Steel frame threadless stem aesthetics

[samkl]

Figure this is sufficiently esoteric for this discerning crowd. I have a custom lugged Hampsten which I'm enjoying very much. It's got a threadless 1" fork.

I'm having trouble finding a stem that looks good, simply because visually it's way heftier than the frame tubes. I had a Ritchey Classic before--beautiful stem, but just way too bulky. I know Nitto makes things, but they're heavy and usually take weeks to ship from Japan, and then it's impossible to return if it doesn't work, etc etc.

Anyone know of slender aluminum threadless stems that don't look bad on a steel frame? Looking for 100 x -6d or 100 x 0d. Black or silver would work.

Even better if it has a 1" steerer (I know, impossible).

[ColonelJLloyd]

The older Ritchey WCS stems with the silver face plate "posts" were very sleek and there are plenty out there. They are still some of the lightest stems around. I use one on a bike with a 1" steerer.

The more recent S-Works SL aluminum stem is similarly sleek.

[pgrizzwald]

Thomson elite X2 with a 31.8 steerer shim

[ltwtsculler91]

Deda Superleggera is really slim and looks great on nearly any round tubed bike. The Zero100 is marginally bigger and also works nicely on 1” steel, it’s what I’ve got on my lugged Kirk and it works well.

[deluz]

Needed a shorter stem and got a Ritchey C220 in silver.
Really light and looks great on my steel bike

[ERK55]

Agree that the Superleggero and S-Works SL look pretty sleek, both having a diameter of only 32mm. The OP wanted a -6d or a 0 degree stem which may rule out the Superleggero which is -8d.

[tuscanyswe]

Silver the nitto caroline looks rather sleek imo. Cant remember angle on this, think its more than 6 as i dont particularly like 6 but it may be available in this as well.




But my favorite as also light n black if one is going for that more modern look the extralite, comes in 6 degrees but i preer 10 as pictured or hmm was that 12.. unsure.

[72gmc]

Originally Posted by tuscanyswe

Silver the nitto caroline looks rather sleek imo. Cant remember angle on this, think its more than 6 as i dont particularly like 6 but it may be available in this as well.

I'm a big fan of Nitto and Sim-Works' versions of Nitto. They tend to be in the 6-10 degree range in the versions I need, but I make peace with it.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by tuscanyswe

Every time you post this magnificently beautiful bike I feel things that I can't comprehend, much less explain.

Is that a 1.125" stem on a 1" steerer tube? I did something similar with a bike I have using a VO shim.

[herb5998]

If you can find one, the Specialized S Works SL stem works great from a proportion perspective. graphics are nearly stealth, and some different angles are available. Only challenge is that I don't think Specialized is making them anymore, or if they are, inventories are much smaller than before the SL7/SL8 Tarmac models came out with a specific stem.

[NormansCay]

Originally Posted by herb5998

If you can find one, the Specialized S Works SL stem works great from a proportion perspective. graphics are nearly stealth, and some different angles are available. Only challenge is that I don't think Specialized is making them anymore, or if they are, inventories are much smaller than before the SL7/SL8 Tarmac models came out with a specific stem.

Agreed. Specialized S-Works SL looks good from a 1" steerer perspective, but they are currently very hard to find depending on configuration. I recently went through a lot of effort to obtain one in 110 -12 degree configuration. Also recommend the Extralite Hyperstem in -12 as shown above on Tuscanyswe's chromovelato Officina Battaglin (which looks amazing by the way).

[mhespenheide]

The Darimo on that new Baum looks great, if budget isn't something you're worried about.

[AngryScientist]

For an inexpensive option, I think the much revered Kalloy Uno is svelte enough and ungarishly branded to be considered.

[J.kovak]

1” ht here.

Sim works Wendy stem with Nitto m151 or m106nas is def my go to stem/bar combo.

[basilic]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

For an inexpensive option, I think the much revered Kalloy Uno is svelte enough and ungarishly branded to be considered.

The kalloy stem has an asymmetric faceplate/bands, the rounded hinge should be at the top. I'm not certain from this picture, but it may be mounted upside down. For safety, check it out.