're all about making bikes that feel good to ride. We test them out a bunch and design them thinking about how your body moves. So, if you're looking for a dependable commuter e-bike or a nice, smooth electric road bike, maybe take a peek at what Qiolor has. You might just find your perfect ride.

FAQs

How do I know if my handlebars are too low for me?

If you're getting lower back pain, a stiff neck, or your hands and wrists are feeling a lot of pressure when you ride, your handlebars are probably too low. You might also feel like you're leaning way too far forward.

Can I raise my handlebars without adding any extra parts?

If your e-bike has an adjustable stem, you might be able to raise the handlebars just by changing the angle of the stem, without needing to add or move any spacers.

What happens if I raise my handlebars too high up?

If you raise your handlebars too much, you could lose some steering control, and you might not be able to pedal as efficiently. Plus, it could even make your lower back hurt from sitting too upright. It's all about finding that sweet spot that feels right for your body and how you like to ride.