Campoli

As part of my restoration project I'm thinking of modernizing some components and upgrading quill style stem to a threadless using the Profile Design adapter.

Would this look silly on a classic bike with thinner frame tubes? I'm trying to somewhat update the look but I don't want it to look like I'm trying too hard either.

What do you all think? Any pics would be great!

Bianchigirll 

I've done but more for the height and simplicity of changing a stem than looks.

If 1" to 1" adaptors were still readily available it would look better but they don't look awful. Oh don't mix/match colors. if the adaptor is black use a black stem and versa.

KonAaron Snake 

Honestly I do think it ends up looking goofy, but I wouldn't let that stop me if it made the bike more of what I wanted. The VO threadless stems look decent, and the Nittos are nice until you see the price tag. I remember a few others that looked ok when I was searching for one. Thomson are ok, but less c/v'ish. I remember people pointing out one made by Tange that was ok looking.

Rocket-Sauce 

I think they look good when the adapter is able to sit flush, ie no taper from 1" to 1 1/8" so the stem can be slammed or spacers can be used.

So this:


Looks a lot better than this:

John E

It beats snapping a fatigued aluminum quill stem.

Sidney Porter

A little ironic considering the bar tape.

El Segundo

Here is pic of the Velo Orange stem adapter on my bike. I liked the way the adapter flares to the bottom of the stem giving a smoother appearance. That being said the appearance turns some folks off but, it is my ride and I like it.

Bianchigirll 

I honestly just could not make up my mind. The Celeste wasn't too over the top but the blue doesn't get dirty as quick, and pulls the decals out.

Little Darwin

I don't see what the problem is... Threadless stems look silly on any bike to me, whether the bike has thin tubes or fat tubes. But they are functional, so go for it.

I think that the tapered adapters should disappear, as they increase the goofiness factor too much... other than that Velo Orange one above which does look more refined. That would be nice as long as your stem stack height is right, which it looks like any stanard stem should be fine, but it wouldn't look right with any spacers.

Campoli

I completely agree that the stem should blend well. I do plan on using the handlebars I have on the bike now. I dont know much about them but they are incredibly light for a 1976 bike.

SkyDog75

I may be in the minority, but to my eyes, a modern threadless stem looks so out of place on a bike with a threaded headset and the adapters looks like a kludge. I'm not for or against either type -- I have bikes with both -- but it's a matter of context.

If there's a functional reason, go for it. Function trumps aesthetics. But if you're going for looks, this "upgrade" would be a downgrade.

non-fixie 

I've looked into this, to see if I could re-create the René Herse look, using threadless bits, but I haven't found the right parts yet. For a C&V bike two things are important IMO: the right finish (blank polished aluminum) and the right angle (horizontal).

squirtdad

Your bike, your choice. ..... Personally I think they are bugly in general, but especially so on vintage bikes. If you have to go for a higher stem, something like the nitto dirt drop looks a lot better to me.

peugeot mongrel

Since you are looking for opinions here goes. I modernize bikes that I like to ride. I really don't care for the stem adapter. A vintage steel frame with a carbon fork and modern stem has some advantages and looks fine to me. I wouldn't put a carbon fork with a frame that had a chrome Columbus fork but I would not hesitate to put STIs on it. But a bike done like that looks practical and not collectable to me. I like STIs and dual pivot brakes.
My bikes go as fast as I can, feel light and make me happy. As long as your bikes make you happy nothing else makes much difference in my humble opinion.



same bike with the original fork

Campoli

Bump, any more opinion or pics?

fietsbob

Make it fit a higher priority than making it look right but not fit? You Pick.

MikesChevelle

Give me a few weeks and I have coverted my IronMan to a set up like this.

Henry III

If I'm using a threadless stem then I'll use the fork to match plus your updating it anyways. Get a 1" threadless carbon fork and make it worthwhile. My 93 Paramount came with a Kinesis threaded aluminum fork but I picked up a 1" threadless Reynolds converted it. Chris King threadless 1" headset and then a 1" to 1-1/8" stem shim. I never cared for the quill threadless adapters but to each their own and whatever works.

thinktubes 

ezln64

threadless is a smart system to use, and convenient.

but aesthetically I say a threadless fork needs to be used. 1 inch threadless headsets and 1 inch threadless forks are readily available in carbon or even lugged steel.

edit...
and a quick easy trick- buy a used (or nos) period/brand correct fork that's way too tall for your bike, cut off the excess (threads should be way above stem height), add starnut to steerer tube, and you have a proper c&v threadless system that ideally even matches your bike/paint.

Vonruden

I like this, with a shim

UI-7 INTEGRATED STEM by NITTO - fairweather

Campoli

This is my present and original setup. As part of the restoration I also wanted to modernize. I already put on some aero levers and was thinking of the threadless stem. I am a newbie at this so definitely don't want to compromise aesthetics as that's the only reason I'd be doing it.

Camilo

Campoli, unless that stem is not giving you something you need, why change it? It looks great.

If it's height, you can get taller quill stems. Nitto, just for one example, makes three or four different height stems. The Technomic is very tall, the Technomic Deluxe is shorter, but finished (IMHO) nicer, and the Pearl is shorter yet (similar finish to the Deluxe). I'm able to get by with the Deluxe and think it looks very nice. Here's a guide: https://www.bicycleclassics.com/barsandstems.html

If it's the bars and you're concerned that you need a threadless stem to get the bar shape you want, there's some pretty nice silver or black finish bars in the modern "ergo" shape (smooth curve, but not classic curve) in the quill stem 26.0 clamp size. One example that I use that seems to be pretty popular is the Soma Hwy 1. Another is the Civia Emerson.

But, I'm on the side of whatever makes it rideable and fun first, but aesthetics are important. I tend to prefer a quill stem on a bike that has a headset designed for it, even if it's high rise. To me, the typical quill-threadless adapters with normal threadless stems and spacers do look kludgey to me on most bikes, and I don't even really like a threadless stem on a modern steel frame that is actually designed for it. But if they work for the rider, that's the most important thing. I'm lucky in that the only vintage bike I have, I can get the handlebars up to where I need them with just a medium height quill stem. Even that, though, hurts the eyes of some purists who think, aesthetically, the stem height should be only as far as a standard (i.e. the Pearl mentioned above) road quill stem.

All that said, I really think the Velo orange options would look very nice (I tend to think VO does a great job aesthetically, quality and value-wise, really like their stuff):



and


The downside being they're angled down and might not give enough height. But would also probably look pretty good with some matching spacers underneath.

Campoli

Those VO are indeed nice bit if I do it I'd go with the stem look over quill. Given the look of the bike would a black or white deda stem look totally out of place?

Campoli

I am going to try a few ideas and report back. Thx all.