Cinelli or Nitto stem for a 1983 Trek 970
 

I'm going to purchase a new Cinelli 1A stem or a Nitto Dynamic stem. Everything else being equal, I'll choose the Cinelli since the bike had a Cinelli as OE.
But are the two stems equal in quality? I'd like to buy the stiffer and better finished item, if one is better than the other.

Is any feedback from owners available?

They're both fine stems, but make sure you know the clamp diameter before you order your handlebars.

I think the Nitto may give a bit more vertical adjust-ability (if that is important). I have Nitto Deluxe stems on all of my threaded-forked bikes. Being able to adjust the bars quickly and easily is one of the nice things about quill stems. Swapping bars is a PIA!

Agree with Fender...I have a Nitto Dynamic and, based on merits rather than aesthetics or originality, prefer it to the Cinelli because of vertical adjustability.

I'd go with the Nitto, it has a better polish then Cinelli. As for strength, I've never had a problem with Cinelli's, but what do I know never had a Nitto, either! Mike

The new production 1As are only available with a 26.0mm clamp. I think you can find Nitto Dynamics with 25.4mm or 26.0mm. To me it would come down to the other components on the bike. A matching Nitto seatpost would be a nice touch.

As for vertical adjustability, I think the new 1As and the Nitto Dynamic are about equal; perhaps the Nitto is a cm or so taller. The Nitto has a 72d angle while the Cinelli's is 73d, so there's that.

If anyone comes across a Nitto Dynamic II with 80-90mm reach please let me know.

1-pick the bars that fit your hands.
2-pick the stem that fits those bars.
3-recognize the limits if the stem height with Cinellis.
4-given the size of that Trek, shouldn't be a problem.

If you look at period photos most pros were riding Cinelli 1A stems & Model 64 or 66 bars at that time.
It is also most likely how your frame was originally equipped.
Why swim upstream?

Regards,

nitto... they're the best

Rather than go new for that bike I would consider trying to find a matched bar and stem set your size in either Cinelli or Nitto. I would focus on getting a set of bars and stem that match rather than one stem or the other. As said you may better of picking the bars you want to use then finding a stem to match the bars.

Can't agree. I've had both on bikes, once on the same bike - at least a Cinelli 1A and a Nitto Technomic Deluxe. To adjust vertical on either one, you loosen the quill bolt, hit it with a wrench or something to knock the wedge or cone loose, and then you have a loose stem in a fork - total adjustability. If it doesn't work this way, there is some corrosion making it tough to break loose - i.e. the stem was not greased before installation.

One thing that does make a difference is a wedge offset quill clamp versus a cone expander quill clamp. The cone design takes up less space in the steer tube. If you have a small frame, the extra centimeter will make a big difference. Despite the taller quill, I can't identify a difference in stem stiffness, at least not in my recollections of riding the Masi with both setups. Nearly all Nittos are wedge, though I think they may have sold some Pearls with cones. Vintage 1A's had cones, as did vintage 3TTTs.

The Tech Deluxe and Pearl both have the hbar clamp bolt threading into a nicely shaped nut that is virtually impossible to strip, and is a lot more robust than the captive allen nut used in vintage Cinelli 1As - I once broke one from over tightening. Since then I went to using a torque wrench - finding specialized Italian replacement fasteners is a PITA. Better not to break anything in the first place.

So: stiffness and finish, even as far as I can tell, depending on model of Nitto. Quill clamp: Cinelli vintage takes the nod. Hbar clamp: Nitto if the top models (Tech Deluxe yes, Technomic no).

Michael, I'd say (as did someone else): choose your bars based on planned usage and your fit requirements, select a stem dimension to fit the bars on the bike and position your hands properly, then select a stem that meets your constraints (quill rise, extension, clamp size and aesthetics/style) - top-down, function-driven design. I wouldn't worry about if one flexes a bit more than the other.

I've decided on the Soma HWY One handlebar. It's close to the drop and reach of the handlebars on my modern bikes. The dimensions of the 970 are going to provide the same fit as my other bikes. It's a tried-n-true fit that I'm sticking with. So a 110mm stem will finish the build. Since the Nitto and the Cinelli are very close, I knew the feedback provided in this thread would provide a basis for selection. I like the idea of a robust fastener, so I'm leaning towards the Nitto at this point.

I don't think you understood fender's post - the angle and stem height of the Nitto means the bars can be raised higher than with a classic Cinelli. I'm sure Col is right in saying that a modern Cinelli stem is more similar, but the classic 1A can't get the bars as high as a Nitto Dynamic.

Nitto pearl or Technomic