what do you prefer? I think threaded setups look way more classy, and I still can't get used to big oversized 1 1/8 threadless setups. I mean it makes sense on my mtn bike, but onroad? I have a pretty smallish looking Salsa 1 1/8 threadless on my hardtail mtb that looks way classier than the chunky 1 1/8 stems on my roadies. What gives? Is it because most companies are moving to Aluminum as their material of choice?

being a big guy I like threadless because it tends to be a little stiffer it is also a little easier to change my set up on the fly vs a threaded set up
touching on the fact I am a big guy again I have had issues with quills gripping enough and have ruined a few steerers by over tightening my quill to eliminate slippage

I have access to 2 threaded setups and 2 threadless setups... I have to say I greatly prefer threadless as it is soo easy to swap out and fit the right setup in minutes versus threadless quill stems needing to feed the bars through. Though for looks I think threaded setups are great for that classic look and threadless is great for anything performance/street/mountain/urban...basically anything that isn't classic.

But that is just my opinion

In general, I like threaded. It looks nicer, height adjustments are simpler, and I've never had problems with slippage, stiffness, or weight. That said, if I were building up any sort of serious racing bike, I would go threadless without thinking twice.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to switch my Tarmac to threaded, obviously. But this being SSFG, I would rather threaded on my bike, my fixed gear that is.

I like threadless, but I much prefer the way threaded looks.

It depends on the setup/ frame.

Can you imagine a threaded headset with quill stem on a felt tk2 (not in the literal sense) or a threadless headset on a steel langster?

* Threaded... for aesthetics *

A threadless setup on a steel Langster wouldn't be much different than on my Leader 722 and I think it looks just fine.



Then again, I suppose it depends a lot on the stem.

I have alway enjoyed the look of threaded over threadless, but that's my own thing. I do think that the above bike would look a lot cleaner with a threaded stem.

Quill is real.

Exactry. Nitto quills FTW.

As always, form > function.

yes, form > function; otherwise we would all be wearing diapers

there are really sweet looking lugged and filet brased stems for threadless out there



and to me these when color matched or polished in black or white chrome look just as if not more aesthetically pleasing than any quill

btw quill slippage happens when you are a 240# manimal

Right, because dealing with changing and disposing of a diaper is much easier than crapping in a toilet.

All my bikes are old steel frames--I've never owned a threadless, so I can't really comment on them. This means I do get to run one of these, though, so it can't be all bad.

That stem is sexy.

pre90's, threaded
post90's, threadless
90s, you choose.

Personally I prefer the look of threaded on anything but a "modern" bike. I've never had a problem with a threaded stem coming loose or getting damaged from over-tightening.

Threaded: looks, easy height adjustments.

Threadless: supposedly stiffer (although I've never noticed a difference), most have removeable faceplates which makes it way easier to change bars.

I like both.

depends on the bike. my cannondale is threaded right now but i'm about to swap it to threadless because it will give me all of the bike fit, plus i just put my kilo back to threadless because no matter what i do it's still a kilo and the headset was busted so in order to repack it i was going to disassemble it anyway.

Threadless because it works better. On a road bike I might dislike threaded less if there were more than like one heavy stem with a removable faceplate. Changing your stem without unwrapping your bars is so, so much better.

I've always thought that quills look better with drops/bullhorns and threadless looks good with risers/flats, then again I have a strange eye for aesthetics. Personally I've never really owned a good bike with a threadless setup so I'd have to choose good ol quill stems.
And how could you deny the beauty of a hidden bolt stem?

The large majority, if not all 1 piece traditional quill stems (the one's that have the classy look to them) cannot accommodate the curves of risers...