Threadless vs quill
 

What is the benefit of one vs the other? I notice that most high end touring bikes and fully dedicated touring bikes run a quill stem, but that's old technology and I would assume that the more modern threadless would be better.

Please discuss.

threadless:
stiffer
lighter
easier to swap stems length (normally)
works well slammed all the way on top of the headset (necessary for modern road geometry)

threaded:
classic looks
easier to adjust height height
works better for higher bars (threadless setups have a max steerer length)

Threaded fork stays adjusted when the stem is removed
for packing in a carton to check your bike in the luggage hold.
Quill stem can be adjusted for height easily, within limits.

threadless / threaded hybrids have been done too ..

I have a long threadless steerer, I use the extra height to stack 2 stems.
under the bars I mount my handlebar bag.

can you name your examples you refer to? which builders, models?

Most/All Rivs are quill stems, some co-motion, and most all custom made $$$ frames.

I generally agree with those pluses and minuses.

For my own bike I'd prefer thread-less, but not by a wide enough margin that the quill on it bothers me and definitely not enough to be swapping out the fork to go threadless.

For a newish rider who is unsure where they want their bars or may want to gradually lower them as their conditioning and flexibility improve the quill is a big plus. My two companions on The Trans America were pretty new to riding much and it was a big help to be able to move the bars up in the beginning of the tour and down in small increments as they got used to riding long hours.

Less tools needed to work on and easier to adjust the tightness of the threadless while on the road.

The weight and size of tools is a major decider for touring.
Threadless just need an Allen key which you already carry.
Quill stem requires 2 large wrenches. I went on a major tour without the wrenches and fortunately the threaded headset was the only trouble-free part of the bike. I was lucky.

Quill stems may be easier to pack at airports but I'm not convinced.
The ability to make height adjustments is an advantage but when setting up after I land, I'm never too critical about the height and it doesnt seem to matter a lot to me. Height adjustment with threadless is still possible.

If I could change my old touring bike to threadless, I would.

+1

There is a way.......

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...m-adaptor.html

I don't understand stacking 2 stems...? Is one just sitting there? (possible stupid Q)

I think he may be mounting a flat bar (cut short) to mount his handle bar bag lower than the active bars.

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/294...36566683XhTSAP

Is that a solar panel?

I think so, I'd sure like to see more of that bike.

those adaptors dont give you any of the benefits of threadless, they just allow the use of threadless stems... Im really not sure what the point of that is.

I want ability to swap forks for eg suspension. also to be able to tune and adjust headset using only 5mm allen wrench etc.

quill stems are fine, but the threadless is a bit better, especially for those of us who travel with our bikes and disassemble them for packing.

my newest bike has threadless, but my favorite older bike is threaded.

They give you the benefit of having more rise/drop options by being able to use threadless stems. I'm going to use the one I already have, along with a threadless stem that I already have, in order to get the desired height and length that I want, without having to sprnd $50+ on a nitto stem. Eventually, I'll spend the money on a nice quality quill stem, but for now it get's me where I want to be.

Big manufacturers use threadless because their marketing departments tell them to and because they only need to build the forks with a single steerer length.

Rivendell uses quill stems because the boss is a stubborn old crank, like me (I prefer quills too). Many custom mfgs use quill stems because threaded headsets make more sense for small scale production. Co Motion still uses quills on some bikes? Cool! I didn`t know that.

Yeah, threadless converter thingies don`t change the headsets. You CAN buy a fork with threadless steerer for a bike that originally had a threaded, or the other way around. In either case, you also have to change headset, and likely the bars.

the only thing more pointless than these^ is this:


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hTyj3OL-9C...or_on_bike.jpg

ah, I see. thanks

You don't have a clue, do you?

be a little more constructive with your insults. are you referring to my typo or do you think this is a good product?

it is heavier than threadless and quill
it is worse looking than threadless and quill
it has a huge stack height
it doesnt allow easy stem swaps like threadless
it only works with 1in threadless steerers (and steel ones can be threaded anyway)

what am i missing?

picture link : http://www.cyclofiend.com/working/20...clark1008.html

That SOMA thing is part of a 1" threadless conversion for those who like their quill stems.
http://somafab.blogspot.com/2011/01/...ll-inator.html
which ones?
both those cases that is a customer choice, RBW its part of their cache'

.. 1" steerers are Butted thicker at the bottom. 9/8" in my Sus Fork (above) is a straight gage tube.

A threadless stem needs that height , to clamp onto
now where the cantilever brake hanger goes is another issue..

I think that panel has velcro on it,
somebody cannot leave their Electronic toys behind..
and just enjoy riding their bike and seeing the places they are going thru..
GPS, Kindle iPad, your guess..