VO Stem opinion

[deepak atreya]

I recently got a Bosco bar for my Atlantis . The current 80 mm face platter stem I have seems little too short . Wanted to try 120 mm . I was thinking of threadless stem adaptor and getting threadless stem , so that I can swap out the stem for different length if that doesn’t work. Has anyone had experience with VO adapter and stem and how does it compare to nitto . Don’t want to invest /commit to nitto given how expensive they are compared to VO.

Cheers ,

Deepak

[iamkeith]

No opinion on the VO adapter, but I'd venture a guess that a 120mm stem is still going to be too short.   Personal preference and fit will of course vary, but I had an alumunium non-bullmoose Bosco bar on my Clem, with a 140mm quill stem, and it was just barely long enough.  The atlantis has a much shorter top tube.  (Depending on the vintage of yours, it might be MUCH shorter.)  1" quill stems in the 140 -150 mm range from the 80s are pretty plentiful and easy to find.  Ritchey made a good one.  Another tip is to get one with a wide clamp, to minimize the bar torsion that feels flexy.  I know people often cut the end off the bar to make it work when it's too close, but I would advise against that too - at least until you've had time to try it uncut.  The sloped and front horizontal parts are interesting as secondary grip positions, but mostly in concept only.  What's really nice is having that long primary grip position to move around on.

[iamkeith]

This is what you want!:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185324918808?hash=item2b2639d818:g:jl4AAOSwkUFiIht5

[Garth]

Deepak, I've used the VO adapter and a 130mm +6 degree rise 4 bolt stem with Albatross bars since 2009 or something. They are what they are, just the quill part of a stem, a long hunk of forged aluminum with a long bolt and expanding wedge inside. The flexibility of changing stems while leaving the bars as-is is priceless. Each style of stem, be it a one or two parts, work fine. The VO adapter + stem is no more/less stiff than any other quill, in case you're wondering. I see no advantage of the Nitto faceplatter over the quill adapter + stem, as I don't weigh parts and a two part combo looks just fine to me. I do have a 135mm faceplater I bought for the Susie, but have not assembled it. I may never use it and go with an adapter + stem instead if either the length isn't right or I don't need it's height. 

[Johnny Alien]

140 is very long. If 80 is only "a little too short" then 120 is probably more likely to work than 140.

I agree the quill adaptor and stem could give you a lot of flexibility for trying the different length out.

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I've successfully used the VO adapter and a variety of threadless faceplate stems for exactly what you are thinking of doing and would certainly recommend it.  I found a bunch of used stems or take-offs at some local shops and in the bins at a co-op for about $5 each and have used several of those to try to find the best lengths on a couple builds.

I cannot directly compare the VO to Nitto quill adapters but I could directly compare the VO to SOMA and for what you are looking to achieve I would strongly recommend the VO over the SOMA (unless you REALLY needed the height of the SOMA which was much taller in quill length.)  The VO requires no top cap and has a one piece quill top with counterbore to accept the bolt head.  The SOMA, on the other hand, uses a separate top cap with a lip to tighten the quill bolt and wedge after the stem is installed just like for preload on a full threadless system,  meaning in order to swap threadless stems you are fully removing the quill from the steering column each and every time to fit a new stem length whereas with the VO you could leave the quill adapter in place and simply loosen the stem pinch bolts and faceplate, drop in the new stem, tighten, and go.

One last note that with the VO the bottom lip where the bolt on stem rests does limit the stack height of the threadless stems... I want to say it was around 40mm - VO probably lists in the product page and the VO stems of course fit seamlessly - A Dimension brand stem I have was just a hair taller with an ever so slight overlap on top compared to the VO.  None I've personally tried were so extreme to place a pinch bolt above the top of adapter but just something to be aware, especially with some 2 bolt stems that may have a taller stack.

Brian Cole

Lawrence NJ

[Tom Wyland]

I have a generic (eBay direct ship from China) stem adaptor and VO stem on my Platy. It was intended to be temporary as others noted you can easily swap out inexpensive stems to find the right length.   I'm not happy with the way the stem adaptor flexes.  I also don't care for the look of the fat stem on top of the skinny adaptor.  I'm switching to a VO quill faceplate stem shortly (delivery today!).  I'll let you know how that works out.

Tom

[Ed Carolipio]

I have a VO one and the "tall" NItto one. (There's a short version for less $$). I think the VO would be good enough for your application since you want to run Boscos and you don't need to get the handlebars higher. As Brian Cole points out, the VO one does have a lower lip which limits the stack height of the stem you can use. I run it with a VO stem that pairs really well aesthetically with the quill adapter.

Other differences include the place where the stem clamps being knurled on the Nitto while smooth on the VO. The finish on the VO is "shiny" and looks great while new but I can't comment on long term durability. The Nitto is their typical dullbright, bulletproof finish. I don't ride my bikes hard so I can't tell you which holds their "clamp" better: both have been equally solid in the months I've owned them for the riding which I do.

--Ed C.