Bike torque specs: the essential reference chart

Why torque specs matter

Too tight and you crack the part or the frame. Too loose and things move — that is dangerous. On a carbon bike, half a Newton-metre too much on a bolt can crack a 300-euro handlebar. On an aluminium bike, a poorly tightened stem can pivot on a descent.

A torque spec is not a suggestion — it is a technical value calculated by the manufacturer.

The reference chart

Here are the most common values. Important: these are general ranges. Always check the exact value printed on the part or in the manufacturer's manual.

Torque wrench: mandatory on carbon

If you work on carbon parts — handlebar, seatpost, frame — a torque wrench is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Why? Carbon does not deform like aluminium. It does not warn you: it snaps. And a crack in a carbon handlebar is invisible to the naked eye but catastrophic in use.

Recommended torque wrenches:

• Park Tool TW-6.2 (range 0-10 Nm) — for all cockpit bolts
• Park Tool TW-5.2 (range 2-14 Nm) — versatile
• Topeak Nano TorqBar — compact, great for rides

Tip: apply carbon assembly paste (such as Finish Line Fiber Grip) on carbon-to-carbon or carbon-to-aluminium contact surfaces. It increases the friction coefficient, letting you tighten to the correct torque without the part slipping.

Expensive mistakes

• Tightening "by feel" — your fingers are not calibrated. A stem bolt tightened "by feel" can easily reach 10-12 Nm instead of 5-6. On carbon, that means a crack.
• Ignoring the tightening order — stem bolts are tightened in a cross pattern (alternating), not sequentially. Otherwise you create a pressure point.
• Forgetting grease — on aluminium-to-aluminium threads, a dry thread increases friction and throws off the torque reading. Apply a drop of grease (except on carbon, where you use assembly paste).
• Reusing tired bolts — titanium and stainless steel bolts fatigue over time. If a bolt resists during removal, replace it.

How to find the exact torque with L'Atelier

Every manufacturer publishes its own values. A Shimano XT crankset may not have the same torque as a SRAM GX. To get the exact value:

"What is the torque spec for the chainring bolts on a SRAM GX Eagle crankset?"

The assistant gives you the answer with the exact manual page. No more hunting through 15 different PDFs.

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