Classic & Vintage - favorite stem ever made?

I just bought mine though I may be trading it for the non track version as I dont have a track frame (almost as pretty). The fillet brazing is amazing, the lug is gerogeous, and the little brass "washer" is a great touch.

these pictures are from the person I bought it from... I am in the middle of moving and havnt had a chance to take pictures yet.
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/3757/philippe.jpg

I saw a solid brass stem on ebay once that looked really interesting too

It is a beautiful stem, but I prefer the Nitto.

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/7643/2060484550068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2060484550068014369zFBYIw)

It is a beautiful stem, but I prefer the Nitto.



not a dirtdrop?

Dura Ace AX

http://i41.tinypic.com/28qywlf.jpg

Cinelli

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/175635312_0cae40ff1b.jpg?v=0

Dura Ace AX

http://i41.tinypic.com/28qywlf.jpg

How the hell do you get the bars in?

Cinelli 1A

How the hell do you get the bars in?
The clamp is actually hidden in the stem itself. Under the plastic top cap, there is the bolt to tighten the stem in the steerer, and another bolt going towards the handlebar clamp that clamps down on the bar. Very clever design.

Cinelli 1Athat's all I'm using on my three main bikes. I'm about to order some llewellyn stem lugs though.

I like the way the 3 ttt record stems look but I have never used one. I would like to get one for my Raleigh but haven't really sought it out. I guess I can't claim a favorite.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Italian/TTTstm2L.jpg

but I prefer the Nitto.


Wow, thats fancy! maybe too fancy, I'm afraid to know how much it costs.

I like the Cinelli 1a, no photo necessary

Oddly enough I love these SR stems even though they are cheap, its a beautiful basic design

http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!BVMbT+g!mk~$(KGrHgoOKjwEjlLmVD,kBKRQc4R1e!~~_1.JPG

They made another stem under their sakae moniker which was called a superlight or what have you with a face cutout, not that I ever had one they are gorgeous I fine and I'd like to find me one.

I like the way the 3 ttt record stems look but I have never used one. I would like to get one for my Raleigh but haven't really sought it out. I guess I can't claim a favorite.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Italian/TTTstm2L.jpg

I have two of those that are unused. I'm using a Cinelli 1A.

i do love the hidden bolt dura-ace stem's, i think they are the pinnacle in terms of functional (light weight forged strength) design. Of course in terms of classic and somewhat subtle look the cinelli's look amazing (the badge doesnt hurt either).

http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!BVMbT+g!mk~$(KGrHgoOKjwEjlLmVD,kBKRQc4R1e!~~_1.JPG

They made another stem under their sakae moniker which was called a superlight or what have you with a face cutout, not that I ever had one they are gorgeous I fine and I'd like to find me one.[/QUOTE]



You mean like this one?

I like what kosuke does to nitto stems here in japan


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto2.jpg


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto1.jpg


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto3.jpg

Titan. Makes a Cinelli 1A weep.

http://www.jaysmarine.com/Paramount_123006_photo8.jpg

-Kurt

Interesting. Thanks for the post.

http://ko5.jp/#work

J


I like what kosuke does to nitto stems here in japan


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto2.jpg


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto1.jpg


http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee297/ginaJapan/nitto3.jpg

http://ko5.jp/#work

Sperm FTW!

uh...ok.
But I like the simple, classic Nitto Pearl.
Still in production yet stock on my mid-70s Motobecane...that's a long run. I love the "mitered-in" triangular clamp nut and be-a-u-ti-ful finish!
The pic can't do it justice.

Titan. Makes a Cinelli 1A weep.

...

Pretty sweet, but I might favor a GB Spearpoint
http://velobase.com/CompImages/Stems/41841711-4DAA-4CE2-9BBA-587F5D5E1D6D.jpeg
or the similar but bent Toni Merkin model:
http://velobase.com/CompImages/Stems/5D21768E-19BC-42D5-9CEB-A277E4CF3F70.jpeg
Just because they are made of Reynolds 531 tubing. Functionally I doubt it makes much difference, but still... lugged 531? How can you beat that?

Dura Ace AX

http://i41.tinypic.com/28qywlf.jpg
Easily my favourite too, with the very similar Ultegra. One day I'll find two NOS AX stems...one to go on a bike and one to just look at.
A beautiful piece of design.

Easily my favourite too, with the very similar Ultegra. One day I'll find two NOS AX stems...one to go on a bike and one to just look at.
A beautiful piece of design.

peter white still has some of the ultegra versions i believe... which are are visually identical except for the print on the front

sorry I dont have a pic,but for me my fav is a 60,s "Milremo" stem !

+1 on the Dura Ace!!!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3429828677_77983b0e03_o.jpg

:love:

My answer is easy, since I just bought a bike primarily because it had one.

Nitto Technomic. Cousin to the previously mentioned Pearl. I know it is too tall for many people, but I like the classic look, and I prefer the extra height.

nitto pearl - mirror finish!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/jvpro/stem.jpg

You mean like this one?
Yes, those are nice. The front was milled so that the extension could be bored out to make it lighter. The clamp bolt and expander bolt on mine are titanium as well.

Cinelli 1R. I like the clean lines with the recessed bolt. I really like the looks of the Dura Ace stem (which seems similar) but haven't seen one in person.

Cinelli 1R. I like the clean lines with the recessed bolt. I really like the looks of the Dura Ace stem (which seems similar) but haven't seen one in person.

The Cinelli 1R and XA are at the bottom of my list. I've broken one of each. The Dura-Ace is far more reliable, in my opinion.

The Cinelli 1R and XA are at the bottom of my list. I've broken one of each. The Dura-Ace is far more reliable, in my opinion.

1R also gets negative reviews from me - I've been able to jam a bar loose in one. For that matter, they always look - to me, anyway - as if they're missing a binder; the aerodynamic trick doesn't work for me, visually.

-Kurt

I don't own one, but I like the badged Cinelli stem on the previous page a lot. Beautiful. I also like the look of the Ambrosio Champion stem quite a bit too. But I think I like the Herse stem the best, though. It is distinctive and kind of cool in how it routes the cable through the stem.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/gridplan/misc/IMG_2328.jpg

here is a collection of stems that i have, anybody care to identify them all?:)

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff301/terrors2/stems/STEMSquill017.jpg

Wild guessing here but let's see how many I can get.

from left to right starting from top row:
NItto, Cinelli, 3ttt, Cinelli 1a, 3ttt, Nitto Dynamics
3ttt, Cinelli, Cinelli, Modolo, Cinelli
ITM, Cinelli, ? , Cinelli

peter white still has some of the ultegra versions i believe... which are are visually identical except for the print on the front
The 600 version has a (steel?) wedge expander, while the Dura-Ace has a cone expander. Same otherwise, I believe.

The Cinelli 1R and XA are at the bottom of my list. I've broken one of each. The Dura-Ace is far more reliable, in my opinion.


Interesting. I'm using 1R's on two of my bikes now. I can feel them flex so now I wonder. How did you break the 1R? Maybe I need to replace them before I learn the hard way.

here is a collection of stems that i have, anybody care to identify them all?:)

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff301/terrors2/stems/STEMSquill017.jpg
If that dark grey ano one right in the middle is a 26.0mm clamp diameter, and you're selling, PM me.

I don't own one, but I like the badged Cinelli stem on the previous page a lot. Beautiful. I also like the look of the Ambrosio Champion stem quite a bit too. But I think I like the Herse stem the best, though. It is distinctive and kind of cool in how it routes the cable through the stem.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/gridplan/misc/IMG_2328.jpgA neat touch on the Herse stem is the way the slots of the binder screws line up. Slotted screws aren't much seen anymore, but when you see them lined up correctly like that, you know it's the work of a craftsman. I've seen that on handmade handplanes, and the maker explained that he assembled the handplane first then carefully filed the threaded ends of the screws down until the slots lined up when they were tightened.

The 600 version has a (steel?) wedge expander, while the Dura-Ace has a cone expander. Same otherwise, I believe.

That is correct. I am happy to have both a 600 and a Dura Ace stem. They are the prettiest stems I know.

+1 on the herse stems

+1 on the herse stems

There's a guy on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/RENE-HERSE-Style-Custom-Alloy-Quill-Stem_W0QQitemZ280364923290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item41470d399a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50) who'll make you one for $498.

here is a collection of stems that i have, anybody care to identify them all?:)

Not unless you're selling a couple of them.

-Kurt

anything of reasonable quality w/a removable face plate -wow- no more rewrapping tape every time you do anything w/the bars i had a party when those finally came around

There's a guy on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/RENE-HERSE-Style-Custom-Alloy-Quill-Stem_W0QQitemZ280364923290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item41470d399a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50) who'll make you one for $498.

That's pretty pricey given that he left out the crossbar in the center. The edges look sharper, less rounded than the old ones, too. Then again, he does say up front it's in the style of an RH stem.