Stem (bicycle part)

Quill stem
classic single-piece type
Threadless stem
shown with cable hole

The stem is the component on a bicycle that connects the handlebars to the steerer tube of the bicycle fork. Sometimes called a goose neck,[1] a stem's design belongs to either a quill or threadless system, and each system is compatible with respective headset and fork designs:

  • Quill: the stem inserts into the steerer tube, which is threaded and does not extend above the headset.
  • Threadless: the stem clamps around the steerer tube, which is not threaded and extends above the headset.

Quill versus threadless

Somewhat counterintuitively, the term threadless derives not from whether the stem itself is threaded, but from whether a headset lock nut threads onto the fork steer tube. Quill stems require a threaded headset of specific length for each bicycle model. Threadless stems require an unthreaded steerer tube, which may vary in length for each bicycle model.

Quill systems predate threadless systems. With the advent of threadless stems, manufacturers no longer need to provide a range of threaded forks for a given model; all threadless system forks are made with the same length steerer tube (long). The steerer tubes are then cut to length to fit upon installation. Unthreaded forks often require less labor to swap than threaded forks.

Quill stems

The older of the two handlebar stem styles, quill types have been largely displaced as the industry standard on sport bikes. However, they remain standard on the majority of utility bikes, regardless of price, as well as on less expensive sport bikes and higher-end retro bikes. The quill stem fits down into the inside of the top of the fork steerer tube to be held in place internally via either a wedge and bolt or a cone-shaped expander nut and bolt.[2] With a quill stem, the steerer tube does not protrude above the headset. The quill stem requires a threaded fork that extends up through the headset but does not protrude beyond the headset.

Threadless stems

Threadless stems, the newer of the two styles, are widely popular and have displaced quill stems as the industry standard on sport bikes. Threadless stems feature a modular design where the stem clamps around the outside of the top of the fork steerer tube that protrudes above the headset. Threadless stems are commonly available in lengths up to about 130 millimeters (5 inches).

With threadless stems, a "star-nut" is driven down into the threadless steerer tube and held in place by two barbed flanges. The top cap bolts into, and pulls against, the star-nut, thereby preloading the headset bearings. (See: photograph of Star-nut) Newer model forks, with carbon fiber steerer tubes, use an expander plug instead of a star nut, which once installed serves the same purpose as the star nut, but will not damage carbon fiber forks as a starnut will (by design a star-nut digs into the surrounding tube, which, while safe with aluminum, can weaken carbon fiber to the point of failure).

Special adaptors may allow a threaded fork to receive a threadless stem.

Advantages of each type

Threadless advantages:


Quill advantages:

Stem construction

Materials

Stems are often constructed of aluminum alloy, but are also available in steel, titanium, carbon fiber, and aluminum alloy wrapped in carbon fiber.[3]

Handlebar attachment

Stems tighten around and hold the handlebar either by pinch bolts, which require 'feeding' the handlebar through the stem after removing controls, accessories and bar covering; or via detachable faceplates, also called pillow blocks, especially on BMX bicycles,[4] which allow a handlebar with controls, accessories or bar covering to be removed intact. Stems with faceplates or pillow blocks are known as pop-top stems.[5]

Dimensions

Stems normally have two dimensions that affect bicycle fit: an angle and a forward length or extension. Quill stems may also have a height (above minimum insertion mark). Stems must also be compatible with the dimensions of the components that they connect, namely the handlebar clamp diameter and steerer tube diameter.

Angle

For road quill stems, the angle is normally 73° which causes the extension of the stem to be nearly parallel with the ground. Some quill stems also have other angles, e.g. 90°, which results in the stem pointing forwards and upwards.

Newer style stems for threadless headsets come in a wide variety of angles from 0° to 40° and can be flip-flopped, or inverted so that the angle is up or down. So, for example, a 17° stem angled downward would mimic the angle of the typical road quill stem.

There are also models of quill and threadless stems with adjustable angles.

Length

The length of the stem determines how far forward of the steerer tube the handlebars are.

Minimum insertion (quill stem)

Quill stems each require a minimum length which must insert into the headset steerer tube, thereby determining a maximum length that may extend above steerer tube.

Steerer tube diameter

See also: Bicycle fork

A stem must be compatible with the dimensions of the fork steerer tube. Steerer tubes come mainly in two common nominal sizes: 1" and 1 1⁄8". Less commonly 1 1⁄4" was used on some mountain bikes and tandems and has now returned on some carbon fiber forks, and 1 1⁄2" is found on high end Downhill bikes.

A threadless stem should match the outside diameter of the steer tube; a reducing shim may be employed to match a 1 1⁄8" stem to a 1" steer tube. On the other hand, a quill stem must be sized to match the inner diameter of the steer tube. Thus a quill stem made to fit a 1 1⁄8" steer tube has an outer diameter of 1". For 1" steer tubes the quill diameter is most often  7⁄8" (22.2 mm) but some older American bicycles used 21.15 mm. Some older French bicycles used 25 mm steer tubes with 22 mm diameter quill stems.[6]

Handle bar diameter

Both quill and threadless stems come in a variety of bicycle handlebar clamp diameters. The ISO standard for the clamping area of a handlebar is 25.4 mm (1 inch), which is used on mountain bikes and many Japanese-made road handlebars. However, the Italian unofficial standard is 26.0 mm, which is the most common clamp size for road bars. There are also intermediate sizes such as 25.8 mm to try to achieve compatibility with either an ISO or Italian stem, and the old Cinelli-specific size of 26.4 mm. In practice, many modern stems with removable faceplates allow for slight differences in handlebar clamp diameter, but the older type of stem with a single pinch bolt must be accurately matched. In the days of quill stems, a road stem was clearly identifiable from its "7" shape, but nowadays it can be hard to tell the difference between a "road" (26.0 mm) and "MTB" (25.4 mm) stem. Manufacturers frequently omit the clamp size from advertising or packaging.

BMX bikes usually have a 22.2 mm diameter clamp size.

A more recent standard is a 31.8 mm (1.25") clamp for both MTB and road bars. This is rapidly taking over from the previous mix of sizes, although other accessories such as some light or computer brackets may also need to be oversized to fit the thicker bars. Standard brake levers can be used as it is only the stem clamp central section that is oversized. Shims are available to fit a 31.8 mm stem to either a 25.4 mm or 26.0 mm bar, so many new models of stems are oversize-only.

Attachments

Some stems have a hole through the horizontal part to support the front brake cable on bikes with cantilever brakes such as cyclo-cross bicycles and older mountain bikes.

Variations

Adjustable

Certain uncommon adjustable stems have the handlebar clamp unit mounted on a moveable slide, permitting variable fore and aft settings. This adjustable stem was developed by a famous cyclist, Major Taylor, hence they are sometimes called Major Taylor Outriggers.

Suspension

An elastomer suspension quill stem.

At one time, some manufacturers (Softride) marketed suspension stems. Softride's stem allowed for up to 3 inches of travel, used a parallelogram linkage, and used a polymer bushing and a steel coil spring for shock absorption.[7]

Tandem stoker stem

The stem for the stoker (rear rider) on a tandem is similar to a stem for a threadless fork and headset, but clamps on the captain's (front rider's) seatpost. This type of stem may be adjustable in length with one section of tubing telescoping into another.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Sheldon. "Sheldon Brown Glossary: Goose Neck". Sheldon Brown. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  2. ↑ Brown, Sheldon. "Sheldon Brown Glossary: Wedge bolt". Sheldon Brown. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  3. ↑ "The Pro Vibe Carbon road stem features carbon wrapped 7050 Aluminum construction". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  4. ↑ Brown, Sheldon. "Sheldon Brown Glossary: Pillow block". Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  5. ↑ Brown, Sheldon. "Sheldon Brown Glossary: Pop-top". Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  6. ↑ Brown, Sheldon. "Bicycle Glossary (Stem)".
  7. ↑ "SoftRide Stems: SOFTRIDE ALUMINUM SUSPENSION STEM". Retrieved 2007-04-20.
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