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PART 2
3. Understanding components
138692 Rev 0 (04/22)
Section D. Inspect For Safety
GT Bicycle Owner’s Manual
■ Original Equipment Components
GT tests the fatigue life of many of the components
that are original equipment on your bike. This
means that the designs many original equipment
components have met our test criteria and have
reasonable fatigue life. It does not mean that the
original equipment components will last forever.
They will not.
■ Stem
Clean and inspect carefully for cracks. Pay
particular attention to the underside of the stem. If
the stem is of welded construction, examine the
edges of each weld. See also the closely related
handlebar section below.
■ Handlebars
Remove from stem. With road bars, you will need to
remove the handlebar tape. Remove any handlebar
mounted components. Clean and inspect carefully
for cracks. Pay particular attention to the area
where the handlebar emerges from the stem. This is
the area where virtually all handlebars will
eventually break. Periodic replacement of all
handlebars is strongly recommended. How often
they need to be replaced depends upon the many
factors outlined above.
Be sure that you do not scratch or score the surface
of the handlebars with either the stem or the brake
or shifter levers. As noted above, any such damage
will reduce the life of the handlebar and could lead
to breakage.
If you find that there is a sharp edge or burr on
the inside of the stem, right where the
handlebars emerge, it must be smoothed out
with fine sandpaper (220 grit or finer) before the
new handlebars are installed. Such a sharp
edge or burr could cause a scratching or scoring
of the handlebar. As noted above, any such
damage will reduce the life of the handlebar and
could lead to breakage.
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