I’ve got a Soul that I really like and I’m wondering what traits would change if I would slaken the headset by 1 degree… Has anyone done it yet? Running a 130mm REV right now.

Thanks

Johnnydrz

Old or new Soul? Newer one has an unusual headtube setup, not sure how easy it’d be to find one.

Old one, 1 1/8″ headtube. Works makes a headset for this.

Always been tempted to try it but never quite got round to it… I’m a slacker-headset fan but the Soul does have that basic rightness about it that it’d be a shame to risk

Not done it on a Soul, but fitted one to my old ti Rocky Ridge replica. I found it made a subtle but appreciable difference, just slows the steering a little but without the sort of negative traits you get it you just fit a longer fork. The nice thing about it is that it’s totally reversible and not overly expensive.

I had a -2? headset on another bike and that was a little bit too much to be honest.

The Works Components stuff is decent, but the sealing’s not brilliant ime and I had trouble getting the old worn bearings out of the cups to replace them.

I’ve found mine goes through top bearings a lot- I reckon the big flat top lets water gather and soak past the bearings, but that’s really jus a guess. Standard Cane Creek bearings though so still decently sealed and cheap enough to replace.

Results really depend on the bike tbh, and the rider obviously, it made my Hemlock though.