Are nitto aluminum stems and bars clear coated or are they anodized? The reason I ask is I'm thinking of polishing my aluminum stem and my aluminum bars.

neither i believe that the finish you see on them is just the aluminum finish. if you get the crested bars i beleive the part that is raised is polished and then the rest of the bars are the regular aluminum finish. you could always get some chromed steel bars. i have the nitto threadless brass stem and steal bars. i run my bars real skinny too. (36's) if you live in an area with alot of traffic where you will be shooting inbetween cars i recomend you get some super skinny bars. the 36's are the same width as your pedals,

the bars look like there isn't any finish on them but the stem looks different. I think the stem has a finish on it like most cranks and rims do. I have chromed steel bars, but I wanted to try out some lighter bars and I don't want to spend $100+ on a steel nitto stem.

the nitto threadless stems are brass thats then chromed.

Nitto threadless stems are chromed fillet-brazed cromoly steel not brass. The brass might be used for the brazing, but not for the tubes.

erm i'm not asking about the nitto threadless stems. I'm asking about the aluminum jag threaded stem.... thanks.

I know. I just had to correct above statements. Sorry.
Not sure about the Jag alu stem. Call or email John at businesscycles he is very helpfull and knows his stuff.

My mistake, I must have not remembered right from when I was listening to the shop guy tell ricflair about them.

i have a Nitto Jag. stem & deep drop alum bars. it's a great looking combo...
https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006...irnan&Theo.htm
The finish is polished aluminum, which doesn't have the bling look of polished crome.

personally, if the space between two lanes of traffic is that narrow, i don't think i'd want to try to squeeze through anyway. too small a margin for error, either mine, or the drivers', plus my shoulders+bag are much wider than 36cm. that said, i get around just fine with moustache bars, which are around 50cm wide. most of the messengers i see around are riding schwinn-ish cruisers with giant baskets on the fronts...or road/touring/'cross bikes.