How tight do you guys tighten your steering stem bearings?

Leeham wrote:

I tighten the nut till the bars barely fall to either side if l turned (with the bike on the stand). I like a little drag...

I tighten the nut till the bars barely fall to either side if l turned (with the bike on the stand). I like a little drag, helps just a little keeping my honda a little less nervous down fast breaking zones. Just remember to loosen the top clamp pinch bolts before trying to tighten the nut, it can mar up your forks.

Rider 5280 wrote:

I am setting up a new bike and have never tried going tighter than the bars instantly flopping to either side. I usually tight the bearing...

I am setting up a new bike and have never tried going tighter than the bars instantly flopping to either side. I usually tight the bearing preload nut just to the point where I notice the slightest drag, then I back off a hair.

On this new bike, she's a bit touchier than my other bikes. I tightened the bearing preload nut as usual, but the top triple clamp nut has waaaay more of an effect on steering "freedom"/bearing compression than other bikes I've owned when tightening it. The steering readily sweeps side-to-side, but there's just a hair of drag.

Wondering what you guys typically recommend.

I know some use the bearing preload as drag to avhieve a damping effect ("poor man's steering damper"), but how tight is that ... seems awful tight.

Any real-world feedback on bearing tightness vs. bearing life?

I learn a lot from discussing these "mundane" aspects of bike upkeep.

Thanks for any input!