NON-Black threadless stems! ?
05-01-07, 06:45 PM
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NON-Black threadless stems! ?
Dear forum denizens, I am very excited to be building up a TiSports frame I bought in minty condition second-hand.
It happens to be a 1" steerer tube model and came with an original Look HSC fork (before they appended numbers) and a lovely Chris King headset. If it had not come with this excellent threadless headset and fork I might have considered a threaded headset and quill stem because I already have two road bikes that are threadless and all about black components: stems, seatposts, rims.
I have concluded that the TST will be a contrast to those. The issue that confounds me is that when one goes shopping now both in stores and online, the proliferation of black stems and seatposts is such that it is hard to locate similar, metallic-finished items.
Sure there are some plain metal threadless stems out there, but most of them have
gloppy welds in the mid-price category, they tend to be on closeouts on IcyclesUSA or eBay.
On the other hand, the cleaner looking ones tend to be very pricey, and admittedly, they are
higher quality. I put a short list together of what I am seeing on the new market, which I am posting below, but if anyone has any recommendations I would be most grateful, Thanks.
Metal-finish stems:
RaceFace Cadence
Thomson X2
Deda Elementi Zero100 metal
Deda Elementi Zero100 servizio corse metal
Syntace F99 chrome
Metal-finish Seatposts:
(of above-average quality, in 27.2 mm)
Campagnolo Centaur
Salsa "Shaft"
Shimano SP-6600
It happens to be a 1" steerer tube model and came with an original Look HSC fork (before they appended numbers) and a lovely Chris King headset. If it had not come with this excellent threadless headset and fork I might have considered a threaded headset and quill stem because I already have two road bikes that are threadless and all about black components: stems, seatposts, rims.
I have concluded that the TST will be a contrast to those. The issue that confounds me is that when one goes shopping now both in stores and online, the proliferation of black stems and seatposts is such that it is hard to locate similar, metallic-finished items.
Sure there are some plain metal threadless stems out there, but most of them have
gloppy welds in the mid-price category, they tend to be on closeouts on IcyclesUSA or eBay.
On the other hand, the cleaner looking ones tend to be very pricey, and admittedly, they are
higher quality. I put a short list together of what I am seeing on the new market, which I am posting below, but if anyone has any recommendations I would be most grateful, Thanks.
Metal-finish stems:
RaceFace Cadence
Thomson X2
Deda Elementi Zero100 metal
Deda Elementi Zero100 servizio corse metal
Syntace F99 chrome
Metal-finish Seatposts:
(of above-average quality, in 27.2 mm)
Campagnolo Centaur
Salsa "Shaft"
Shimano SP-6600
Last edited by tvphobic; 05-01-07 at 08:21 PM.
05-01-07, 06:56 PM
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Thomson X2
Deda Elementi Zero100 metal
Deda Elementi Zero100 servizio corse metal
Syntace F99 chrome
Deda Elementi Zero100 metal
Deda Elementi Zero100 servizio corse metal
Syntace F99 chrome
05-01-07, 07:23 PM
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Nitto UI-5EX Road Stem is quite nice. There are very few really elegant Ahead stems out there though.
I have a silver Ritchey 1" stem with a nice big rise that I am very pleased with. But my LBS spent a lot of time looking for it!
I have a silver Ritchey 1" stem with a nice big rise that I am very pleased with. But my LBS spent a lot of time looking for it!
05-01-07, 07:30 PM
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Maybe more than you are looking to spend, but boy is it sweet!
ITM Millennium Carbon
ITM Millennium Carbon
05-01-07, 07:35 PM
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Have the Thomson 2X on my Titus and it both looks great and if there is a way to tell, very stiff compared to the previous cabron stem I used. For some nice bling the Deda stems look good and also consider the IRD stems in silver, very light. Check Universal Cycles they have almost everything on your list. Good stuff cost money and unless your willing to troll scambay for a bargain and have the time. Recently alot of scambay stuff has been selling close to retail!
05-01-07, 07:37 PM
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Thomson Posts also come in Silver
(edit) arg... beat
(edit) arg... beat
05-01-07, 08:25 PM
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Thanks all. Acorn_User, I am quite impressed with the Nitto, per your rec.
I've had a few of their quills, naturally.
Available through Rivendell:
I've had a few of their quills, naturally.
Available through Rivendell:
05-15-07, 09:25 PM
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This primarily serves as a "bump" but I wish to note that the Selcof 74X is a good candidate for
non-black seatpost.
It's referred to as "polished aluminum" but I have not seen one in the flesh so it is difficult to judge how
polished it is.
non-black seatpost.
It's referred to as "polished aluminum" but I have not seen one in the flesh so it is difficult to judge how
polished it is.
05-15-07, 09:54 PM
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The font on the Nitto stem looks so sloppy. It looks like the hand lettering I used on the airplanes I drew as a kid. It gives that stem a 50s retro look.
Personally, I'd go with the Thomson.
Personally, I'd go with the Thomson.
05-16-07, 11:50 AM
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Originally Posted by 7rider
The font on the Nitto stem looks so sloppy. It looks like the hand lettering I used on the airplanes I drew as a kid. It gives that stem a 50s retro look.
As somewhat of a Japanophile (especially Stereo Equipment such as Micro-Seiki Turntables and Luxman Electronics) I don't mind the Nitto look, but I like the 50s look in USA gear too, like Ampex tape machines and UREI / Universal electronics, etc.
05-16-07, 01:31 PM
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Speaking of bling-y non-black stems: Dave Kirk @ Kirk Frameworks makes his by hand, & will have Joe Bell paint them any color that you like...including, presumably, clearcoat.
https://www.kirkframeworks.com/stem%2...hand%20450.jpg
https://www.kirkframeworks.com/stem%2...hand%20450.jpg
05-16-07, 05:11 PM
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I've just put on the Deda Zero 100 stem, its excellent value for money and has some bling, the servise corse version is not worth the extra $$ for the 4 ti bolts.
Last edited by kleng; 05-16-07 at 05:32 PM.
