I got a 70's Fuji Mixte that I'm gonna build up into a classy, grocery getting townie and want to get ideas for upright handlebars and stems.

Show off. Thank you.

I don't have an up close photo unfortunately. The stem is a cheapie "Jun" stem and the bars are plain steel north roads from a huffy. They extend back unusually far which adds to their comfort. For easy city riding I used bar end shifters and two bar mounted water bottles. I have enjoyed this set up very much.

My peugeot I've been using every day for the last two years,


doesn't look pretty but it works for me

edit. oh you said classy, best avoid the above then!

Thanks guys.

I think this is what I want:


Specifically:
https://www.velo-orange.com/vomoha.html & https://www.velo-orange.com/nitest.html

...unless anyone can recommend something cheaper but of still good quality?

THANKS!

Now bar-end or city levers?

The bars on that super course look like they could be Nitto promenade bars.

Nitto makes very attractive products but you can definitely find similar products for less money.

Kalloy sells road quill stems for about 12 dollars. They aren't comparable to the Nitto stems but they are one quarter as expensive. Here is a pic of the kalloy stem:



The VO bars seem like a nice option, I have been happy with VO branded products. I think the inverse levers look cool but that is all personal preference. The tektro inverse levers look nicer than the diacompe inverse levers to my eye.

I wonder who that super course belongs to? It looks really nice, the coaster brake keeps things uncluttered.

The problem with the VO Left Bank and Monmarte bars is that they're out of stock. The bars on the Super Course look like Nitto Promenade bars. I plan on putting Promenade or Monmarte/Left Bank bars on my wife's mixte once I find another frame. I've never used bar-end brake levers, but I imagine that city levers have a better pull and would feel more natural. I could be way off base here. Also, I don't care for the asthetics of bar-end brakes. FWIW, my wife had VO Porteur bars and Guidonnet levers on here last mixte (frame was too small). She liked the bar shape, but I was less than impressed with the efficiency of the levers. Sure looked good, though!

My advice on the stem is first figure out what reach you need and how high you need it. Then you scour eBay for a used Nitto or even a Raleigh-branded or SR stem. They're fine stems and look great after a good polishing.

Here's a shot of Nitto Promenade bars on my green Super Course. Those bars above seem to have a bit of a different bend:



Neal

Mixte with 5 speed rear and mustache bars

...............

You might want to have a look at the soma fabrications web site. They offer very nice alternatives to Nitto and VO at a very competitive price for what you are looking for...

I picked up a Kalloy stem for $10 or less maybe? Don't remember exactly but dirt cheap and it's perfectly fine, especially for a city bike.

I found it via Google Image Search. It was posted to a forum: https://singlespeed.net/CS/forums/thread/2110.aspx

@flammenwurfer
Any close ups of the stem? Did it polish up nice?

@all
Great Bikes! Thanks! Keep it up!

I'm happy with these from niagara. only 14 bucks

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=405979

These pics are of my wife's step thru townie conversion. Tossed the steel stem and drop bar and everything else connected to them.
The stem is a 60mm, riser stem by SR. Similar to Nitto Technomic. Bar came from a garage sale parts pile. I polished up both and added mtb levers and Suntour stem shifters.

If you don't need aluminum bars, Wald 867s are nice chrome townie bars. Nitto Albatross are nice as well but more $$$. Alternatively, Pyramid sells aluminum "north road" bars for $22.

I have each of these bars and frankly like the bend of the Wald's the best...they're like $15 from Amazon...I run them on my "Retrovelo'd" '91 Rockhopper.

Kalloy stems are a solid alternative to Nitto...but...the Nittos are definitely nicer. If you don't need any height, then I would scour the bins at a bike co-op or shop that has used parts...as someone mentioned, SR made plenty of decent stems over the years...maybe $5 at a co-op.

Very Pretty

An old GB stem and $20 Velo Orange North Road bars.



Astro Lux steel bar and stem from an eBay seller. He also has a similar Titan 1 piece version. They both have very long stems.





Nitto Dirtdrop and Dove.

Bars and stem from 80s Schwinn Suburban on my 74 Raleigh Pro

Both my townie and my wife's run arc style bars and I quite like their simple, and slightly uncommon look as well as their feel. Mine are Soma Noah's Arc bars, hers are $20 generic versions that are probably Dimensions or something similar.

I'm happy with these from niagara. only 14 bucks

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=405979[/QUOTE]

Me too.
101_4362..jpg101_4423..jpg

I know they don't win any style points with the cable issues, etc. But they are very comfortable and adjust to a variety of reach and height locations.