Currently got a cheap FSA Big Fat Pig headset on my MmmBop but the sealing is non-existent which doesn’t bode well for winter riding.

What are other folks using for 1 1/8″ steerers in 1.5″ headtubes?

(I’m a big fan of Hope headsets so any experience of the new mix n match ones would be great)

My Hope reducer is good – but only used for a couple of months.

Hope reducer headset on my Cannondale Prophet. Working fine and showing no sign of getting gritty after plenty of mucky rides and washing. Thumbs up here.

Hope seemed best value when I got mine… Nothing exceptional about them, they’re adequately sealed etc and well finished. Maybe FSA have added to their range but they didn’t have anything that really competed at the time.

Cheers folks. As I thought, Hope still the best.

I’ve got a hope in a tapered frame with 1″1/8th forks. The mix and match parts got me sorted for not much ££

Another with Hope here, in C’Dale frame. Seems a good bit better quality than most others, very smooth bearings, nicely made. And pretty good value for money I reckon, about £60-70.

Ah… I see FSA finally got with the program, I reckon I’d go with an Orbit Z unless it was a frame that needs a bit of stack height.

Also had the Orbit-Z, and it’s not as nice as the Hope (was available before Hope did one), but costs almost the same I think. Hope definitely better quality. And you can get a zero stack height option too, if you need.

Hope – mine is mint after 18 months of house 🙂

I had a Hope in my Butcher however the reducer crown race was not tight on my Devilles and made it clunk at the bottom even when done up FT+2. Fitted a cheap superstar reducer one and been fine for months….

Am I right in thinking the only reducer lower cup option is the ‘D’ cup (oo-er)?

That’s my only ‘issue’ with the Hope reducer – it’s not very aesthetic! At least on the Big Fat Pig, it just looks like a normal headset as the reduced diameter is within the headtube rather than poking out at the bottom like a turtlehead 😀

I have a Cane Creek Double X Flush, and it’s faultless, and seems really, really well made.

Bought a Crank Brothers one from CRC cheap for my Rush. Iodine. Claims to be ‘DH’, but doesn’t seem overly portly.
Cups were tight as to fit, but all seems ell 1 month in….. looks lovely too. Fingers crossed.