New Stem NVO vs Nashbar
08-09-17, 09:16 AM
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New Stem NVO vs Nashbar
I am now the proud owner of a Jamis Commuter 4 Femme that has NVO Stem on it. I have raised the handlebars to max extension and still need to raise them another inch or so. This will involve replacing the stem. I have 2 main options it seems at this point. 1. Get a NVO TM2 ($75 is dollars with shipping). 2. Buy a Nashbar Stem, spacers and stem adapter/riser ($60-$70 with shipping). At some point I want to change my handlebars out but the height of the bars seems to be the bigger issue at the moment. Is one stem better than the other? Have people had issues with either? Do you have other recommendations for raising my handlebar height?
08-09-17, 10:23 AM
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I've always wondered how Jamis executed an easy-to-adjust stem that they claim on their website. The NVO system is apparently how they do it:
Technical ? NVO COMPONENTS ? SPACER FREE STEMS
It appears that the NVO system uses one long spacer/shim that works to allow you to tighten the fork to the bike frame, then their proprietary stem (with custom inside diameter) slides on over that. Interesting concept, but it means every other stem sold for a threadless headset will not work, as you've apparently found out, and you're tied to the NVO way of life.
I would recommend not buying further into NVO's proprietary hardware, and get an aftermarket stem and spacers. You could buy an adjustable stem instead of a fixed stem, so you could really dial in the angle and reach of the bar. Then you could use the spacers to adjust the overall height of the stem (swapping some either above or below the stem to achieve the height that you want).
Technical ? NVO COMPONENTS ? SPACER FREE STEMS
It appears that the NVO system uses one long spacer/shim that works to allow you to tighten the fork to the bike frame, then their proprietary stem (with custom inside diameter) slides on over that. Interesting concept, but it means every other stem sold for a threadless headset will not work, as you've apparently found out, and you're tied to the NVO way of life.
I would recommend not buying further into NVO's proprietary hardware, and get an aftermarket stem and spacers. You could buy an adjustable stem instead of a fixed stem, so you could really dial in the angle and reach of the bar. Then you could use the spacers to adjust the overall height of the stem (swapping some either above or below the stem to achieve the height that you want).
08-10-17, 10:45 AM
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I'm guessing you have already flipped the stem to the higher position. Have you considered riser bars? They would be quick to change, and you would still be able to adjust your stem to fine tune the height. Unless you need a stem with a different reach, I would just change out the bars.
One thing that everybody misses on the NVO stem is that besides being adjustable (I agree, hardly anyone does this), you can quickly remove the bars to collapse the bike for transport. You just loosen the adjustment bolt and the stem slides right off the spacer, hanging the bars by the cables. Since the spacer is keyed, the stem goes back on to the same position, with no change in headset adjustment.
I have an NVO stem on my Jamis Quest. I did flip it once, but decided that I liked it better in the lower position. It hasn't been an advantage or disadvantage for me, since it fits as is.
One thing that everybody misses on the NVO stem is that besides being adjustable (I agree, hardly anyone does this), you can quickly remove the bars to collapse the bike for transport. You just loosen the adjustment bolt and the stem slides right off the spacer, hanging the bars by the cables. Since the spacer is keyed, the stem goes back on to the same position, with no change in headset adjustment.
I have an NVO stem on my Jamis Quest. I did flip it once, but decided that I liked it better in the lower position. It hasn't been an advantage or disadvantage for me, since it fits as is.
