If you didn't want to spend over $50 to pick up a quality quill stem, which would you chose? I'm looking at vintage Cinelli stems on ebay, also at the Grand Compe ENE quill, or should I save some money and go with the cheapo Kalloy? Thanks for the input.

PS it's going on this bike

I guess it depends on what your aesthetic needs are. I have a cheap Kalloy stem on a bike, and it looks fine, but it's not in any way fancy.

What reach and bar clamp diameter do you need?

80 or 90 length 25.4 clamp

I have an SR Custom with a 25.4mm clamp, but it has 100mm reach. Post in the ISO/FT thread. Someone will have just what you're looking for.

There should be a lot of vintage Nittos on Ebay in those lengths. If you want something a little nicer look at the 3ttt stems.

ITM stems are nice.

They are Italian, come in either black or silver and are nicely painted with a fancy, sort of old school, logo. They are also abit cheaper than Cinelli or 3TTT to. It would go very nicely on your Faggin...

Cinelli stems would almost all be 26.4mm clamp right? Is that compatible with your bars?

I would look for a nice used Nitto Pearl or Dynamic. Wonderful pieces.

Are all Cinelli stems 26.4?

The Kalloy stems aren't bad, and the label comes off really easily with a little steel wool.

You can also get the Origin 8 stem in chrome:

A few were 26.0mm.

From Sheldon's site, Cinelli went with the standard 26.0 after 1990.

25.4 with Cinelli bars? Seems odd.

There are options. What bars fit your hands? Start there.

A-Keep the 26.4 bars and spend the $50 or so to get a Cinelli stem. Be patient.
B-Sell the Cinelli bars for $40, look for a 3TTT combo for $50-$80.
C-Sell the Cinelli bars for $40, look for a Nitto or Sakae or SR combo for $30-$50.
D-Trade the Cinelli bars for the stem you want, look for a proper bar.
E-Trade the Cinelli bars for the bars you want, look for a proper stem.

I am a big fan of the 3TTT option.

I have Cinellis on all of my keeper racing bikes right now, along with Cinelli bars. Typical source: donor bikes.

^^ Same here. ^^

Cinelli bars fit my hands. Therefore, I use Cinelli bars.
In order to use Cinelli bars, I have Cinelli stems.

I use a 3TTT Forma bar on one bike, polished sleeve, with a 3TTT stem, polished.
The Forma is the only ergo bar that fits my hands, and mazdaspeed sent it to me, so it's cool.

Well my personal preference for stems on my bikes are Nitto Technomics. They are beautifully made and allow for a ton of handle-bar height adjustment. Additionally, they are readily available in 25.4mm clamp diameter. Nitto's other stems like the Pearl, Jaguar, and Dynamic are shorter in quill and exceptionally well-made.

However, if you need any 26.0 (3TTT, Nitto, Salsa) or 26.4 (Cinelli) clamp diameter stems, PM me, I have them.

PLUS the Nitto suggestion. Technomics should be available near or at $50 ... but then I do not know how the exchange on the Yen is being reflected on Japanese production — and yes Nitto still manufactures in Japan, so my LBS says. Recently I bought two different Nitto quill stems. each lass than 5,000 Yen respectivley. As said, the are attractive, very nicely made. Also affordable and very functional.

With Nitto you have a new consideration: height. Cinelli stems are not tall. Nitto Technomics are very tall, and Nitto Technomic Deluxes are medium-tall. Nitto has a line called Pearl, that is the same height as a 26.4 Cinelli.

So you should figure out what your sizing needs are, not just clamp diameter and brand.

I just picked up a very nice, older Nitto "Young" off ebay for ....a buck. It was an impulse buy :>

A really nice line of stems!