Upgrading a classic

reesemc2001 said:

I have a 95 Bontrager Race, that has been upgraded with everything except a new front shock. I just went ahead and ordered a Marzocchi Corsa SL WC 80 mm, customized with a 1" steer tube.
I now think I should complete the upgrade with a new head set, obviously I'll need 1", but Do I need a threaded headset or unthreaded? Does it matter? Is the threaded part for the frame or the shock?
Any help would be great as I expect the shock this week and would love to have it on the trails by Sunday.

The threaded part is on the steer tube. Odds are it's a threadless, but if you had it customized did you ask for threaded? If not, odds are very high that it's threadless....

Also you may need a new front brake. Is your a center-pull cantelever type right now? '95 was around the time of the transition from cantilever to V type brakes. If you have to switch to a V-Brake you'll also need a TravelAgent to make your canti levers pull the right amount of cable through the brake. Oh yeah - you said you've upgraded everything else so I presume you have Vs or discs.

edit: oh, and to fill out your parts list, if you need to convert to threadless you'll need a headset, a stem and a set of headset spacers. When I did my conversion a couple of years ago (on a '93 Dean) I did the bars for good measure and the grips as well. Unfortunately it's a fairly involved conversion. Sweet fork, though!

Thanks for the info... Indeed we have V-Brakes. I also bought a Thompson Elite stem and Easton carbon fiber bar as part last years upgrade. The shop had to put some sort of Profile design threaded part to make the stem fit properly. I imagine with a new headset that will go away.
Thanks again!!!

GV27 said:

The threaded part is on the steer tube. Odds are it's a threadless, but if you had it customized did you ask for threaded? If not, odds are very high that it's threadless....

Also you may need a new front brake. Is your a center-pull cantelever type right now? '95 was around the time of the transition from cantilever to V type brakes. If you have to switch to a V-Brake you'll also need a TravelAgent to make your canti levers pull the right amount of cable through the brake. Oh yeah - you said you've upgraded everything else so I presume you have Vs or discs.

edit: oh, and to fill out your parts list, if you need to convert to threadless you'll need a headset, a stem and a set of headset spacers. When I did my conversion a couple of years ago (on a '93 Dean) I did the bars for good measure and the grips as well. Unfortunately it's a fairly involved conversion. Sweet fork, though!

reesemc2001 said:

Thanks for the info... Indeed we have V-Brakes. I also bought a Thompson Elite stem and Easton carbon fiber bar as part last years upgrade. The shop had to put some sort of Profile design threaded part to make the stem fit properly. I imagine with a new headset that will go away.
Thanks again!!!

Ah, heck - you're all set then!