Originally Posted by
steppinthrax
Yeah I get your drift. I understand it's not a high end bike. But it's my first bike and I've gain some "attachment" towards it. I've also been using this bike as a foundation to learn how to work on bikes. I have for example replaced the BB, relaced the wheel with a new hub (yeah I relaced spokes). Replace the chain, front derailleur. New rim tape. Of course new shifters and shift cables (inner) and brake cables. Also learned how to adjust derailleur etc...
I've learned a ****-ton about working on bikes by this bike.
...if that's the case, you can probably do something (that is cheaper) using used parts, either from a donor bike or from something you find at a bike co-op. Assuming you can find a bike co-op withing a reasonable distance. If you're looking for a donor bike (also on CL), you get the added learning experience of measuring the current fork steerer (length and diameter) and getting some idea of how much length you need on the donor steerer to go threadless, and there are a lot of informational things on the interweb (here and other places) on the things you need to consider (like height, trail, and wheel size/brake fittings) in a replacement fork.