Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - ongoing search for a good quill stem

Alright, I'm finally taking a break from Google searches and the like to ask the board...does anyone here know of a good 1 1/8" quill stem (silver alloy, 25.4 clamp) with a 105-110mm reach and fully-removable faceplate? I've already found (and even considered :eek:) the Profile BOA but I feel that even the 110d has too much rise.

I'm not looking for anything "vintage", "tarck" or whatever...just a simple, fairly inexpensive quill stem. Any help will be appreciated!

25.4 clamp, 22.2 column, 105-110 length. Right?

I dunno what you mean by a removable face plate. Are you talking about a type of quill stems that let you remove your bar without having to remove the grips / bar-tape? (with the frontal portion being removable.)

Those are uncommon now. I know a few. Salsa (polished black, 26mm nead shim, http://www.salsacycles.com/stems.html), Nitto (26mm so you need shims), Deda, some 3T stuff (I have seen these, but dunno too much about em).

I dunno too much about stem rises, but I think most of roadie stuff is 72-75 degrees. I have never seen too many "low rise" (non-custom) quill stem other than Nitto Jaguar stems (58 degrees), but the face plates are not removable like this:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/Tomo_Ishi/KC280162_2.jpg

And this is 72 degrees.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b357/Tomo_Ishi/KC280180-1.jpg

Choices are kinda narrow.

T

if it's that important to you you might want to just get a converter. It would vastly widen your options to go threadless..

I know a converter is an option and would give me about a million stems to choose from, but for some reason I'm not 100% for it. My brain keeps screaming that a threaded headset and threadless-type stem looks odd together.

I'm basically looking for this, with a little less rise:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/scrodzilla/img.jpg

dude. ur not gonna find it. ur criteria is simply too specific. you are gonna have to give up one of your requirements.

Sigh...I know.

:twitchy:

Get that one and have a welder cut it and change the angle... it shouldn't be terribly difficult to do. Something to think about if you can spare a bit of change. A small shop shouldn't really hose you for it either. I guess it would **** the finish though... could always have it re-finished though too, or just powder-coat it a terrible neon colour for the uber-tarck look ;)

salsa?

wtf 1 1/8 quill stems? i thought they were only 1".

guess you learn something new everyday...

I know a converter is an option and would give me about a million stems to choose from, but for some reason I'm not 100% for it. My brain keeps screaming that a threaded headset and threadless-type stem looks odd together.

I'm basically looking for this, with a little less rise:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v166/scrodzilla/img.jpg

Most of other stems have lower rise. In fact, you can get a Profile stem with lower rise. Keep searching. I think you need to spend more time searching. ... In a mean while, let me list what you want. You better correct me if I am wrong.

1. 25.4 bar clamp (or do you mean 25.4 head size?)
2. 105-110mm length
3. angle less than ~105 degrees
4. silver
5. face-plate removable (elaborate)
6. cheap

I still think your life is all set if you forgo face-plate thing. Ebay and other auction place is full of quill stems with these conditions.

Also, you can opt for 26.0mm bar clamp size and use shims to use 25.4mm bars. This lets you have more options like Nitto UI-2 stems. (These have removable face plates)

I use Nitto stems, by the way. Kinda annoying, but usable and very solid. ... pros and cons in everything.

T

http://www.globalbikesonline.com/catalog/images/N-adj-stem-1-1,8.jpg

lol why are you concerned about the rise?

(pssst! threaded stems are adjustable vertically.)

lol why are you concerned about the rise?

(pssst! threaded stems are adjustable vertically.)

mind = blown

if you have a 1 1/8th, you have to give up on ever having a nice stem of any sort, let along one of dimensions you desire.

I'd get an adapter, or else just convert to threadless entirely.

lol why are you concerned about the rise?

(pssst! threaded stems are adjustable vertically.)

Because I usually run riser bars and even with the stem slammed all the way down, too much rise from my stem will result in having my hands be too far up to ride comfortably. Besides, my bike will also most likely end up looking like some homeless dude's DUI cruiser with a setup like that.

The need for a removable face comes from my switching to bullhorns occasionally.

if you have a 1 1/8th, you have to give up on ever having a nice stem of any sort, let along one of dimensions you desire.

I'd get an adapter, or else just convert to threadless entirely.

I was actually thinking of just going threadless altogether. I'm not particularly in love with my fork and just found this on the 'bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/road-fork-1-1-8-threadless-lugged-chromed_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQhashZitem1c05a87554QQitemZ120354010452QQptZCy clingQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported

then maybe you should consider different bars?

not trying to be a dick, but there are reasons threadless has taken over, and you are just systematically listing them one by one.

What exactly do you want us to tell you?

http://www.globalbikesonline.com/catalog/images/N-adj-stem-1-1,8.jpg

How stable/stiff would something like this be?

then maybe you should consider different bars?

not trying to be a dick, but there are reasons threadless has taken over, and you are just systematically listing them one by one.

What exactly do you want us to tell you?

HAHA...why should I compromise the bars I really like because I'm looking for a new stem?

I was simply just hoping that one of you guys would happen to know of a decent quill stem out there in the vast sea of bike parts available that might be what I'm looking for. I've searched quite a bit and honestly find it difficult to believe that no one makes a quill stem with zero rise.

:wtf:

Apologies for asking.

How stable/stiff would something like this be?

if you care about actual functionality, go threadless.

How stable/stiff would something like this be?

They are fine. I have had one on my commuter for years. But I wouldn't use one if I rode everywhere as if I were riding a track race.

What if I were to get a 1" quill and shim it? I've never used a shim on anything. Are there any drawbacks???

I wouldn't use an adjustable stem. They are good for fitting purposes but lack the stiffness that a real stem would have. Quill stems in general suck the big one, though, so I think you should just go threadless w/ everything.

As far as shims go, i don't know if you can even use them w/ quill stems. I know plenty of people who use shims when putting a 9/8" stem on a 1" steerer tube (threadless), but I have never heard of someone using a shim for a quill stem. You would probably have to put the shim inside the steerer tube which could be weird.

Maybe it's the old-school BMX kid still alive in me but I'm attached to the threaded headset/quill-style stem. There are a few companies that make shims to fit a 1" quill inside a 1 1/8 tube but yeah, I think I would feel weird just having a shim in there...like it would be on the unsafe side, for some reason (that's probably just me being crazy).

Adjustable just doesn't seem like a good idea either. I'm not riding full-bore all the time but there a few gnarly hills I hit from time to time where i have to dig in pretty hard.

Even though these things are kinda ugly, I may just go ahead and buy two of them (they're cheap enough) and keep one on my risers and one on my 'horns so I can switch them without too much hassle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220132209538&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&salenotsupported

dude.
just buy a new fork.
your bike is stupid right now.

I had the same problem as you. I ride my bullhorns 95% of the time, but wanted to ride my risers occasionally. I ended up just buying a second stem. Benscycle has the nitto technomics for $36. They have the long quill and short quill versions and I think they are 72 degrees: http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_263_1332_712_804

There you go! Getting 2 actually isn't that bad of an idea. Probably cost less than getting 1 nice stem. Do that.

I think the sane approach would be to get rid of his threaded 1 1/8th fork for a threadless one, buy a decent 1 1/8th stem, and switch bars as he pleases...

You're right. Getting a new fork, a new headset, and a new stem is much more rational than just buying a new stem.

I am all about threadless, but cost-wise that doesn't really make sense for him.

^ beat me to it.

Simply "buying a new fork" will also mean that I've got to buy a new headset and stem which can get kinda pricey.

Me liking what I like has nothing to do with my bike's level of intelligence.

I had the same problem as you. I ride my bullhorns 95% of the time, but wanted to ride my risers occasionally. I ended up just buying a second stem. Benscycle has the nitto technomics for $36. They have the long quill and short quill versions and I think they are 72 degrees: http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=188_263_1332_712_804

Those Nitto's are rad, but I'm fairly certain they're all for 1" steerer tubes. Which leads me back to where I was before my bike became "stupid"...is it okay to shim?

Ahhh...I overlooked the 1 1/8" part...When I think quill, my brain defaults to 1".

Get that one and have a welder cut it and change the angle... it shouldn't be terribly difficult to do. Something to think about if you can spare a bit of change. A small shop shouldn't really hose you for it either. I guess it would **** the finish though... could always have it re-finished though too, or just powder-coat it a terrible neon colour for the uber-tarck look ;)

Good lord. Are you for real?

Good lord. Are you for real?

Yeah...I didn't even have it in me to comment on that one.

i found a stem from a parted out fuji/obey track bike on ebay. about 30 bucks, and after soaking it in greased lightning for a few minutes and polishing it, i have a silver stem with a fully removable faceplate.
admittedly, this stem isn't for everyone, but then again neither is a 3TTT mutant.

there are a lot of idiots here looking to take people down for their aesthetic wants...yours is a fairly valid one. bottom line: if you don't like something about your bike, do something about it. if your "fix" means going to extreme lengths for a non-performance related problem, reconsider your bike.

here's an example of one.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/1451084925_a71f1e7559.jpg?v=0

Thanks, man. That's the thing...I don't want to have to buy a new fork, headset, etc. just because I want a stem other than my existing one!

Ahhh...I overlooked the 1 1/8" part...When I think quill, my brain defaults to 1".

It is possible to shim a quill stem, right? I mean...if it's okay for this here threadless adapter to come with a shim for 1 1/8 applications, I would think I'd be able to use the same type of shim for a 1" Nitto stem. Or am I mistaken?

http://www.amazon.com/Inline-Threadless-Adaptor-included-Silver/dp/B000A6UWV6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1245614387&sr=1-1

Maybe it's the old-school BMX kid still alive in me but I'm attached to the threaded headset/quill-style stem. There are a few companies that make shims to fit a 1" quill inside a 1 1/8 tube but yeah, I think I would feel weird just having a shim in there...like it would be on the unsafe side, for some reason (that's probably just me being crazy).

Adjustable just doesn't seem like a good idea either. I'm not riding full-bore all the time but there a few gnarly hills I hit from time to time where i have to dig in pretty hard.

Even though these things are kinda ugly, I may just go ahead and buy two of them (they're cheap enough) and keep one on my risers and one on my 'horns so I can switch them without too much hassle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220132209538&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&salenotsupported

In the same post, you mentioned being attached the quill stems for what I would assume aesthetics and in the same post you mentioned buying not one but two stems that in your opinion are ugly. If you are considering buying 2 ugly things, then why not buy a new fork (or an adapter to go from quill to threadless), a nice new stem with the rise and looks you desire, then switch your bars out a million times.
http://renaissancebicycles.com/images/vo/vo-stem-adaptor.jpg
Your best bet would probably be to get a 26mm clamp stem, a 25.4 to 26mm shim for the 25.4 bars, and then you have tons of options for all sorts of bars.

To me, the stem I was referring to as being a little ugly isn't a fraction of the ugly found in most converter/threadless stem combos. And like I said a few posts up, it doesn't really make much sense to buy a new fork and all that just to change a stem. I like quill stems mostly for their simplicity, not necessarily aesthetics.

How about a nice custom titanium stem? Any rise/drop or size you like..

http://www.xacd.com.cn/product.asp?rootcl=1&cls=2

how is a quill stem simpler than threadless? pretty much everything about threadless is easier imo

how is a quill stem simpler than threadless? pretty much everything about threadless is easier imo

Considering that my bike is already set up threaded (ugh...haven't we gone over this?), I would say another quill stem is the simplest route I can go. Yes, even more simple than using a converter/threadless stem (which is two pieces doing the work of one and much more expensive).

But...maybe my bike will be "smarter" if I were to completely change its entire front half by purchasing a new fork, headset, stem and just for sh*ts and grins, a new gold-plated aerospoke. That sounds simple and inexpensive!

:lol:

this was called for a long time ago.

http://www.nerve.com/CS/blogs/61fps/2009/01/facepalm.jpg

Agreed. I'm sorry I asked!

Considering that my bike is already set up threaded (ugh...haven't we gone over this?), I would say another quill stem is the simplest route I can go. Yes, even more simple than using a converter/threadless stem (which is two pieces doing the work of one and much more expensive).

But...maybe my bike will be "smarter" if I were to completely change its entire front half by purchasing a new fork, headset, stem and just for sh*ts and grins, a new gold-plated aerospoke. That sounds simple and inexpensive!

:lol:

backpedal more. i hope you find what you're looking for anyway.

You're right. Getting a new fork, a new headset, and a new stem is much more rational than just buying a new stem.

glad you agree.

there is a saying I enjoy: buy once, cry once.


I am all about threadless, but cost-wise that doesn't really make sense for him.

there's a place called ebay and another magical place called craigslist where bicycle components can be purchased at low prices. one can also purchase or trade for such items here on bikeforums.

backpedal more.

Hey man...you're the one who asked why I felt a quill is simpler.

Thanks to everyone who was actually helpful.

:trainwreck:

again, they make 1 1/8 quill stems?

i have nearly the perfect stem you're looking for. unfortunately it has no branding on it, but it looks exactly like that profile stem (but with some drop so it looks level when put in the bike). i think it's 26 clamp, but it's 1" threaded.

talk to the lbs about threaded shims? on the one hand i could see it working, on the other it sounds like a terrible idea. also, how would you keep it from getting stuck inside the steerer tube?

The shims have a little flange on the top edge to keep it from slipping down inside...like a seatpost shim. I'm with you...torn between good idea and bad news.

Alright, I'm finally taking a break from Google searches and the like to ask the board...does anyone here know of a good 1 1/8" quill stem (silver alloy, 25.4 clamp) with a 105-110mm reach and fully-removable faceplate? I've already found (and even considered :eek:) the Profile BOA but I feel that even the 110d has too much rise.

I'm not looking for anything "vintage", "tarck" or whatever...just a simple, fairly inexpensive quill stem. Any help will be appreciated!

Good luck with that :thumb: I went on that hunt a while ago and as I sit here I have nothing to show for it. 1 and 1/8 quill stem?! with a removable face plate? again, good luck.