02 February, 2017

Them Stems

by Clint


I can't wait to get these stems in!  They look fantastic and I think they're going to be useful for a lot of builds.  We received final prototypes earlier in the week and they're ready to be put into production.  This should keep them on schedule for the Spring!

Other than a few minor aesthetic differences, these are the new stems.  The logos will be centered and removed from the quill portion.  They will be supplied with the alloy wedge shown on the far right stem.
Here's a quick rundown of the specs:
  • 31.8mm stem clamp with removable faceplate
  • 120mm of extension above the minimum insert
  • 90 deg bend for a little extra height
  • ISO mountain tested
  • available in 80mm, 90mm, 100mm, and maybe even a 110mm
  • ED Black, Chrome, or Brushed Nickel finish
You should be able to run just about any bar with these stems.  We have some shims on the way for folks wanting to run smaller diameters too.
In addition to the new quill stems, we're also finished prototyping the quill adapters for the Cigne stem.  We should have them around the same time.  They'll look good on old school mountain bikes, touring bikes, or really anything with a 1" threaded fork that needs bars up high.

Look forward to two great options to dial your bar fit!

29 comments:

  1. PLEASE OFFER A BIGGER RANGE OF EXTENSION LENGTHS ON THE NEW STEMS, AT LEAST UP TO 120 MM WITH THE 90 DEGREE ANGLE. ALSO CONSIDER THERE IS AT LEAST SOME DEMAND FOR A STEM LIKE THIS IN A MINUS 17 DEGREE EXTENSION ANGLE. HORIZONTAL STEMS LOOK GOOD AND FIT RIGHT IF THE FRAMESET IS NOT TOO SMALL FOR THE RIDER. 1" QUILL, OPEN FACEPLATE 31.8 DIAMETER PROVIDES ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS. THE QUILL CAN BE SHIMMED LARGER IF RUNNING A 1 + 1/8" THREADED HEADSET, AND/OR THE STEM CAN BE SHIMMED TO RUN WHATEVER BAR DIAMETER DESIRED. LOOKS FINE, WORKS GREAT.

    ReplyDelete
  2. @anonymous

    i would love to offer this stem in more sizes & dimensions. i think the current lineup is going to cover the majority of what people need, but we can always expand the line later!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I have the 80mm and I love how this looks. So premium and clean. I hope you can offer this is shorter sizes as well as trend goes to wider bars there is a need to have shorter stems.

      Delete
    2. I also would love a -17 deg version of this stem (I'm black). I'd order immediately.

      Delete
  3. I love VO products and have from the very beginning. But these stems, they're just not attractive. The bubble gum weld can't be on the same page as your classic quill or other stems. I'm sure they're strong and functional, but they do resemble stems on $100 department store bikes. Since aesthetics has always been important with this crowd, I can't rationalize the need for a removable faceplate, in order to justify a fugly component that figures so prominently on any bike.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think they are totally BA looking and want one for my drop bar vintage mountain bike conversion. Id also like a pic of it mocked up on a bike.

    ReplyDelete
  5. @anon

    Here's a photo of the stem on a campeur from a previous post


    ReplyDelete
  6. This stem hits a sweet spot between function and aesthetics -- like so many VO parts. Well executed, VO.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's great that VO is willing to produce unique products like this, but I have to say that the welds are ugly and the two-bolt clamp is less than elegant. I'll probably buy one, though, particularly if there is a 120mm version.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think this stem is occupies a pretty good spot that isn't served by many other stems. Sure, there's the 90° version of the Nitto UI-12, but it's pretty darn hard to find, unlike this stem, which should be available for order from many bike shops. This one appears to be taller, too, which is definitely welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the stem. It fills a great niche that needed it.

    Can we have a rule that comments in all caps get deleted automatically? I don't need that much screaming about stems.

    ReplyDelete
  10. my dear anon 1:57 pm, i posted the original comment in all caps. my sincerest apologies for the appearance of 'screaming about stems'. that was never my intention and i humbly ask for forgiveness from you and from any others who were offended by my lapse of judgement in not immediately correcting the inadvertent use of the caps lock button. in the future, if i feel a need to post a comment i will do so ever so gently and with the greatest of caution. sotto voce................

    ReplyDelete
  11. Since the cigne stem is mentioned obliquely here, do you all have a rough ETA when they'll be back in stock?

    ReplyDelete
  12. MitchellConnell2/5/17, 11:55 AM

    Yes! I can't wait to get one in black.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very much excited for these stems! Looks like my Campeur will be receiving a much needed cockpit refresh this Spring/Summer. Any updates to the Polyvalent MK4 prototypes? Dying to see some completes built up!

    ReplyDelete
  14. it seems like the cigne stems are out of stock. do you have a timeframe on restocking those?

    ReplyDelete
  15. My rando bike is gonna get a whole lot more shreddy with both the new stems. Question:. Is the cigne stem en mountain certified? Is it mountain certified with the quill adapter? Thanks... Hunter

    ReplyDelete
  16. @ Hunter
    The Cigne is mountain certified. The quill stem adapter is also mountain certified. We have not tested the two together though - Scott

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cigne stems should be back in stock towards the end of March.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! This blog and how responsive you all are made me a huge fan before I even bought anything from you all. Keep up making awesome stuff!

      Delete
  18. This is very good news as it fills a (admittedly very small) hole in the
    market. ISO testing makes it even better. I'll get one so I can use a modern handlebar in my old Bridgestone.

    ReplyDelete
  19. When you get them back in stock, what will be the longest extension for the Cigne? I'm thinking of pairing it with the Chris's rando bars, which have more reach than the bars that I'm used to (use stems with 130 reach but the bars are more like 85), but I'm also going to have them higher than my current bars on my go fast bike, so I assume I'll want them further forward to account for the decreased drop. I'm not sure the best way to figure that out, but I do like the look of the Cigne stem for the taller extension than something like a technomic. The VO Quill stem would be an option, but I like the removable faceplate of the Cigne. Do you have an estimate yet of how much the quill adapter will run?

    ReplyDelete
  20. @ himespau The longest extension for the Cigne is 90 mm. The new Grand Cru quill stem will have a removable face place and it will come in a 110 mm length.
    The quill adapter for the Cigne should run around $40

    Scott

    ReplyDelete
  21. So what would be the difference for the Cinge adaptor that isn' offered by the current adapter that you offer for half the price, apart from he non-smooth interface surface? Is something on the cap that allows the use of the long bolt on the stop still, to have another security?

    ReplyDelete
  22. @Anon,

    First, the one for the Cigne is taller to accommodate the taller steerer requirements. Second, it is steel to withstand MTB riding.

    -Igor

    ReplyDelete
  23. Any ETA on that Cigne Quill adaptor?

    ReplyDelete
  24. @Jesse,

    We should have them in mid-May.

    -Igor

    ReplyDelete
  25. Resurrecting an old thread here. I'm patiently waiting for the new 31.8 quill stems to be available. Please disregard complaints about their aesthetics- they look fine and there is a need for this component in the market. I have a fine old one-inch threaded MTB frame that will be far more usable with a modern handlebar, and the ISO testing is important to me as well. Any word on ETA? I check the website weekly.

    ReplyDelete
  26. We're aiming for late July availability. We'll post any updates we receive on the blog and our social media.

    -Igor

    ReplyDelete