Any NON-UGLY threadless stems?
10-14-24, 06:38 PM
#1
Any NON-UGLY threadless stems?
Believe there was a thread on NON-UGLY Titanium 1'' quill stems, what say we delve into NON-UGLY Threadless Stems?
Last edited by shuru421; 10-14-24 at 08:57 PM.
10-14-24, 06:56 PM
#2
My two favorite threadless stems are about as opposite as they come:
Curvy, elegant, weird.
Cheap, light, minimalist, cool face plate.
There's a lot of bad out there.
Curvy, elegant, weird.
Cheap, light, minimalist, cool face plate.
There's a lot of bad out there.
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10-14-24, 07:17 PM
#4
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I think basic Alloy 7 UL stems are 'non-ugly', but others might dry heave at them.
I like em because they are simple, lightweight, decal can be easily removed, come in -7 and -17 degree, and are not bulky.
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10-14-24, 07:25 PM
#5
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10-14-24, 07:43 PM
#6
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I agree with bboy about the Velo Orange offering. I also find Cannondale's One Stem to be incredibly simple and pleasant. Nice smooth transitions from the main body to where the bolts screws in. The only knock against it is that it's only offered in black. I'd also group the Wren stem in with that Cannondale One Stem. This Blue Lug Select, Dixna made stem is also quite pleasing.
10-14-24, 08:00 PM
#7
Newbie
Had a silver and black one of these on my last threadless stem bikes.
Nitto x Fairweather MT-31
https://global.bluelug.com/fairweath...em-silver.html
Nitto x Fairweather MT-31
https://global.bluelug.com/fairweath...em-silver.html
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10-14-24, 08:07 PM
#8
Making up the numbers
This Nitto example shimmed down from 28.6 for the 25.4 steerer won’t win any aesthetic awards but to me it’s not completely out-of-place on my c. 2005 Alberto Masi. If I cared more I’d remove the branding but it’s what it is.
In my mind this is what threadless stems are up against and this is about as good as it gets…
Nitto also do what I reckon is a pretty fine CNC-machined threadless stem which looks ok in certain situations…
In my mind this is what threadless stems are up against and this is about as good as it gets…
Nitto also do what I reckon is a pretty fine CNC-machined threadless stem which looks ok in certain situations…
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10-14-24, 08:26 PM
#9
Senior Member
So subjective. I like this one.
10-14-24, 08:36 PM
#10
feros ferio
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I still so no real benefit and a major disadvantage in height adjustment to threadless.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
10-14-24, 08:42 PM
#11
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it’s not even close
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10-14-24, 08:44 PM
#12
But the weight savings are about as significant as any other thing you can do to a bike.
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10-14-24, 08:59 PM
#13
What makes a threadless stem ugly? Knowing that will help answer your question.
I think basic Alloy 7 UL stems are 'non-ugly', but others might dry heave at them.
I like em because they are simple, lightweight, decal can be easily removed, come in -7 and -17 degree, and are not bulky.
I think basic Alloy 7 UL stems are 'non-ugly', but others might dry heave at them.
I like em because they are simple, lightweight, decal can be easily removed, come in -7 and -17 degree, and are not bulky.
10-14-24, 09:07 PM
#14
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Is there still that significant weight savings when you consider the additional steerer length?
10-14-24, 09:34 PM
#15
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The Steel Salsa Moto ones look nice to me. The old Specialized S-Works from about 1995 looked awesome.
Phil
Phil
10-14-24, 09:38 PM
#16
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You need an allen wrench and spacers for threadless, and an allen wrench for quill. I've never needed a mallet.
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10-14-24, 09:48 PM
#17
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10-14-24, 11:17 PM
#18
Senior Member
10-14-24, 11:29 PM
#19
Junior Member
The most beautiful threadless stem I've seen is the Nitto UI-87. Hard to find a picture that captures it, but I swiped this picture from here.
Much more impressive in person if you can appreciate the CNC aesthetic. Thomson stems aren't bad but the Nitto is more elegant.
Much more impressive in person if you can appreciate the CNC aesthetic. Thomson stems aren't bad but the Nitto is more elegant.
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10-15-24, 06:16 AM
#21
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Looks like the same answer applies to this thread topic as the Titanium stem one:
"Nope."
"Nope."
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10-15-24, 06:46 AM
#22
So your quill stem bolt is so un-tight that the wedge just falls out of the bottom when you loosen the bolt, no matter how long it has been there?
"If the bolt is loose but the stem will not come out, strike the bolt using a mallet and punch. This will break the wedge free from the head tube."
https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/...on-quill-stems
Torque wrenches are never needed for quill and it it's properly greased and not tightened far more than needed, any old object of weight works just fine. No mallet needed. I love that I can change height mid ride and the adjustment is typically a lot more than can be had with most stock threadless steerers. (And no spacers on top when the quill is slammed.)
I guess I don't understand why someone would need to change their stem height on a ride other than when they are fitting the bike. But I'll add another advantage of threadless: On small bikes, the shorter steerer will often not allow a quill stem to go as far down as a threadless stem due to a taper on the inside of the steerer.
I like threadless and quills, but it is strange how people re-invent the universe to make one seem better than the other.
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10-15-24, 08:22 AM
#23
aka: Dr. Cannondale
I know they have practical and mechanical advantages.
I just think they are inherently ugly.
Yep, all of ‘em.
Even the ones on the bikes I own.
I just think they are inherently ugly.
Yep, all of ‘em.
Even the ones on the bikes I own.
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10-15-24, 08:35 AM
#24
I don't know.
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the Ritchey Comp with the cast (machined?) plate is nice. Still ugly?
10-15-24, 08:38 AM
#25
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