Never liked the idea of bashing a star-nut down the steerer due to the potential of it going in at an angle. Anyone use a head doctor, or the Use equivalent? The Use one is a lot lighter, and cheaper than the Hope.

Used the hope one and it works well. Totally agree with disliking the bashing of a star nut into a steerer.

I have a ringo star in my jones truss fork because it solves the preload problem that the design causes. But I wouldnt choose to use one in a normal fork. The SFN is a good design and works well and securely. If you’re worried about installing it get an installation tool for £15

Fitting SFN is easy with right tool.
http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=374

I know it’s easy to install, just don’t like it, prefer more elegance than smacking something in with a hammer.

At the end of the day there is no need for the headset preloading to be left in the fork, once the stem is tight it’s job is done. Simple bung would do if you really want to save weight.

My Hope HD never held properly. SFN ftw.

Nice topcap though.

SFN every time unless its a carbon steerer. The hopes tend to slip. If you’re not confident installing the SFN, try waving a packet of biscuits at your local LBS

try waving a packet of biscuits at your local LBS

I am still yet to see this biscuit based economy in action. They always seem to want actual money 😡

If you take just the fork in and ask politely, they may not bother charging you, the biscuits is optional

One time when I was without any proper tensioner, I used a length of threaded bar and a couple of nuts and washers to preload the headset, which as above once done you then keep tension with the stem. Only issue is if it loosened on a ride, being able to retension it in the field. Plus, I had to use duck tape as a stem cap.

If you take just the fork in and ask politely, they may not bother charging you, the biscuits is optional

All the same, I need to get some data on this phenomenomnomnom.

I used an old V brake pad, screwed into the SFN, and a hammer.
I twisted the pad around periodically to get the SFN in square.

Ive had a couple of head doctors that came with forks I’ve bought. Before that just used star nuts. I would not waste money on the head doctor, doesnt seem to offer any kind of worthwhile advantage over a star nut which costs pennies and takes a minute or so to install with a rubber hammer.

I used to use a USE safe-T. Basically just a threaded bolt with a welded stem cap and a threaded cap for the bottom. It was OK but, even though the bottom cap was plastic, it did tend to seize on. Far prefer a SFN now.

I use a SFN even when I’m fitting Hope headsets if I’ve got one. Quicker to fit, lighter, more reliable. Tools to fit them are cheap.

I’ve got a Hed Doctor in one bike, with a carbon steerer. It’s heavier and not as good as an SFN, and needed machined down to fit unexpectedly, but it’s fine- it does the job. All the bikes that can take a SFN, have an SFN.