Guy walks into LBS, is he nuts?

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by unterhausen

when I saw that they were trying to get road bikes to use 1 1/4", I thought it made sense. It probably does make sense, but 1 1/2" seems to have taken over anyway. Or rather, 1 1/4" failed to supplant 1.5 on road bikes.

Many years ago, when threaded headsets were the norm, there was even a 1 1/4" threaded headset standard for MTBs, which was supposed to be an improvement over the 1 1/8" threaded headset standard. The 1 1/4" headset never caught on and disappeared quickly (the dominant standard became the 1 1/8" threadless standard).

When MTBs finally decided that 1 1/8" wasn't big enough, they skipped over 1 1/4", and went straight to 1 1/2".

Guess who bought an MTB during the 1 or 2 year period when 1 1/4" headsets were around? Since this was a threaded headset, it used quill stems. Very few companies made 1 1/4" quill stems, so a few years later when I wanted to change the stem, I couldn't find any.

[Davist]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Many years ago, when threaded headsets were the norm, there was even a 1 1/4" threaded headset standard for MTBs, which was supposed to be an improvement over the 1 1/8" threaded headset standard.

I actually remember ?Fisher or maybe Yeti having 1 1/4 first, then we went to 1 1/8" I don't remember the clever name for 1 1/4, 1 1/8 was aheadset from diacompe originally.. But, I'm old and may misremember

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by Davist

I actually remember ?Fisher or maybe Yeti having 1 1/4 first, then we went to 1 1/8" I don't remember the clever name for 1 1/4, 1 1/8 was aheadset from diacompe originally.. But, I'm old and may misremember

The 1 1/4" threaded headset standard was called the "Fisher Evolution Headset". Gary Fisher must have dreamed it up shortly after he invented the Mountain Bike.

[vqdriver]

well, my lbs didn't stock a king standard 1 1/8 base plate. had to order for me....
don't think too many of these things sell tbh.

[josephr]

Originally Posted by vqdriver

well, my lbs didn't stock a king standard 1 1/8 base plate. had to order for me....
don't think too many of these things sell tbh.

most of the time they're in use or worn out...and, if its worn out, probably just time to replace the entire headset. Probably better off posting a WTB here for a bunch of us tinkerers that hoard small parts.