Good source for threaded CroMo 700c forks? Or go threadless?
 

So I need to replace the fork on my 80s vintage Nishiki. It's threaded. It's a 64cm frame, so it's gotta be tall. Chrome Molly fork.

Can anyone recommend a good source for such a set of forks, or am I really better off just going threadless with this old frame? A source for such forks and pointers for the conversion would be appreciated too.

Thanks,
Warr

Nashbar sells a thread steerer carbon bladed fork for about $100 with steerer lengths up to 240 mm. Look here: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...9_10000_202441

Otherwise, threadless forks in both steel and carbon are far more prevelent as are threadless stems these days. For the conversion you will need a new fork, stem, headset and probably some spacers. It's a fairly easy change.

Need a new fork? I vote threadless. You'll need a new stem and headset but but IMO it's worth it for the added stiffness (especially on a tall bike like that) and fork selection. Just make sure you get one with a 1 inch steerer tube, not the now common 1 1/8".

Depends on how original and authentic you want it to be. But certainly there's a lot of pluses to switching over. First off you'll find a lot more fork options. But it'll cost you since you'll need to buy a new headset and new stem.

And then there's the groans, cat calling and finger salutes you'll get from the guys in the C&V forum for doing this.... :D

Back in the day this would be a normal replacement item at any bike shop. Whatever. I've found a couple suitable replacements at the local Bike Co-op, but here's a couple inexact replacements available online:
http://www.bikepartsusa.com/bikeparts/item/01-79291/
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=4158

another one...

$68 41mm rake straight blade chrome. 260mm with 70mm of thread:
http://www.retro-gression.com/produc...ed-chrome-fork
http://cache1.bigcartel.com/product_..._fork-2-wm.jpg

Torelli offers nice threaded forks also. Very pricey @ $335, however.

Sometimes worthwhile checking out long established local bike shops for stuff like that. The problem with a lot of the replacement forks available out there is that they come threaded to cut for any length without having to extend the threads, which means if you're leaving the steer tube long, the expansion wedge will be in the threads.

Good point. I was wondering if the fork shown by Lester with its 70 mm of threading wouldn't have that problem if left near full length.

One source of threaded forks is a bike shop that caters to serious cyclists. Many have "upgraded" older bikes to threadless and/or carbon forks and the shop will have a bunch of threaded steel take-off forks just lying around they will be glad to sell at low cost. Some searching may turn up a suitable one.

Yeah, gotta check how deep your stem's gonna go for sure. With such a gigantic frame you could always get a Technomic to get the expander below the threads if you think you're gonna be in the threads with a normal stem.

Here's a Dimension with different length 1" threaded steerers, based on the weight I assume it's Chromo:
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...4&category=633