I've got a single speed that I love and have almost got it into the perfect bike for me. It has a 1 1/8" threadless headset and fork. I personally like the appearance of threaded (quill) headsets far better than that of the threadless.

In order to switch the threadless headset that I currently have to a threaded quill, I believe that I have to replace the fork and headset (and obviously get a quill), correct? I would like to find a fork that could work at my community bike shop, but they mostly have parts taken from older bicycles. Another question I have would be can I find 1 1/8" threaded forks back then? Or would my only option be to buy a new one such as 27" Steel Fork 1" Threaded Chrome Caliper Mount Cruiser Fixie City Road Bike | eBay ?

I'm still fairly new to the mechanics of bicycles so any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated,
Andy

edit: whoops the link is for 1" but we get the idea surely

I'm not up on the available options for changing out a threadless fork for a threaded one, but as a long time owner of a Bianchi Milano with 1 1/8 inch threaded steerer, I can say that the selection of 1 1/8 quill stems is limited. Most of the ones availble look a lot like typical threadless stems welded to a too-skinny quill, or something that belongs on a beach cruiser. Probably not the look you're going for if you're attracted to the aesthetic of elegant quill stems such as Cinelli or Nitto. Investigate thoroughly before embarking on this path

There were some 1-1/8" quill stems used on MTB's back in the early '90's and I had one on a '92 Trek 7000 rigid fork, hardtail MTB. As Cross Creek noted, they weren't exactly a thing of beauty. AFAIK, there were no elegant, graceful 1-1/8" quills, at least I never saw one.

Maybe it's just me but I can't understand going to all that trouble and expense for a trivial thing like the "appearance" of a quill stem.

I have used 1" threaded forks, then 1 1/8" forks in a MTB frame. I got the frame with no forks. So just fitted 1" forks with some headset bits I had.

I think some BMXs had 1" threaded steerers but had the wider diameter headstock. So maybe a BMX headset would suit. So you can get a 1"fork, and better looking stems.

Well...
You can shim a headtube down from 1 1/8" to 1", then get a threaded fork and headset in that dimension.
Or you can keep your existing fork and headset. Use an 1 1/8" ID seatpost clamp to hold the headset preload. And the quill stem of your choice. 1" stems can be shimmed to fit 1 1/8" steerers.
You need to figure out a way to set the headset preload. I think Sheldon Brown has tried and writen about that too.

I appreciate the responses. I've tried finding the Sheldon article about shimming, but am having trouble.

Alternatively, I found these headset reducers Amazon.com : Wheels Manufacturing Wheels Headtube Reducer Shims : Sports & Outdoors . Would they solve my problem and simply allow me to put a 1" threaded fork and 1" quill? What headset or other parts would you buy to use these things in my 1 1/8" threadless headtube? Maybe these are the things some of you were talking about.

Thanks,
Andy

Merry sales imports has this widget

pg 107 0n this https://www.merrysales.com/merry_cata..._pricefree.pdf
Quill-inator- Threadless headset that allows
one to run a quill stem
- All CNC machined aluminum
cups and clamp
- Sealed cartridge bearings
- For 1” steer tubes..


But I've seen European bikes in catalogs using a 9/8" threadless fork but a quill stem , in the top . so they're out there ..

Great find! They are out of my price range however and a little less elegant.

I've found a 1" threaded fork that I want to try with those headset reducers. Anyone had any luck with em?

Thanks,
Andy

I know about fun projects, but OP, you are really getting into a quagmire. If it makes you happy, go for it, but I don't think the prroduct of your effort will be attractive in any sense of the word.

I don't see the point, but I do understand. Sometimes you gotta do crazy thinhs to get what you want. I did the opposite on a bike, and just used the threaded fork parts to hold it on, properly all you'd need to do is replace the threadless cups, with those of threaded variety. And yeah, all 1 1/8 steerers are risen 120*+ ugly crap.

I like the threaded look sometimes, too, but I can't say I'd go about kludging one onto a frame with a 1 1/4 headtube.

That said, the least horrible solution (the Soma Quill-inator looks so much uglier to me than a threadless stem) is to use reducing shims to take your headtube down from 1 1/4 to 1". You will also need a new threaded headset, new fork, and if you have 31.8 OD handlebars, new handle bars. Sounds like a lot of cash for an aesthetic kick. Maybe get something like this VO Tall-Stack Stem, 1-1/8" - Threadless Stems - Stems - Components .

Can't you get an adapter on ebay like this?

1 1 8 inch Threadless to Quill Stem Adapter | eBay

Never mind, this is backwards of what you want.