ViperZ

I have been looking for a stem for my new project and the one thing that I have really noticed is most of the Threadless stems are pretty ugly and look like they belong on a MTB
*Sigh*

I would like a -17 degree or so unit, one that does not make it look like it belongs on a Hybrid, angled upward.

It seem like stems can range in price from $30 to $300, so my plan is to maybe buy a ugly cheap stem at first (about 120mm) and see how it places me on the bike. If I do this, I may upgrade the stem afterwards.

HolyInstantRice

Stems for $300!?

I know that Performance sells some for $20... I'm not sure if those are the ugly stems you were talking about though.

ViperZ

Good Point.....


Ugly, looks like it came from a mountain bike



Still a bit Ugly, but tolerable



Sleeker, but a bit loud in graphics, and expensive.



Not sure, sometimes I like it, other times not....



Not so bad, but a bit loud in decals.



I like the shape, but it's a bit expensive, and again the decals are garish



Actually very nice looking!


It seems I dislike the tubular Aluminum ones the most, and prefer the carbon monocoque ones the most, However it seems the lightest ones are the Aluminum ones that I don't like the looks of.

I don't have a problem shelling out for a expensive stem, however I would hate to buy the wrong size.

The Thomson seems like a good compromise, I like the looks, and it's weight is decent.

Ramjm_2000

Thomson X2 looks nice and roadie to me :-)

markwebb

Yes threadless stems are really ugly and IMHO a total waste of engineering effort. A bad idea all around if you ask me. Who came up with idea of let's make a headset so that you cut the fork off at the height you must always live with, use spacers to make the stem fit, and never again be able to adjust bar height significantly without buying a new fork.

Quill stems were fine for the greater part of bike history - I don't recall any safety issues ever with the quill coming loose and causing a crash. I think more carbon steerers and carbon forks have failed than quill stems ever. Does anyone recall any Giros TdF or any classics of the past where a rider crashed because the quill stem came loose?

Anyhow - my favorite quill stems right now with threaded headsets are the Nittos, because you can get them in extra long lengths. In the early spring I may have my bars close to seat level and by end of season have dropped them a few inches. Just depends on how I feel. The Nitto gives you a lot of flexibility.

DocRay

Mark, quill stems were replaced because of weight, not safety issues. Drink a warm tea.

I just bought two FSA stems for $10 and $20 from Pricepoint. They are excellent and work better than the $200 POS carbon stem I bought, oh they're even lighter. Yes, I paid the idiot tax on this one.

A 17 degree stem is up there in hybrid territory. Why 17 degrees on a road bike? Look at Specialized , they have the only innovative stem, with a concentric adjuster for angle.

ViperZ

That's the dilemma, I like the look of the carbon stems the most, but they weight more than some of the Aluminum ones like a Deda, or a ITM "The Stem"

-17 as in Minus... That would make the stem angle more level or parallel to the top tube.

Where can I get those Cheap FSA? Price point? Are those prices US or Canuckian?


Have to agree with Mark, even though the Threadless is lighter, the hassle of adjustment and using spacers, cutting steering tubes or having Stems pointed skyward to get the right height is pretty lame I would rather have lots of spacers and have a level stem angle that resembles a quill stem, than have it pointing skyward all Falic like, and looking like it was borrowed from a Mountain Bike. What is with the designers these days?

rufvelo

I use a Ritchey Pro threadless with a -17, so it is a horizontal stem. I think I paid $50, you may find it for less.

The pic here is old, the new one is a bit better looking :

https://www.tri-specialties.com/Displ...aspx?which=834

ViperZ

Thanks, thats not too bad, I'm still not crazy about it, but it's not too bad.




I kind of like this one, and its 98 grams for a 120mm. Not sureof the finish though as it's Called Champagne, and I would want a silver Titanium one.

Plus I'm not sure if I should spen silly money on a stem until I'm sure of the length I want. I may just see about borrowing one from my LBS.

14max

Any interest in a threadless Nitto?



They can be found here: https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-NITTO-UI-5GX...QQcmdZViewItem

ViperZ

Thanks, I appreciate all suggestions. That's not so bad, and I like the finish color, I would need a 120mm Still for the price I'd have to keep it in mind.


I Should be choosing primarily a 31.7mm clamp as well. My thought is the 31.7mm Handle Bars would be stiffer all things being equal.



I'm thinking the Silver one would look killer with the Bright Brush Ti frame

cydewaze

I have an ITM Millenium, like this one:

Lamplight

Just get this one:



Actually I find most threadless stems pretty darn unattractive, but I like Thompson.

DannoXYZ 

Yeah, I don't like the big burly machined macho look of most the threadless stems either. I prefer the minimalist look better. The Cinelli Grammo's one of the cleanest I've seen. This Titec 130mm -17 degree @112gm for $39 one looks good too:

ViperZ

You know if that single binder bolt didn't looks so tacked on, I would not mind that stem. I would like a Ti one too, that one is only available in 1" now.

djtrackie

this Thread Is Has Way Too Many Phallic Symbols

pigmode

I was in your position when I built the Nag. Even bought a threaded chrome fork for it, but it turned out to be a little too big. To my eyes, a -17 threadless does not look right. It looks like its trying to be something that its not--a sleek quill style road stem. The threadless is fat, un-sleek and has those bolts and screws all over the place, and if you put fat spacers beneath it, it looks even more hideous, pretentious. This is how I came to love the look of an 84 degree threadless. I accept it for what it is.

ggg300

https://www.chucksbikes.com/store/ ...15 bucks

https://www.xoomgear.com/roadbike/ste...i_Groove/1007/

but not 17...

ViperZ

I actually don't mind the spacers, and like the look more than the stem shooting upward.

That picture Cydwaze posted, thats the angle I want, even a -10 would do.


Angle I'm after.


Angle I hate, sorry I'd rather have spacers than have that MTB look.


I like this stem angle much more with the spacers. It looks more classic Quill, with a more aggressive race look.


ggg300, thats not too bad, A bit different, but I could get use to it. I would like to see it on a bike...


So far I think I like the Thomson the most. Which is interesting as they also make a seat post to match, There goes the Carbon Seat post I was wanting

ggg300

https://www.3ttt.com/ing/fr_attacchi.htm
https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=13881


thomson is nice...cant go wrong...but to make it hard on you...^^^

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP....jsp?spid=9870 Range of stem angles for 12 deg. Stems: +/- 8 deg. to +/- 16 deg. In 2 deg. Increments

blandin

Those S-Works stems are sure pretty, but man are they expensive and not that light to boot. I guess that goes to show that beauty is only skin deep. I'd go with the Thomson.

khuon

I guess I'll post an image of the stem on my roadbike...


However, I've always been fond of these two stems from the past... Maybe you can find an NOS/NIB one somewhere.

jeh

this is the one i have, i think it works swell.

Mariner Fan

ViperZ, If your just looking for a cheap 17 degree stem in 120 cm length, pm me. I have one that I'll never use.

KrisPistofferson

Go by the LBS-I bet they've got a box of cheap ones that look fairly low key and work just fine. OP is right, compared to quill stems, threadless stems are way fugly and way less versatile. Dumb bit of "innovation," in my opinion.