Good looking threadless stem????
 

Ok I am on record and continue to be of the opinion that threadless stems are of a less than pleasing aesthetic (actually fugly is the term i tend to use)

however there is a remote possibility that I may have to eat these words and use one

Can any one show be some examples that fit the aesthetic of classic quill stems, i.e down sloping, not too massive .... I just can't do the deer horn look

thanks all

Llewellyn Custom Handlebar Stem

http://www.llewellynbikes.com/images...colorstem1.jpg

Simworks is a brand that has a few steel threadless stems made by Nitto. I think the fillet-brazed ones look best but they also have TIG'ed ones for a bit cheaper: https://sim.works/collections/stems-simworks-by-nitto

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06ed5173a1.jpg

You have to have a LLeweLLyn bike to get one. ;)

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c6ccc918f6.jpg
https://www.retro-gression.com/produ...hreadless-stem


Also: I have bought stuff from this company and they are great.

You used to be able to purchase stem kits, and I thought with a teardrop stem.

This appears to just be lugs for a round tube.

https://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle...ess-steel.html

That would be quite a diy project for most of us. :roflmao2:

Saved by the BELL!!! That one says out of stock.

But fortunately there may be more at the bottom of this page.

https://www.framebuilding.com/NEWPARTSPAGES/lugs.htm

As long as you're sure it isn't going to fall apart, it would make a fun first project.

Then who knows, the next frame from scratch!!!

https://velo-orange.com/collections/threadless-stems

The VO stems are chrome and come in 25.4 or 26.0 sizes so you could use a traditional flexible thin diameter handlebar to make the setup less 'fugly'.

Threadless Cinelli Grammo or threadless ITM Eclypse look nice to me.

As evidenced by this thread, the best that you can get with a threadless stem is that it will be "not too fugly". There is no beauty in these things. The proportions are all wrong.

Not necessarily, Nova Cycles distributes the stem lugs, any frame builder could make one.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f171fe033.jpeg

A Chinese ensemble of titanium seatpost and one inch steer tube/ 31.8 Ahead titanium stem.

Dave Levy of TI Cycles makes a beautiful titanium threadless stem.

reasonably priced and very light !

I have one on my DiNucci and it is the shiznit

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ti-Cycles-T.../181705293393?

Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b8635e1205.jpg

Early Salsa stems are worth a look. Steel and real

Well, you have to have if you want them to make it. ;)

Llewellyn are fabulous. A friend has a full custom Llewellyn frame. Don't read the next bit if you don't like sad stories... His brother was diagnosed with asbestosis, terminal. The brother, while in hospital asked my friend what the ultimate hand built bike was, and the full custom steel Llewellyn was it. The brother put in his will that his estate would pay for a hand built thing of beauty, and it is amazing. Next time I see him with the bike, I'll take some pics and put them up here.

Are you looking to put a threadless stem on an adapter and use it on a threaded fork or do you have a threadless fork and need a stem for it? Also, do you normally ride a -17 quill stem and/or are you looking to get it a little higher?

Final question. What diameter bars (clamp area) are you looking to use with the proposed new stem?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5a98d337a4.jpg

Extravagance.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...899092ba19.jpg

1". Too long (130mm) for me.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...91148474df.jpg

Older Ibis titanium stem, if you can find one (mine isn't for sale), and it'll fit the one-inch steerer and handlebars. Looks similar to the stems already shown in this thread. Low profile, could pass for quill at a glance if the steerer is cut short and uses minimal spacers. But it's straight, no way to adjust the bar upward or downward.

My Ibis is 110mm c-t-c, a little long and low for me while I'm still recovering from neck and shoulder injuries. So I've taken it off temporarily and put on a 90mm angled conventional chunky threadless stem and suitable fatter handlebar (FSA stem and Omega compact drop). If my neck and shoulder improve I may put the Ibis back on.

Another one to look at is Fairweather. They are made by Nitto like Simworks, VO, etc, but have some different designs.

https://global.bluelug.com/fairweath...em-silver.html

I think these Nitto track stems are pretty cool. https://www.benscycle.com/nitto-ct-8...80_870/product

Generally speaking, I like threadless stems. IMO it is a far superior design mechanically. That counts for something with me. While many are ugly, some can be attractive. I'm very happy with my Nitto UI-21EX, which makes no apologies for its threadless-ness. Only took a little getting used to. Now I like how it looks. My gestalt shifts a little easier than most people my age I suspect.

Let's not forget the Rene Herse original type. One of the prettiest stems ever.

TTT Mutant looks ok. I had one on my Sachs before I sprang for the very extravagant custom.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4982c900a2.jpgI
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db8512b4c4.jpg

Rider's view.

The best threadless stems on my vintage rides are at the very least context dependent (aka with modern go-fast components and wheels usually), but my steadfast setup with them is right off the/on top of the headset to give it that threadless look. Round cross-section, in black, helps reduce the mass. I picked up a Velo Orange unit with an octagonal cross-section (more like a square with heavily chamfered corners that are nicely radiused). Polished. The chamfers really cut the mass out of the stem, especially as the polished nature grabs so much light. 26.0mm clamp keeps the handlebar end of things looking reasonable.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1576cce06b.jpg

I think threadless stems look great on bikes with threadless steerers and 31.8mm bars.
The stem's diameter looks appropriate to me in this situation because everything is equally larger than than traditional sizing.

In general, I dont find the type of stem to be good or bad looking.
I find specific stems to be good or bad looking. For example, Nitto Technomic stems are about the least attractive stem I can think if right now.
I also dislike stems- threaded and threadless- with large visible welds.
A simple black or chrome threadless stem with small/hidden welds looks quite nice. To me, a stem should simply not attract attention.

This kind of talk will get you reported to the authorities. :0

Yeah, it probably isnt a popular opinion around here.
I completely understand why they are used and totally understand comfort over aesthetics for priorities. We all come to the sport with different levels of fitness and limitations, so having components available to make the fit work is great- I just dont like the look of them.

Many dont like the look of my bikes though either because I'm on the taller side of things and often use a nitto dynamic II 90deg stem to get the bars up a bit higher.


Often I see frames that seem too small with technomic stems attached to get the bars up- that just seems like a poor fit overall. I would think a larger frame with a more traditional stem height would be better, but if the owner is happy, then cool.

Lego bikes
 

I keep seeing Lego Man. Threadless was a versatility and strength issue. It was never about aesthetics. Look at the head tubes and BBs of your top of the range bikes. They are built for folks who can regularly generate 1500 Watts and some. It is like a car driver who insists on having Lewis Hamilton's front wing on his car before he goes to the local Starbucks.
There is a time and a place.
Horses for courses.

again very remote chance right not, but it would be for a threadless fork. normally ride a -17 quill and want to keep the look

want to keep the clamp obtrusive, probably 26mm bars as i like nitto noodle