Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - threadless conversion

i'm using a spicer threadless track fork, which is a wonderful thing...but you people keep posting pictures of your jaguar stems, and now i'm thinking about getting my steerer threaded.

i know that a lot of people have reservations about threading forks because of the unintended strain it puts on that bit of metal. however, some people have commented that they do it all the time. should i really be concerned here? it's a pretty beefy steel fork, it seems like it could take some threading.

also, where does one go to get this done?

If you read Sheldons fixed gear twenty stuff you will see he has done it succesfully. Any machine shop with the correct dies. Take your headset in with you.

i guess on top of that i'm wondering if anyone knows what it costs?

Your LBS should have the tap for it.
Mine charges $10 an inch ( I think....been a while). Not sure I would do it to a nice fork, not for any reason in particular. Sometimes a spare fork is a good thing.

You are kidding, right? Why would you bother to do this? Fashion?

This is worse than the "what messenger bag is best" thread.

You are kidding, right? Why would you bother to do this? Fashion?

This is worse than the "what messenger bag is best" thread.

hahaha! amen! form should follow function.

You are kidding, right? Why would you bother to do this? Fashion?

This is worse than the "what messenger bag is best" thread.
I was surprised MERTON didn't ask the question.

Regardless, is there something better about threadless?

Regardless, is there something better about threadless?

Yes! http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/threadless-headset.html

he likes the look of threaded stems, so he wants one. cheezis effin cripes people, i know it's fun to s**t-talk folks you don't know on the interweb, but really, lighten the f**k up.

yes. fashion. and beauty.

anyone who says that they don't care about the beauty of their bike just plain doesn't care about their bike.

has anyone else had experiences with adding threading to a formerly threadless stem?

I had it done once years ago when I ordered a crown for my mtb. I had a Breezer Thunder when they were still 1 inch diameter headtubes and I accidentally bought a 1 1/8 in suspension fork. Ordered a replacement crown and they sent it to me threadless by accident. I liked the look of the 1inch without the bulky aheadset stuff and dint want to buy a new headset/stem etc. They threaded the crown just fine though, worked great. Maybe a suspension for crown be thicker I guess, easier, less chance of ruining it though

I know there are benefits to threadless and I have that set-up on two of my bikes, but threaded is not dead and is especially useful on - mine at least - a fixie. If I'm doing big miles I take out the 6mm, loosen one bolt, raise the stem, tighten, and I'm off. Reverse that if I'm feeling fast and sporty and want a low, aggressive position. No spacers to keep track of, one bolt, how simple...

Threadless was a cheapening of industry standards, The same as the cassette hub.
Long live the purists who convert back. Tig welding versus lugs. No advantage in weight, but cheaper to make.

there are advantages to both threaded and threadless. don't be fooled either way.

when my threadless setup gets loose, it takes 20 minutes to readjust the headset. when my threaded one gets loose, it takes a twist of the wrist. when my stem gets whacked crooked with threaded, i just get off the bike and straighten them by hand. when it happens on threadless i better have the correct size wrench or i'm done for the day. :/