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Quill stem height question

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Old 04-27-08 | 10:21 PM
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Quill stem height question

Does anyone know what height of quill stem would be appropriate for a 50cm bike? Mine is too long, therefore the stem won't go down very far into the headtube. I'd like to get the nitto jaguar stem; can anyone just measure theirs? Thanks

This this the part of the stem I need measured.


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Old 04-27-08 | 10:26 PM
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You could just chop yours down a bit.
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Old 04-27-08 | 10:30 PM
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isn't it a problem with these new kilos?
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Old 04-27-08 | 11:10 PM
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What stem are you using? I have the same bike and most of my quills will sit lower (especially my shimano 600 and DA), except one 3ttt stem which is kinda weird. That nitto should be fine.
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Old 04-27-08 | 11:18 PM
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the jag is short. I dont remember exactly, but I am pretty sure it is the shortest of the Nitto lineup
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Old 04-27-08 | 11:24 PM
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It looks like you've either got a technomic, in which case everything else on the market will have a shorter quill, or there is something (damage) in the steer tube which is preventing the stem from going all the way down.

Is the stem bottoming out at the bottom of the steer tube? It should be able to get down near the lower headset cup with no problem. If it doesn't, you should probably take the fork out and have someone check it for damage (a shop would probably look at it for free if you just took them the fork. But you'd have to learn how to re-assemble your headset). I've seen steer tubes break before. it's no fun.
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Old 04-28-08 | 12:03 AM
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It seems to be a reoccuring problem with the kilo framesets. I have the 53 and a nitto deluxe stem and this is as far as mine goes down..I thought about getting the jag stem but I think I am just going to have a friend of mine chop it.

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Old 04-28-08 | 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by ahnichols
Does anyone know what height of quill stem would be appropriate for a 50cm bike? Mine is too long, therefore the stem won't go down very far into the headtube. I'd like to get the nitto jaguar stem; can anyone just measure theirs? Thanks

This this the part of the stem I need measured.


The bike

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Old 04-28-08 | 01:36 AM
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The Jag is short. I don't particularly feel like removing mine and measuring it but you can get a ballpark dimension just from looking at that picture. Thats a 110mm stem and the quill looks only slightly longer than the neck, I'd say ~125mm from top to bottom. Pushing a stem all the way into the headtube, until it bottoms out, is a bad idea. Most headtubes are butted which explains why it wont reach all the way to the lower cup. This means when you expand the wedge it will be gripping on an angled surface instead of a flat one, which is bad. Hear it from Sheldon instead. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html A Jag or Pearl will almost certainly fit your frame.
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Old 04-28-08 | 10:37 AM
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Ya, I know my headtube is butted so I'll probably end up getting the jag stem.
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Old 04-28-08 | 07:54 PM
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i say chop it down...its cheaper and just as effective as long as ur precise w/ a hacksaw
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Old 05-27-08 | 01:44 AM
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I have the same frame and size, and I'm going out tomorrow to get a stem. Would a Dynamic fit in it? I think it's 145mm.
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Old 06-01-08 | 11:32 AM
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I had to chop my Nitto stem as well, I used the bandsaw at work and finished it with a belt sander to get it nice and flush. Keep in mind that you might have to run a die on the bolt as it runs out of thread, start with a 9mmx 1.25 to the length you want, then run a 8mmx 1.25 to finish it off. Worked great for my application, actually better, as the die I used have nice new deep cuts.

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Old 06-01-08 | 12:07 PM
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old cinelli quill stems are super short. shorter than that jag i'd say...

the 1a is good if you want a road stem with a similar angle to the one you have or the pista stem for a deep drop.

EDIT: maybe not shorter, but probably just as short...
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Old 06-02-08 | 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by souled
I have the same frame and size, and I'm going out tomorrow to get a stem. Would a Dynamic fit in it? I think it's 145mm.
That's far too much.

You'll have to cut of nearly half of it.
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Old 06-02-08 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ahnichols
Does anyone know what height of quill stem would be appropriate for a 50cm bike? Mine is too long, therefore the stem won't go down very far into the headtube. I'd like to get the nitto jaguar stem; can anyone just measure theirs? Thanks

This this the part of the stem I need measured.
People need to think outside the box.

Since the clamp diameter is probably close to 26mm, a bit of scaling would give us a length of about 110mm. I can't imagine you'd need it any more precise than that.

I'd estimate you'll have about half that tucked down into the steerer.
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Old 06-02-08 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by m4bandit
That's far too much.

You'll have to cut of nearly half of it.
I got the fork cut after I got the stem, and here is what it looks like:



It's bottomed out in this pic. I can ride it fine, so I've decided not to go through the hassle of cutting it.
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Old 06-02-08 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by souled
I got the fork cut after I got the stem, and here is what it looks like:



It's bottomed out in this pic. I can ride it fine, so I've decided not to go through the hassle of cutting it.
you've only taped one side of the bars
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Old 06-02-08 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 04jtb
you've only taped one side of the bars
Didn't you hear? Spoke cards are out. Half-taped bars are in.

Just haven't had time to go to LBS and pick up some tape
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