Threadless headsets?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Chris Hansen said:

Hello,

This is based on a comment from another thread. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of a threadless headset?

Advantages for what type of rider or usage?

Some advantages that I like are:

1. slightly lighter
2. allen key headset adjustments

And a dubious advantage is also that threadless now
dominates the market. You can still get quill stems but
threadless is what is truly cheap and plentiful. There is
always some advantage to buying into the majority
technology.

In article <[email hidden]>,
cnhyf- [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

In article
<[email hidden]>, Chris

Hansen said:

Hello,

This is based on a comment from another thread. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of a threadless headset?

Advantages for what type of rider or usage?

Some advantages that I like are:

1. slightly lighter
2. allen key headset adjustments

Threaded doesn't need to adjust the headset when you
change stems.

....

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Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
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David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in news:MPG.1af32071968bb523989727
@news.ids.net:

Quoted message said:

Threaded doesn't need to adjust the headset when you
change stems.

With a threaded headset, you can move the stem up and down
without having to adjust the headset bearings (or buy a
new stem).

Somebody, having read the small battles here lately about headsets,
trolled for a headset war. Then, On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 17:56:55 +0000,

Ken said:

David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in
news:MPG.1af32071968bb523989727

Quoted message said:

Threaded doesn't need to adjust the headset when you
change stems.

With a threaded headset, you can move the stem up and down
without having to adjust the headset bearings (or buy a
new stem).

With a threadless headset, the adjustment in question
happens even if you don't know what you're doing. You screw
the cap back in because you unscrewed it before, and
inadvertently adjust it. Later, if you need to adjust it, it
sure is easy...you don't even need an expensive, special
headset wrench.

Okay, advantages and disadvantages:

Threadless: Advantages:
- Easy reach change
- Easy adjustment
- One common cheap tool
- Most common stems with removable faceplates
- Height adjustment still pretty easy
- More total adjustment available from stock stems
- Wider range of aftermarket stems available everywhere
- Never seizes Disadvantages:
- Gotta undo a bunch of bolts to change height
- Stock stem may need replacement for very large
height changes

Threaded: Advantages:
- Ultra-easy height change
- Easier to micro-adjust height Disadvantages:
- Most common stems one-bolt (lots of work to change)
- Requires expensive, uncommon headset wrench to adjust
- Stock stems offer less total height adjustment
- Common bike shops don't have lots of threaded stem
variety
- If unmaintained, they seize to the steer tube badly
- Care required to avoid scratching handlebar (and
creating stress risers) when installing common one-
bolt versions
- Most threaded stems don't offer a _large_ height range

I'm sure I've missed a bunch of points. They're both fine
systems, and there's no reason to be concerned about which
one you have.

I've made two major bike purchases in the past, one
with each type of headset. Neither has given me any
major trouble.

The threaded one offered insufficient height, and the only
threaded stem in the bike shop that would work was one-bolt,
so everything had to come off one side of the bars for it.

The threadless one also offered insufficient height, but was
more easily replaced with a locally available two-bolt stem.
The stem was $5 more than the threaded one was...well worth
the time and effort.
--
Rick Onanian