Crux Stem Adjustment and Spacer Types

[McCookie]

Do I need to worry about what type and how many spacers I have above my stem on my new Crux??
I will cut my steerer down once I’m sure of the fit, but surely I can have more than 5mm of spacer above the stem without risking death??
Obviously I am acutely aware of the Crux headset compression ring issue, but now I realise I’ve been caught out by the Crux Expander Plug issue..

Crux Headset Compression Ring

Important tech discussion - copied from Escape Collective Discord I’ve tried to snip out the important bits from a discussion that has been going for 18 months, as more members discovered their Crux and Aethos headsets were not happy. Feel free to add anything you think I missed. I have not included other members’ names in the interest of privacy. [IMG_4134] It is my understanding that the 2025 Crux still has the same headset design, despite Specialized apparently having alternative part…

So I was making a point of checking the manual for my new Crux and saw the page about stem spacers.

• As noted above, I want to test the fit before cutting the steerer down. The suggestion that I can’t have more than one “solid” 5mm spacer above the stem seems absurd.
• The Melbourne shop that sold me the bike obviously didn’t worry about this instruction because they shipped it with one of the 5mm “scalloped” spacers above the stem as well as the solid one.
  I might as well have bought a bike with internal cable routing if I can’t have more than 5mm of spacers above the stem.
  This is infuriating. I can’t test the fit of my new bike before cutting the steerer???
  Or I have to get a longer expansion plug just so I can adjust my stem!!! Not that they even offer this as an option.
  Thanks Specialized!
  David.

[jasedepuit]

Yes it’s a max of 5mm.

I would think you could quite readily copy your fit from one of your other bikes to see if this is really a concern though?

[McCookie]

Yep, I copied my Scott CX to get the stem height, only to find I can’t actually use the stem in the lower position until I borrow a cutting guide.
The fact that the shop installed 2 spacers above the stem seems to prove my point that this height limit is a bad idea, a bit like hookless rims.
I bet lots of people drop their stem without cutting the steerer - like they’ve done on all their previous bikes (eg me).
To make it even more confusing, there is a 2nd single page Instruction guide in the packet with the main instructions and this actually says the limit is 3mm!!??
But that extra guide for Specialized Carbon Forks also says to read it before taking your first ride with your bike equipped with a Specialized carbon road crankset???