Maybe there are not a rash of reported old stem failures because most people have retired the old stems? My NOS looking 1R in 110mm has that gaping hole in the front behind the logo. I would always worry about it snapping. But it's so damned pretty with the shiny bars. Maybe I should get those Nitto bars that look like Cinelli copies, to go with my 26.0 XE stem?

Also, anyone know what these are for??