^ point taken, but there still aren't more parts to a threaded system.

^ right. I'd say that the number of parts is close enough for that aspect to not really be an issue. What should be considered are the skills and special tools that are needed to properly set up each system.

There is only one bolt that actually adjusts the headset on a threadless system, and it is usually just a 5mm allen bolt.
On a threaded system, you have to both own and know how to use two wrenches. One is a specialized headset wrench of the right size for the adjustable nut. The other is an adjustable wrench or anything that will properly clamp on the lock-nut. Manipulating these two so that you have both a properly tightened headset and locking the two nuts together does take a bit of skill.

Sure, you can change the height of the stem faster and more easily on a quill system, but this is shadowed by the level of skill required to properly setup a threaded headset. I'd also propose the hypothesis (from my experience as a mechanic in a bike shop) that a higher percentage of threaded headsets than threadless headsets are too tight or too loose. I'd bet that more are too loose than too tight, because it's much more apparent when a headset is too tight, and the two nuts are often not properly locked together and allow the headset to slowly loosen.

I will agree that quill stems do have a certain elegance that can't be found in most threadless setups. But the design of the threadless system gives it complete mechanical advantage when in use.

my thought exactly

The conversion is really not that hard, 1 1/8 threaded headsets can be found easily, Chris King has a few nice ones with somewhat of a "vintage" look, and the forks shouldnt be hard to find either, but the quill stem in 1 1/8 is going to be a fun one to find in the classic quill look :twitchy:
Heres a Ritchey 1 1/8 headset: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US275%26sa%3DN
and here are a few 1 1/8 quill type stems: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US275%26sa%3DN
and heres the "Wound up" 1 1/8 carbon road fork: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US275%26sa%3DN
You should be good to go!

Can you link to some 1 1/8 threaded road forks?

I did. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US275%26sa%3DN
EDIT! Well I thought I did? Those are threadless? Hmmmm......

Most all 1 & 1/8" and even 1 & 1/4" quill stems made were ugly high risers for mountain bikes and hybrids.

OK, here ya go ;) http://www.teamcyclist.com/store/Alp...-20_P14091.cfm They have another but it looks like the standard "80s" MTB fork.

Yeah but that black adjustable Kalloy one (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US275%26sa%3DN) is just about as close as he's going to get to a 1 1/8 quill stem me thinks :(

I am skeptical about that fork being threaded. It claims to be an all-carbon fork. It lists nothing of a steel or aluminum steer tube. It also lists the steer tube length as 300mm, which is a typical uncut length for a threadless fork.

And anyways, so far there is one fork that we've found, and it costs $300. Not as easy to find these as you claimed earlier.

nope, not divine or for idiots. They're just more functionally elegant. I run a 'em on a few of my bikes, but I'm a bit of a hobo-idiot myself.

# of parts? You may be right there, but integrated threadless ones don't have cups, and internal ones don't have races either.

But hey, threaded does look nicer, epically some nice, polished locknuts.

Well, that was kinda gay.



I wanna see what the OP comes up with, hopefully it looks the way he likes.

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Alpha-Q Competition Series CS 20 Forks unique matte finish, All Carbon design. Steerer Tube: 1-1/8" Threaded. Steerer Tube Length: 300.0 mm. Fork Rake: 41 mm. Axle to Crown Length: Crown Race: 30.0. Front Axle Type: 9x1. Wheel Size: 700c. Front Hub Spacing: 100 mm. Brake Type: Road Caliper - Short Reach. Brake Usage F/R: Front. Material: Carbon. Color: Carbon. Team Cyclist is an authorized Alpha-Q dealer and will honor all manufacturer warranties.







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Maybe a misprint? Call and find out :thumb:

DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM. Please try and search some threads like i should have before i ordered with them

Please let the OP know why. I just found them to show the OP that the parts he needs, although they are hard to find, are not impossible to find ;)

...which means that you have minimal options and have to pay high prices. Doesn't seem like the best route to go just to have a quill stem.

I can appreciate both the threaded and thread less systems and have never had either fail on me... thread less headsets are a smidge easier to set up and require less tools but in my opinion, quill stems are as elegant as can be.

Converting a bike that was designed for a thread less headset to a threaded one is going to be an expensive project and a pita when it comes to finding a suitable quill stem that does not look like ass.

but the OP never mentioned that price was an option, and athough it may not seem "the best route to go just to have a quill stem" it may be for him :thumb: if you have a better/cheaper way to convert his bike to a quill stem please do help the guy out by posting it :) Personally, I LOVE quill stems, but not enough to do a conversion from threadless, Id rather build another bike :thumb:

So, the best way i came up with to do it was to do the chris king devolution headset with a threaded fork with a one inch steerer.

After reading all of the posts hear helpful and otherwise, i convinced him to save the money and run the stock fork/headset and spend his money on buying a second bike! i am interested in finding a supplier for 1 1/8" threaded forks. it seems there is a general interest in running quills on newer frames. might be worth one of the more boutique bike mfg. making them

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