Nitto High Neck Stems
Hey, it’s Isshu from Blue Lug Kamiuma.
Today I want to introduce a new stem we developed with one of Japan’s legendary component manufacturers, Nitto.
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You may have spotted this one on some of my personal bikes or display bikes and wondered, “What stem is that?”
Well, here it is: the Nitto High Neck Ahead Stem, model FW-35.
The idea is pretty simple. The extra-long “neck” extends down over the steerer, letting you get a higher riding position without stacking a bunch of headset spacers.
This…
becomes like this.
Less spacers, cleaner look. That’s pretty much it.
With more bikes these days coming with taller head tubes and higher stem positions, this kind of setup makes a lot of sense. But there are still plenty of bikes with shorter head tubes where you need a bunch of spacers to get that comfy, upright position.
Black Mountain Cycles Mod Zero, Surly Preamble, The new Straggler and more.
But there are still plenty of bikes with shorter head tubes where you need a bunch of spacers to get that comfy, upright position.
midnight special (50)
Think Surly Straggler, Steamroller, Midnight Special, and plenty more.
Two clamp sizes are available,
25.4mm : 60, 80, 100 and 120mm
31.8mm : 70, 80, 90 and 100mm
The 25.4mm version is aimed more at flat bars and sweep bars, while the 31.8mm version works great with drop bars.
The High Neck Stem is actually a modern take on an old custom Nitto stem we used to make, the UI-7. After more than a decade, we wanted to bring the idea back with a few updates for today’s bikes.
Modern handlebars are getting wider and have more backsweep, which puts more leverage on the stem.
So we went from the old 2-bolt faceplate to a 4-bolt design for extra security.
The finish has also been simplified to Nitto’s signature Dull finish, which plays nicely with pretty much any bike.
One important thing: this stem is not designed to extend a short steerer.
You need at least 70mm of steerer for proper clamping. This is roughly equivalent to a standard stem with about 30mm of spacers underneath.
f you’re running more than 30mm of spacers, this might be just the thing you’ve been looking for. Personally, I love pairing it with a tapered bottom spacer for that smooth, continuous transition into the stem.
I had the opportunity to test out the prototype, before they went into production. I had to test out the longest size for durability test and I finally got my hands on the shorter stem.
Yes, this is the look I was looking for.
Oh, yeah. That’s it.
Do you get what I’m talking about? If you do, congratulations, you are a certified bike perv.
The honest TIG-welded construction gives it that handmade-stem kind of character, and every Nitto stem is individually welded by their experienced craftsmen. Technically factory-made, but it feels pretty damn close to handmade.
We’re really happy with how this one turned out. Hope you enjoy getting your hands on one.
Available at all BLUELUG stores from October 2.
Online release: October 8 at 7:00 PM JST.
Thanks!
