Anyone know a good source for quill type stems? It is rather hard to find good ones these days. I did a forum search and a Google search but the number of posts/threads with the word "stem" is massive, Google gives me a bunch of off brands, and eBay is rather thin in that department.

I'm replacing the stem on my LeMond. I ordered an quill-to-threadless adapter and threadless Ritchey WCS stem, but the total weight between the two (adapter and stem) is about 280 grams. If I'm going to be replacing the stem anyway, I'd like to go lighter.

Ideas?

Dunno about lighter, but Nitto makes nice quill stems. I don't know of anyone else who does.

Oh wait yea I do. VO rips off everything Nitto makes. That's not really a bad thing though, the quality and prices are good.

https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ill-stems.html

who still makes bars in 26mm anyway?

light and quill stems don't really mix...

Nitto makes bars that dia. I just put a Noodle on my townie. Seems nice, haven't ridden it yet.

Your going to want to search up 3t quill stems on ebay. They made some of the lightest, nicest looking ones up through the 90's. I bought an NOS one for my girlfriend's De Rosa not too long ago at a really good price.

Also, around the time they went from quill to threadless i know there was some experimentation with making lighter/easily adjustable quill stems. I would ask over at C/V about them.

Something like this for example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3T-1-quill-s...item3cbe594e4d

it's not exactly light, however.

Yea it's heavy as balls. Pretty though.

Even a light quill stem will tend to weigh over 250gms. The short ones have essentially double the material of a threadless stem as the vertical stack will be over 100mm so they will weigh double or more.

Unless you are changing forks I would still tend to stick with a quill as I think the threadless adapter set ups look like hell. I have a steel bike with a quill and use the Dura Ace version of this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SHIMANO-600-...item43abd33edc

They were made by Nitto and I think they are the best looking quill ever made.

The current premium choice in quill stems is the Nitto Pearl. Expensive, exquisitely finished, strong, classic, but not light. I've never weighed mine, but a quick search indicates the weight from 300-395g, and come in 80-120mm extensions, in both 25.4 and 26.0mm diameters.

Thin-walled chromoly steel quill stems. Such as: Trek System 1; Ritchey Force Light; and the identical stems by HL Taiwan.

Lighter than any aluminum quill stem.

Go to ebay and search "cinelli stem".

Nitto is ok too.

You may get a more receptive audience in the C&V forum.

You may also wish to get an adapter that will allow you to use a modern stem, they make those too!

Most older cinelli stems are 26.4 which will only work with cinelli bars. They did make some 26 mm a1 stems but don't trust ebay sellers, you will probably get a 26.4.
Here is the first of the new release of the a1 stem that just came out. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-a1-quill-stem/

3ttt and nitto both made nice 26.0 clamp stems. Cinelli stems are also good but must be used with cinelli bars. Your best bet is to find a used bar/stem combo sold together IMO.

Strangely enough, Bontrager - yup, TREK - makes a pretty nice one. If you want a short reach, compact bar in 26mm, they're about the only choice. I've got one on my '97 Bianchi Trofeo, and I like it a lot.

I feel your pain Spin. I've been on a hard target ebay search for a quality 1" / 26.0 threadless stem but to no avail (please noone tell me to shim a 1 1/8). But during that time, I've seen several nicely finished quills from 3ttt, Modolo, Dura Ace, etc.


Edit: and thanks RevChuck, I've been looking for a 26.0 compact bar.

Thanks for all the input. It looks like I was on the right track to begin with. Though I'd like to maintain the look, to me weight trumps looks (at least in this case) and even a threadless/adapter combo weighs less than a quill stem. Yes, the adapter is going to look a bit weird, but it appears to be the better solution outside of replacing the fork (which I have no desire to do).

You CAN do this, but there's no functional reason. Millions of bikes have gone billions of miles with quills with no problems.
Rivendell sells Nittos, or at least did when I bought mine. Www.rivbike.com

I agree, that is so bizarre...

No, that would be the Nitto Craft stem. I think it is the nicest quill stem being made today. It's quite expensive, though.

Lol. Cuz you're totally going to notice 50g. You know what you are going to notice? That vomit-inducing contraption you're about to bolt to an otherwise fine bike.

Quill adapter stems thingys are pretty hideous. If it were me I would go with a Nitto stem and call it good and forget about whatever weight difference there is. Let's face it, it just isn't that much. They are great stems too.

IMO it depends of your budget. Still cinelli and 3t quill stems moving around. Like 3 months ago i sourced a brand new cinelli 1R for the right price and actually was cheaper than I thought i was going to pay. Always stuff showing up at ebay, unless qbp has them and u know somebody who can order that for you. So far I know QBP still have quill stems in catalogs, the same with 26mm handlebars.

Look at ebay dude.

I have a TTT quill stem I'll sell you. It was new in 1978. Still very beautiful.

Good point. I han't really done the math.

22 models (with various sizes of each model) to choose from: https://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...h=188_263_1332

They are a reliable seller. I've bought from them many times.