Hi all,

For a number of reasons I'd like to get hold of a quill stem, with as short reach as possible, but with a removable faceplate, and I'd appreciate some pointers on where to find such an animal.
Or am I more likely to find what I want by ways of getting a BMX stem, and reaming it out to take a road-sized handlebar?
I've got a quill-to-aheadset in the right size, so I'd be able to swing that, if needed.

No faceplate, but this dude is on it when it comes to short quill stems. Shorter than a lot of BMX stems.

Profile Designs has on in a 60mm. Not very pretty, though.

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...ls.php?id=7470

I have some 5cm, threadless stems , Trek/Bontrager
and a Quill Terry stem, the new ones have a 2 bolt faceplate.

Salsa probably .. QBP, via your LBS?

If you can get a 25.4/mtb flat bar, then the Sunlite short stem might work.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-ATB-Ur...ef=pd_sbs_sg_3

Niagara Cycle also carries a XLC 4 bolt front pop clamp that's more for BMX, but it's a quill stem and in the "Road" quill stems section:

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=447545

Both are just 21.1mm extension. Short enough for ya?

Well, the Sunlite is kinda what I'm looking for, but I can't determine how far it sticks out. I'm after the shortest possible.

I think the 21.1 refers to the quill diameter, not the amount of forward protrusion.

I could live with the styling, but 60 mm is too much.

Quill diameter is 22.2. 21.1 is the extension on these short stubbies.

I'm pretty sure 21.1 is the quill diameter. BMX standard which is being phased out on nicer BMX bikes. Also older, usually cheaper road bikes. A few early 80s MTBs. A lot of old Schwinns, etc.

The sunlite looks to be at least a 30mm extension to me.


Remember stems are measured from quill centerline to bar centerline. A 21.1mm length stem would have a 25.4mm bar and a 22.2mm quill intersecting each other.

12.7 + 11.1 = 23.8mm (this would be a stem length in which a 25.4mm bar and a 22.2mm quill are touching.)

For the OP, assuming 26.0 bar clamp,

13 + 11.1 = 24.1mm

You can get some very short threadless stems and almost all have removable faceplates. How about a threadless stem and a threadless to quill adapter combination?

I think that's the best bet. 40mm threadless + adapter are easy to come by.

Might be tough to get 26.0 clamp diameter if that's what the OP means by road diameter. Plenty of road bars in 31.8 and a couple in 25.4, though.

dabac, perhaps you should state what you have and what you're trying to do with it. Pics if possible.

I've thought about that, got a quill adapter already. Been holding out for some numbers on what "very short" means. MTB DH stuff seems to end at 60 mm. BMX stems seems shorter, but don't publish numbers.
I've managed to source a couple of 40-50 mm quill stems w/ faceplate, which is a neater option - unless the adapter+ threadless end up shorter.

Well, it's dear old Mum. Her favourite Bianchi is set up with drop bars and the old style quill stem w/wraparound clamp, a really short one. Think cruiser, upright bikes. She really likes the bike that way.
Mum don't like to honk up hills anymore, and can't be bothered to use the DT shifters often enough. Hence unhappy rider. But she isn't going to give up the drop bar any time soon.
So I'm thinking Brifters for her, and like to give her a modern (=sharp bends)drop bar while I'm at it - but these don't fit in her old stem. So I'm trying to source the shortest stem available with a removable faceplate to pull it all off - that is, let her keep the fit of the bike, while adding some more user friendly hardware.

25.4 vs 26.0 isn an issue. I can ream a 25.4 to 26.0 easily enough. BMX size would be a bit more tedious, but readily doable.

(and don't worry about the economy of it, I've got most of the parts already)