Will probably spring for a Hope but interested in other recommendations? What do people like these days?

CK but if you change often then stick with Hope.

fsa orbit xLII – perfectly smooth and working well after a years use twice a week.

£24

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=1164

xLII for me too.

FSA for me as well, Orbit MX. Hope in the Hemlock as they seem to have the best reducers out there but the Orbit cost less than half as much and performs exactly the same.

2 x hope, 1 x FSA orbit xlII

CK, for fit and forgetness!

Just bought a third CK but may go for a Cane Creek when my Tracer frame gets here.

Richey WCS, bargain from merlin.

XLII for cheapness

Hope for longevity – my Hope one is over six years old and showing no signs of giving in.

BBB Turnaround headset, as it was the only silver one we had in stock & I needed it ASAP, so far so good.

hope or fsa 🙂

CC 110

FSA Orbit MX, great headset. Have a Hope on another bike, and had a Chris King, but sold it as it put a large score on my steerer (controversial I know). Would buy FSA from now on…

I had problems with FSA headsets wearing out (sorry, don't remember the exact model), but I've had the same Hope headset for a good few years and it's still working perfectly. I'd absolutely recommend them – and they come with a split crown race which my last FSA didn't have.

Cane Creek S8 on all my non-integrated bikes- totally trouble free for me, only thing that bothers me is the wee liplock bit on the top piece.

three bikes and three hope headsets. it so nice to fit a crown race with your finger tips and they go on forever.

XLII that came on my 456 has given no problems. Running Cane creek S6 on 3 bikes at the moment within the family and again no problems. Via ebay and got them all for the price of one Hope.

I don't buy any headsets these days. CK's are years old and running schweet. 8)

Avoid Cane Creek had an S3 & S8 both crap, replaced with Hope & can't fault it.

CK on all my MTB's, but wouldn't (and didn't) pay rip-off UK prices.

FSA Orbit XL2 for me as well, can't fault them and good quality. £17.50 from ebay .

I chucked a BBB headset on when I built my bike up as it was all the shop had and I wanted to the bike finished, it's been to date 100% fine was cheap and weighed about the same as the CK one that was supposed to go on it but the bearings were knackered, never got around to fixing the CK guess I should sort that out really……..

fsa xl2 seems to be a winner. I've got one and it's been flawless since 2006. I got an fsa orbit extreme on here for a tenner. Like new. Don't think you need to spend more than £20 anyways.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25157

Syncros. Bargain.