SR Royal stems
 

Digging through the box of stems at the Bike Exchange the other day I found an SR Royal .

I have seen and used lots of SR stems but have never seen one stamped SR Royal.

Can someone tell me something more about this item?

Looking it up on the internet it appears this was a premium model with the "SuperLight " version especially so.

I was planning on putting it on a Univega Gran Premio that I have been cleaning up for selling at the Bike Exchange ( someone had put a cheap squishy seat, black riser bars, a huge Technomic stem, and black plastic pedals on it )

Although this is a high end bike I have to be careful not to spec it with parts that are too valuable as it probably won't sell for more than about $200 or $250 no matter what.

Most people will only see it as an old steel bike, not a top of the line club racer ( just below their pro series ) . If it had an italian name on it We could probably tack on another $200 to the price and get it.

Royal was a Sakae Royal line of forged handlebar stems (and other components) using high strength aluminum. Originally, it was the top line but was superceded by Fousir, which was meant for strictly competition (though it was not milled and drilled like the Royal ESL, which was actually lighter). There was also a slightly heavier, more robust forged line called Apex. Lesser lines, such as Custom and Jun, used more economical melt forging (actually a high pressure casting process) and lower strength aluminum alloys, resulting in heavier stems.

My 1980 Gran Premio has an SR custom stem, so the SR Royal is certainly in the ballpark.

As [MENTION=20650]T-Mar[/MENTION] said- SR Royal was SR's top of the line line. Kind of like their Gran Compe or Dura Ace... best materials and finished exquisitely.

I have a Four'Sir seatpost from 84- I know it was a top of the line part- but it looks so... ...ordinary- especially when compared to the SR Royal stuff that preceded it.

Both the stem and Campy-clone seatpost on my '78 Volare are SR Royal, and I've run into it on other bikes as well. Top-notch stuff, as others have said.

The tapered shape of the Royal stem puts it ahead of the Cinelli 1A aesthetically:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a1e8902831.jpg

So very Campy:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11fbb09225.jpg

This is what the full boat titanium hardware ESL stuff looks like.

https://i571.photobucket.com/albums/...224_184702.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/s...224_184716.jpg

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/s...224_184740.jpg

Some parts will surprise you, mid 1960's GB forged alloy Hiduminium spearpoint stem, with all steel bolts, nuts, and expander. very light compared to the Italian stuff of the period. With titanium bolts and aluminum expander this would equal or come very close to the weight of the ESL stem.

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/s...224_185120.jpg

: Mike

AVA stems can be quite light too. Quill stems with conical expanders instead of wedge expanders are a bit lighter due to thinner walls and smaller expanders, and ones with hollow top sections (hole drilled/cast from the front or back) are considerably lighter.

While I am not a weight weenie, ever since I got my digital hanging luggage scale from Amazon I have been weighing everything on my bike projects. I have a few old TTT, AVA, GB , SR and others and there are definitely differences.

There were a number of SR "Royal" models with a variety of millings, drillings, and titanium or steel hardware. I have a couple that are quite similar to Cinelli 1/A, with steel bolts and no milling or drilling, one that has a drilled out quill and titanium bolts, and another with milled out sides of the quill and titanium bolts, all branded as "SR Royal.".

Here's one of mine,I love this stem!! 1978 Fuji Pro.



https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c657e0a3fb.jpg