Stem w/ narrow front plate?
 

Just recently finished putting my bike together, and I may have an issue with my Thomson Elite stem. I'm using a Dia Compe Gran Compe Shot lever, and the issue is with the width of the front plate. It's so wide that the long lever of the brake doesn't reach all the way across to the far side. I'm considering returning my Thomson for a different stem, but am having trouble finding the relevant dimensions to tell which would work best for me. The stems I'm looking at are the Cinelli MASH, Nitto UI-85EX, or the Thomson X2. My bars are 25.4, so I'd have to use a shim with all of them. Anyone know which of these would work best?

Can you post a picture? Not sure what you mean by this.

I don't understand, are you trying to mount the lever so that it goes across the stem? And if so, why?

The lever I have, the Dia Compe Gran Compe Shot, is a dual lever design. It's made to be able to activate one brake with either hand. Attached is a picture to demonstrate what I'm talkin about.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=264920

What length stem do you need? I have a new 25.4mm clamp Easton EA50 stem that I'm not using. It has a 2 bolt face plate that is quite narrow, and has a 120mm extension length.

Stem w/ narrow front plate?
 

I think that would be pretty long for my purposes, my current stem is 100mm.

Personally, I would ditch the lever.

But if you put that lever into google, you can see people that are running it have it about the same. Can you still activate it with your right hand? Changing the stem isn't going to give *that* much more room, you will still have to stretch that right index finger to pull it.

But assuming you have been running it for a bit, and not liking the current setup?

Stem w/ narrow front plate?
 

Haven't ridden on it yet, just put it together today. It just seemed like the front plate is wider on this stem than on others. Maybe I'm wrong.

Actually this guy has it setup pretty nice. But its a quill stem.

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/d...ge.900x598.jpg

I will let others reply, since don't have those stems. But if you want when I get home will snap a pic with my elite vs a velo orange stem which is most likely as narrow as you will get with a threadless stem.

EDIT: Yeah, the elites are a bit wider. But just don't think you will gain so much more room with a new stem. Maybe a cm max?

I have a no name two bolt faceplate stem and the clamp measures 35mm where as my thomson elite stem measures 50mm across. But i would learn to deal with the brake or just ditch it. You wont find a quality stem that has a noticeably narrower faceplate. 35mm is pretty small for a threadless stem. And do you really need to be able to actuate one brake with both hands? The only benefit I see is when you are riding with only one hand.

Stem w/ narrow front plate?
 

I'll just ride with it as is for a few days and see how it works in practice.

Stem w/ narrow front plate?
 

Took it out for a ride today, and it's really not that bad. Totally usable.

hairnet - you deleted that post just in time.

:lol: oh well

The 3T mutant has a very slim front plate...


http://crev.vo.llnwd.net/o42/roadbik...uct_129786.jpg

Anyhow from my experience running one, I got compliments and inquiries about it from the MASH guys.

...and looks like a limp penis.

Aha I was waiting for it... :p

The pic is upside down.

Looks like it'd work better with a threaded stem. So yeah, that means new fork, headset, and stem just to use that brake. Sounds like a plan to me.

Don't forget the headset reducer - considering the 722TS is 1 1/8".

Yes, you should completely rebuild the front end of your bike to accommodate this brake lever.

Or get the wang stem. Carry some allen wrenches with you and truly show the hottie you're playing bike polo with how you feel by flipping that sucker up when she joins the game.