Hi,

I'd like to change out the handlebars on my Bottecchia Carnielli SLX. It's a great bike as I have taken it on many road trips and it has done very well. There is one small problem...the handlebars are one piece: stem and bars, and there's a slight angle that makes the bars sit just a bit too low for me.

I would like to replace the handlebars, but am not sure what a good replacement would be...what to stay away from, etc.

I can post pics if needed, just thought I'd throw this out there to see if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks in advance!

"...the handlebars are one piece: stem and bars"

I think pics are needed in this case.

You need pictures as when I Googled that bike every picture had a handle bar and stem that were 2 pieces. Roger

The bars and stem are one piece? Most traditional road stems are designed so they are roughly parallel to the ground. If yours has downward angle it may be a track stem. Can you post a few pics?

There are lots of different options depending on what you want to do. I have problems with my back and hands so I use a tall Kalloy hybrid stem on a lot of my bikes.

I have a 1989 Bottecchia SLX that I bought new back in 1989. A few years ago I replaced the original Modolo handlebar and stem with this:








Since that picture was taken, I have replaced the original Campy drivetrain with Campy Athena 11 speed.


I know that some of the purists here may object, but the new drivetrain is easier for me to use. M Colnagos, including the Master, all have new Campy Record and it was getting to be a PITA to go from DT shifters to brifters. And, to be honest, the old Campy brakes do not work nearly as well as the new Campy skeleton brakes.





Unfortunately, I can't wear this skinny Italian racer jersey ... there was a time, however, when it fitted just fine!

The handlebars and stem are Mondolos. I'll post when I get home.

tried to attach pics... jpg...within size limitations...keeps saying too big.

thanks anyway!

Maybe this will work.

@imgain - if you want to post pics, use a photo app like Photobucket or Flickr or anything along those lines. Then all you have to do is cut and past the URL into the picture icon in the message window. no size limit.


OK you beat me by a min!
that is not a one piece but two.

That looks like a Modolo Speedy stem, in which case the bars and stem are not one piece.

oh yay!

since i'm on a roll here's another

I like that stem. send it to me after you change it! hah.

[MENTION=444246]imgain[/MENTION] - I am not familiar with this stem, but if you are careful, you can "pop" the grey round piece off the stem and find a fastener used to tighten the HB. Loosen it and set it where you want, tighten it up and pop the cover back on.

that bike is gorgeous btw-

I'm afraid you're stuck. What you don't know is that the bars, stem, and frame are all one piece. May as well throw it out. I mean, I'm a nice guy and will take it off your hands for you. Heck, I'll even pay your trash bill for the month.

But in seriousness. You can probably raise the stem up and rotate the bars up a little bit

[MENTION=444246]imgain[/MENTION], there's a bolt you can access at the bottom of the stem which will loosen the clamp and allow you to adjust the angle or replace the bars. You mention the main issue is the height and angle of the bars. As you probably are already aware, you can also raise the stem (minding the limit line marked on the stem) by loosening the bolt under the removable cap with the Modolo logo.

Btw, I used a similar Modolo stem for many years without any issues. However, I've read and seen other reports of failure (for example, or another example citing recall). These reports of cracked stems may be overblown, but it's something to at least be aware of since a sudden stem failure is obviously something to be avoided. At the very least be sure you get the correct size bars if you replace the current bars.

You all are awesome! Thank you so much for your advice, humor....I have my bike flipped over and am checking out the "speedy stem"...heh!


Oh, here's a picture of it. I tried using Photobucket, and uploaded the pic, but this forum says i must have 10 posts before uploading a URL. Ok.

Just one more and you're there!

Let this be it!

Here's a better pic:

eja_bottecchia you do have a sweet bike!

That's the SCIC livery. They used Bottecchia in 1978 & 1979 with Giuseppe Saronni winning the 1979 Giro d'Italia. Of course, that would have been on the SL version of the frame, as there was no SLX until 1984.

Is that a light strapped to the headtube? If so, remove it please. We must see our badges! (yea yea we don't need no steenking badges.)

Not sure what the SCIC Livery is?