Measure Stem Reach
04-12-23, 04:35 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Measure Stem Reach
Was mesuring an old Nitto Technomic stem and went from center of bar clamp to center of stem bolt. This didn't yield the number I thought. Is reach measured from face/side of stem or from center to center?
04-12-23, 04:40 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,089
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4423 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
1,031 Posts
Should be center to center. But you may need to measure from the actual center of the clamp (horizontal and vertical), which may yield a shorter number than along the top, since the quill is at an acute angle.
04-12-23, 05:08 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,677
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 839 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
747 Posts
Here's a good tool for figuring out the actual reach and height of a stem when mounted. If you know the angle and stem length (usually marked on the stem somewhere) you can use this. Stem Comparison Tool | yojimg.net
04-12-23, 05:20 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,730
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,595 Times
in
1,438 Posts
If your off by a bit, consider that reach is traditionally measured horizontally. This will cause a difference vs. measuring along a rising stem.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
04-12-23, 06:33 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Got it. It's an old Nitto, 130mm. Current longest looks to be 120mm so that was throwing me off. Setting up a new ride and wanted to keep specs the same
04-13-23, 07:14 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,089
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4423 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
1,031 Posts
Regardless, you are trying to duplicate a fit, so if the stem you have has the right reach after you set your saddle set back, then it's good. If not, you'll need a different one.
Though, I find stems that are short are pretty easily dealt with by pushing the saddle back to make up for them. I don't recommend doing the opposite, though, unless you know you have extra set back to burn.
04-13-23, 09:54 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,400
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
976 Posts
Read this about the Nitto Pearl stem:
https://www.retro-gression.com/produ...arl-quill-stem
Unlike many other quill stems, Nitto Pearl reach is measured from center to center along the side of the stem instead of from above, resulting in approximately 7-8mm extra length (example: a "90mm" Pearl stem's extension will measure closer to 98mm).
04-13-23, 07:54 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,798
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3515 Post(s)
Liked 2,929 Times
in
1,777 Posts
Measured my stem on top from center of the clamp to center of the bolt: 120 mm exactly. For a 12 cm stem.
Wonder if you might be measuring wrong or your stem is measured in a different way.
Wonder if you might be measuring wrong or your stem is measured in a different way.
04-14-23, 09:37 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,798
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3515 Post(s)
Liked 2,929 Times
in
1,777 Posts
It’s possible you’re not using a millimeter/centimeter scale. If you are using the correct scale, then the stem simply isn’t the length you thought it was.
04-16-23, 11:05 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,880
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1858 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
That's the Nitto published point of view, FWIW.
Likes For Road Fan:
04-16-23, 11:15 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,880
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1858 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
The difference between measuring Nitto's way versus along the side of the extension, axis to axis is 1/sin(71degrees) = 1.058 of the Nitto measurement, if you draw out the triangle. A stem which measures If you have a stem 100mm based on axis to axis along the side of the extension, it will be 100/1.058 = 94.5 mm. Not a big difference, IMHO.
04-16-23, 12:02 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,089
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4423 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
1,031 Posts
The difference between measuring Nitto's way versus along the side of the extension, axis to axis is 1/sin(71degrees) = 1.058 of the Nitto measurement, if you draw out the triangle. A stem which measures If you have a stem 100mm based on axis to axis along the side of the extension, it will be 100/1.058 = 94.5 mm. Not a big difference, IMHO.
For the OP's 130mm stem, that's about a 7mm error. Enough to make it look like a full size difference.
04-17-23, 02:37 PM
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yes, that is exactly what I found. Issue resolved. Also, I forgot the rule of thumb on tape measures, don't use the end of the tape on a marking point. I moved it up to 10cm mark as a starting point and it was more accurate as well.
