Joined: 12 Jan 2006Posts: 475Location: U-district/Ravenna
Hello all. As some of you know, I'm in the slow process of putting together all the parts of my dream bike. I would like some advice on the headset though. Since there are so many bearings involved, I don't feel comfortable buying this part used. Is it worth shelling out the bucks for a Chris King, or are there less expensive, but just as dependable alternatives available?
The specs I need: 1" (not 1 1/8") threadless steerer. Material of the steerer is carbon if that makes any difference. My tax refund is here in a couple of weeks, so cost isn't really an object for this part, but I would like to know what the 'pros' are recommending.
lieutenantsean
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:09 am
Joined: 10 Oct 2005Posts: 1255
A headset is a headset.
I do have a Chris King headset myself and while it is a pretty damn fine headset, I don't know that it's really any better than anything else out there.
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joeball
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:41 am
Joined: 24 Jul 2005Posts: 6037Location: Ether
I too have a King, it's nice but I am also building a new bike and opted for the FSA orbit XL-II, I've yet to use it but it has cartridge angular contact bearings and is a third the price of another King. FSA headsets have a good rep, Cane Creeks seem so so. Campy also has some 1" threaded
More important with your fork that has a carbon steerer is the use of a compression plug vs a star nut. A star nut will tear up the carbon so you'll need one of these instead. Also you want a stem that distributes the clamping force well.
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=104
A headset is the least and most important bearing on the bike. A Chris King will only get you style points, IT WILL NOT MAKE THE BIKE HANDLE OR PERFORM ANY BETTER.
I sell a nice headset by IRD for less than King. It is kind of the King of Japan. www.interlocracing.com
Alastair
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:25 pm
Joined: 12 Jan 2006Posts: 475Location: U-district/Ravenna
As far as the headset goes, I'm not expecting any performance gains, I just want something that isn't going to have to be replaced every two years. I'm looking for build quality over anything else.
I actually own a stem already, it's an ITM stem with a good build to it. It's the same one they put on those fancy schmancy carbon fibular Colnago bikes.
Aaron, you're the second person whose mentioned those IRD ones to me. I think I'll take you up on one. Let me know how much they are and I'll stop by the shop after I get my refund. Also, do they come in other flashier colors, like matte black? I'm trying to make this into a stealth bike that doesn't attract attention from the local meth community.
Aaron
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 4:10 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
It comes in black, but not flat black. You could rattle can it, I suppose.
It would be a special order, so I would need a deposit. Come in or call me with your CC #.
$79.99 (less 20% when you flash your spoke card)
So, for my discount, should I make people have a current spoke card?
Alastair
Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:19 pm
Joined: 12 Jan 2006Posts: 475Location: U-district/Ravenna
Sounds great Aaron. My return should be deposited to my account sometime in the next week or two. I'll give you a call and just prepay the whole thing. Oh, and when I come in, my Bianchi is long overdue for a tune-up. I would love to get that done as well, and if you could give me a couple of lessons on what maintenance I can do at home, that would be slick.
Aaron
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:26 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
Alastair wrote:
Sounds great Aaron. My return should be deposited to my account sometime in the next week or two. I'll give you a call and just prepay the whole thing. Oh, and when I come in, my Bianchi is long overdue for a tune-up. I would love to get that done as well, and if you could give me a couple of lessons on what maintenance I can do at home, that would be slick.
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