What is the cleanest threaded to threadless conversion look?

andy.mgnr · #1 08-29-2023, 05:23 PM

I'm in the process of restoring and rebuilding a 1993 Ritchey Road Logic and looking to do a balance of classic looks with modern functionality, but the stem is the main bit I'm hung up on deciding. I'm hoping to convert to a clean and simple threadless stem (see below) that I will paint to match with my frame, but most of the quill adapters for threadless stems look ugly and out of place sitting atop a classic threaded headset.

Has anyone achieved a quill adapter/conversion that allows the look to be seamlessly cleaned up spacers and a standard top cap? Also would it look cleaner to go with a 1" threadless instead of the bulkier 1-1/8"? Open to opinions!

tuscanyswe · #2 08-29-2023, 05:42 PM

https://www.innicycle.com/store.html

Aa for 1" vs 11/8, i would decide on stem first and choose the headset convertion after that. There are not a lot of 1" stems that look good that works with oversize bars.. If you dont want oversized (31.8) there are some nice 1" stems out there but not at all as many as for 11/8 and u get a much bigger pool of bars to choose from.

There are cheap solutions for 1" convertions as well but they are all very heavy.

Scott5182 · #3 08-29-2023, 06:05 PM

I have used the Innicycle headset threadless conversion on several old 1” threaded forks. It is clean and looks good. It is not as heavy as using the stem adaptor commonly available either. I also like that it is available in silver or black.

jdp211 · #4 08-29-2023, 06:13 PM

Run a quill! What's the issue with a threaded stem?

Coffee Rider · #5 08-29-2023, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdp211

Run a quill! What's the issue with a threaded stem?

You are generally limited to bars with a 26mm clamp diameter with a quill stem and it can be hard to source a quill stem for 31.8mm bars.

jdp211 · #6 08-29-2023, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffee Rider

You are generally limited to bars with a 26mm clamp diameter with a quill stem and it can be hard to source a quill stem for 31.8mm bars.

Quill stems for 31.8 are generally super ugly, and 26.0 bars are plentiful and come in all sorts of shapes.

Deanhorsfall · #7 08-29-2023, 06:34 PM

I personally prefer the look of these if modern parts are part of the plan

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/nit...attr=4305,1955

lorenbike · #8 08-29-2023, 07:00 PM

Velo orange 31.8 quill stem. It looks quite nice in person too. They've been out of stock for a year on their site but I ordered one from blue lug in Japan.

eddief · #9 08-29-2023, 07:09 PM

https://www.rivbike.com/products/stem-mh

andy.mgnr · #10 08-29-2023, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdp211

Run a quill! What's the issue with a threaded stem?

Haha knew this was coming from ya. Nothing wrong with quills, just not a fan of the cast aluminum ones since they would look weird to paint to match the frame. Plus they just feel a bit ubiquitous to me - looking for something more unique and custom since I'm going to all the trouble to restore and custom paint the frame!

jdp211 · #11 08-29-2023, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy.mgnr

Haha knew this was coming from ya. Nothing wrong with quills, just not a fan of the cast aluminum ones since they would look weird to paint to match the frame. Plus they just feel a bit ubiquitous to me - looking for something more unique and custom since I'm going to all the trouble to restore and custom paint the frame!

Painted stem gets a thumbs down from me in *almost* every situation. Get yourself a lovely silver Nitto

charliedid · #12 08-29-2023, 07:44 PM

Just get an adapter and flip the stem (painted to match) no spacers just like Tom did in 1976.

tellyho · #13 08-29-2023, 07:59 PM

Get a tall stack stem with a shim. I'm running a Soma crane and really like the look. Velo Orange also makes one, and I think there are pricier Nitto-made versions from the ersatz bike brands out there (Crust, etc)

m_sasso · #14 08-29-2023, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deanhorsfall

I personally prefer the look of these if modern parts are part of the plan

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/nit...attr=4305,1955

Why do people always throw up this Nitto stem every time some one asks for a 1"/31.8 bar solution? I love Nitto stems, bars and racks likely own 25 pieces of Nitto equipment however, this has to be the absolute ugliest, most cobbled together stem Nitto has ever produce, down right unfinished, hacked appearance on a clean bike, fine for a beater, otherwise bury it.

Go with the Innicycle solution or work with the BBB Cycling Extender, BHP-20.

unterhausen · #15 08-29-2023, 08:23 PM

If you can slam the stem, a quill adapter is no problem. I have 2 of them on bikes and I keep forgetting they are there. Otherwise they look worse than that Nitto. Too bad they don't make an aluminum quill that takes bigger bars

Funny thing is, I'm pretty sure both of those bikes have 26mm bars on them.