Bicycle Mechanics - I'm sure you'll think I am stupid

but I am when it comes to bikes. i am trying to purchase some forks for my Marin bike. How do I know if it is threaded or not?

Please, no insults :)

There are no stupid questions, just stupid people! j/k no offense.

A threaded fork has a large nut at the top of the headset below the stem. The stem has a bolt that you loosen to adjust the stem height and relation to the wheel.

A threadless has a spacer or two or more and then the stem sits on top of the spacers. The stem has a couple of bolts that are used to tighten the stem to the steerer tube.

The other way to tell is if you disassemble the stem on the headset and look at the steerer tube. If it's smooth, it's threadless. If it has threads then obviously it's threaded.

For pictures click here: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_headset.shtml

Hope that clarifies things.
L8R

So my next question would be. Does it matter which I buy? Threaded or unthreaded.

Is it a matter of personal preference, or is it specific to my frame?

Thanks again.

Originally posted by hsimpson1
So my next question would be. Does it matter which I buy? Threaded or unthreaded.

Is it specific to my frame?
Yes. And it must be the same size, for example 1" threaded or 1-1/8" threadless, etc.

not necessarily specific to your frame.
you can change from a 1" threaded to a 1" threadless, but you will have to get a threadless headset also.

If you have a choice in the matter, you might want to go threadless because they tend to be lighter and have more stem options on the market. Threaded, a.k.a. quilled stems seem to be disappearing.

If you do go for a threadless steerer, make sure it is cut long enough to give you some height adjustment.
The advantage of threaded headsets is the adjustability of height.
Threadless systems can be adjusted using smaller, lighter tools, and the larger section stems are a bit stiffer, if you sprint or climb hard.

Originally posted by hsimpson1
but I am when it comes to bikes. i am trying to purchase some forks for my Marin bike. How do I know if it is threaded or not?

Please, no insults :)
Welcome hsimpson1, to BFC, the member here doesn't hurl insults to anybody, you may get some wisecrack answer but I think you may get some insult here and there but if the moderator sees that kind of posting rest assure that the member will be banned from posting again,

It looks like I have a threaded headset on my Marin 700 series (it's an older bike). I still have absolutely no idea what size though. someone told me to look underneath the frame, but all that is there are serial numbers.

I appreciate the help you guys have given me.

There is a very quick and easy way to tell if your fork is threaded or not.
On a threaded fork, there are threds on the steerer. A threadless fork has not threads.

Howdy Homer. Check out this page and see if it helps.
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml#headset

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people! j/k no offense...

huh? I don't get it...
hehehe :p

people who are dumb are still very lucky because their's a school for dumb people, but being stupid, that's it for you theres no school for stupid people,