Bicycle Mechanics - How to change from a quill stem to a thread-less ?

Hello everyone I'm new here :-) I have been trying to figure out how to do this for ages Basically I have Silverfox f525 with a quill stem (one that goes into the forks) I would like to change this to a threadless stem. I need to know if its possible on my bike? Do I need to change the headset and if so what size do I need. I believe my forks wont be long enough for the new stem to bolt on to so is there an adjuster I can buy? I'm soo confuzzled at the moment:eek ::eek: Thankyou for any help you can offer. Martin p.s Heere is a link to my (crap) bike :-) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverfox-Black-Gents-Suspension-Mountain/dp/B0015Y7KLC

it would likely cost most of what you already paid for the bike to do this correctly. why do you feel the need to do this?

If you only want to change the stem, look for a threadless adaptor and install your choice of stems:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_175545_-1___202439

It doesn't pencil out to change anything else to threadless (headset/forks). In fact, the change above is probably pushing it a bit on the level of bike.

+1 not worth it, even doing it the cheap way with the threadless adapter.

Why do you want to do this?

The stem adapter looks like a viable answer.

Why doesn't matter and everybody has their own idea of "worth it". The op never asked for an opinion on either, only how to accomplish the change.

The stem adapter looks like a viable answer.

Why doesn't matter and everybody has their own idea of "worth it". The op never asked for an opinion on either, only how to accomplish the change.


Stem adapter is a viable answer... if what he wants is just to be able to use a threadless stem.
Asking why he wants to do it may reveal additional answers, or may reveal that he won't accomplish what he thinks he would with a threadless stem.

you can either buy a threaded to threadless adapter and a threadless stem. or buy a new threadless fork, a complete threadless headset and threadless stem. if you go the second route make sure you buy the right size headset and fork (either 1 inch or 1 and 1/8 inch most likely).

Thankyou so much :) The reason for this is because I don't feel safe with a quill stem and it generally don't look good. This bike is all I can afford at the moment so I am going to upgrade to parts hydraulic discs etc probably a new bottom bracket handlebars aswell. The bike didn't cost me all that much But I dont mind spending a bit on it considering I can use the parts on a new build some time in the future. Thankyou again

Thankyou so much :) The reason for this is because I don't feel safe with a quill stem and it generally don't look good. This bike is all I can afford at the moment so I am going to upgrade to parts hydraulic discs etc probably a new bottom bracket handlebars aswell. The bike didn't cost me all that much But I dont mind spending a bit on it considering I can use the parts on a new build some time in the future. Thankyou again

OK now we're getting somewhere.

The adapter is basically a quill stem without the stem, so it's not any safer than a quill stem is - marginally less safe. Quill stems aren't unsafe though so I think you have a perception problem. The adapter will make it look kind of like a threadless stem but not exactly since you'll still have a threaded headset, and it will give you more options in rise and length for choosing other stems.

I can't think of any justification for putting hydraulic disk brakes on that bike, or your other upgrades either. I understand having a bond to your machine but if money is tight you're really better off spending it somewhere else or saving it for a bike that is equipped how you want it.

The adapter is basically a quill stem without the stem, so it's not any safer than a quill stem is - marginally less safe.

Why?

If your looking to put Hydraulic discs on that, think again, going that you are in the UK, as it's an Amazon UK link, a set of Hydraulic discs will cost you £100-£350 for a decent set, add to that the BB and handlebar, you are throwing money into something that just isn't worth it.

For the stem, and not being safe, we all managed to live with threaded headsets & quill stems until the mid 90's not sure what has changed so much that they are unsafe now?

Yeah I was thinking about going with the 2nd option but its not worth me spending tons on forks considering I wont be able to use them on a new frame in the future is there ?

Why?

One more clamping surface to fail.

here's another type adapter

http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/high-rider-stem-adapter-28-622-2

Hmm yeah good point jimc101 I can buy a pair of hope discs (the whole set) for £40 so thats not a problem as I allready have mechanical discs. And yes I understand that all it does is allow me to put a threadless stem on it thats what I want! I would like to change the headset and then use some kind of quill extender (as the forks wont be long enough) so I can bolt the threadless stem to it.

Why will it fail I'm not gonna go hard on it ?

Yeah I was thinking about going with the 2nd option but its not worth me spending tons on forks considering I wont be able to use them on a new frame in the future is there ?

No reason to do any of this unless the quill was just way off for your fit and you had a threadless stem already hanging around. I'd say put to rest your 'safety' concerns about the quill and get over the look. Take the money you would have spent on this (and other upgrades) and start a little account for your next bike.

Hmm yeah good point jimc101 I can buy a pair of hope discs (the whole set) for £40 so thats not a problem as I allready have mechanical discs. And yes I understand that all it does is allow me to put a threadless stem on it thats what I want! I would like to change the headset and then use some kind of quill extender (as the forks wont be long enough) so I can bolt the threadless stem to it.

You're missing a big picture. Your fork has a steerer that's cut and threaded for a threaded headset - an adapter lets you keep the same fork and headset but use a stem designed for a threadless setup. There's no adapter that'll let you use a threadless headset with your existing fork.


Why will it fail I'm not gonna go hard on it ?

It probably wouldn't... but neither would your quill stem.

Hmm yeah good point jimc101 I can buy a pair of hope discs (the whole set) for £40 so thats not a problem as I allready have mechanical discs. And yes I understand that all it does is allow me to put a threadless stem on it thats what I want! I would like to change the headset and then use some kind of quill extender (as the forks wont be long enough) so I can bolt the threadless stem to it.

Why change the headset? (edit - diabloscott does a better job making the point...)

If you can get a set of Hope brakes for £40, great, but would be concerned about their condition, for any Hope brakes, for you would normally expect very little, if any change out of £300, if these are old ones, there can be issues with spares, as Hope don't support some of their older models now, and the stopping power of any old brake won't be comparable with any new brakes.

the quill to threadless plug things are pretty solid,
Aluminum with a hole down the middle for the Bolt.

Steel tube Quill stem raisers are another way, the tube jobs are cheap.
still need the threadless stem..

Like the jetsam that comes out of big box stores here,
I anticipate, since you have a BSO, Bicycle Shaped Object, just keep it as is.

and every time you think about upgrading it, put that money in a Jar ,
and in that way, save to get a decent Bike at a bike shop.

Yeah I am not planning to spend to much money on this one I am hoping for a kona stinky sometime in the future. This bike gets me from A2B. I am gonna go ahead with the stem adapter Then get a threadless stem which is shorter. I will spend no more thank 40 pounds on this. I just hate the quill stem I don't know why I just do!! Regardless of whether a quill stem is safe or not I don't feel safe with it so I will go ahead with the upgrade/change. Thanks guys is there anyway I can rep you on here ( Im new) ??

The hopes are from my friends kona shred but has some shimano saints now so they are just sitting there doing nothing he can probably get more they are about 4 years old and work pretty well :)

it will be fine

What do you think http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tranz-X-Stem-Adapter-Converts-Quill-Stem-Threadless-1-1-1-8-New-/110768772509?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item19ca55559d#ht_500wt_1054

to go with this ( for example) ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Ahead-Threadless-Stem-blue-fixie-single-speed-retro-115mm-/180859127574?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item2a1c0b4716#ht_500wt_1156

Its going to go UP, its an auction. kid. and what if the reach is wrong?
the tube quill type things are reduced at the bottom
so OD down there is ID at the top. they are for stuffing the same quill in the top.

Anyhow, many 1.125" hreadless stems come with a shim , down to 1.0" ..

For the stem, and not being safe, we all managed to live with threaded headsets & quill stems until the mid 90's

We stopped using them in the mid 90's? I wish I had gotten the memo, I wouldn't have just bought that nice new Tange Seiki headset. :)

Ok, so you hate the look of a quill stem. Fair enough. I don't agree with this but I understand. The products you posted should work, just make sure if you get a 1" adapter you get a 1" stem, or 1 1/8" with 1 1/8". As long as the clamp diameter is correct.

As far as other upgrades, I would advise that you do nothing. Fix anything that breaks and save up for a better bike. A dual suspension BSO is about the last bike worth upgrading...

We stopped using them in the mid 90's? I wish I had gotten the memo, I wouldn't have just bought that nice new Tange Seiki headset. :)

Well Mountain bikes did; road bikes seemed to be the late 90's before they changed, but I was still using intragrated Bontrager bar/stem till last year which had a quill stem, and Nitto still make some very nice quill stems, looking at some on the images from this years NAHBS, threaded headsets seemed to be making a bit of a comeback.

Well Mountain bikes did; road bikes seemed to be the late 90's before they changed, but I was still using intragrated Bontrager bar/stem till last year which had a quill stem, and Nitto still make some very nice quill stems, looking at some on the images from this years NAHBS, threaded headsets seemed to be making a bit of a comeback.

My post was jest. I'm retro-grouchy, mostly.


NB: Everything Nitto makes is nice-looking, IMO.

Yeah I was thinking about going with the 2nd option but its not worth me spending tons on forks considering I wont be able to use them on a new frame in the future is there ?

it is possible that you could use the fork on a new frame, but most bikes/frames come with a suitable fork anyway. to make it worth your while you would have to purchase a bike/frame without a fork and then only those that would be compatible. not very convienent, i think, but as i said possible.

All I'm going to say is that if you use a threaded to threadless stem adapter like the one in post 3, you still have a quill. The quill is the threadless adapter itself. The attachment point is identical. The only difference is that you can use threadless stems but the basic underlying structure is still the same. I just want you to realize that even after you change the parts out, you are really no further ahead than if you left it alone.

Except as DialboScott said, you now have 2 clamping surfaces to fail compared to 1 with just using a standard quill. Something to ponder. On a real threadless system, the steerer/fork is basically 1 unit with the stem attached at the top of the steerer for 2 parts just like a threaded system. Using the threadless adapter just introduces another fail point into the equation.

I'm not going to pass judgment on anyone, nor am I going to repeat any of the decent advice already offered. I just have to ask: WHAT YEAR IS THIS?!?!?!

This question is sooooooooooo ten years ago. At the turn of the century, some ppl with older bikes wanted to convert so they could run the hott new schtuff. By now, ppl who like quills get bikes with quills, and ppl who like threadless buy bikes with threadless. Money is no longer a deciding factor, as you can get cheap bikes or expensive bikes with either set up. What would possess someone to buy the style they dislike, only to convert it?

-rob

well the threadless changeover for New stuff, began in the 90's.. by the manufacturers..

some small builders will still make precision custom stuff to go with the older gear type.



What would possess someone to buy the style they dislike, only to convert it?

and cheap bikes sold in toy, and general merchandise stores
to people who cannot pony up the 4 figure price .. for a real FS bike .

well the threadless changeover for New stuff, began in the 90's.. by the manufacturers..

some small builders will still make precision custom stuff to go with the older gear type.



and cheap bikes sold in toy, and general merchandise stores
to people who cannot pony up the 4 figure price .. for a real FS bike .

Yeah, i remember... in the 90s, high-end bikes made the threadless switch first, and it trickled down. Even today, some low-end bikeshop bikes come with quill stems, as do many of the dept store bikes and whatnot. (Some walmart bikes come threadless, too, though...) Of course, there are still custom and retro (think:Pashley) makers who no the quill stuff. But, let's not forget the used market; it is there that you can get bikes with all kinds of componentry at all different pricepoints. You can definitely get a used "real" FS bike for under a grand; of course, the tech will be outdated, and it'll likely be either thrashed or neglected....but still.

Looking at my stable, as well as projects in the works, I see that I've got a definite preference for quill set-ups. I even have a few bikes with 21.1mm quills. Much easier to make fit adjustments, and they look better to my eye...but on an mtb that's going to see real offroad use, you can't beat 9/8" or greater threadless set-ups.

-rob