I’m looking for a reasonably priced (standard) headset and want to go for FSA because they have a fairly positive reputation, plus the rest of my finishing kit is also FSA :-). There are a lot of models, but the FSA website gives SFA information about them.

What headset should I be looking at for MTB use – ideally it would have decent bearings, decent seals and not be too expensive.

So far I have seen the following reasonably priced FSA headsets:

Orbit Xtreme Pro
The Pig Ball-Bearing
Sky Pilot
Xtreme Cartridge
The Pig DH Pro
XLII
Orbit MX
Orbit X

I mean, WTF are there so many?!

Orbit XL2 – can be got for £20ish and mine seem to be pretty much bombproof.

Xl2- excellent product

XL2, not touched one for 4 years, still fine, replace a bearig for £7 on the other after 6 years – only changed the bottom one, back to out of the box smoothness.

As above – Merlin Cycles have them for about £22.

Orbit Xtreme Pro, the dogs danglies! Used on 3 bikes over 3 years and no problems.

Orbit Extreme Pro

£90RRP

Under £20 if you're savvy and buy on ebay! Seriously! 😀

Defo XLII – great value for money.

avoid anything thats too good to be true, you wouldnt beleive it but there are fake headsets about (or possibly OEM ones and overly dramatic distributors).

Either way my S8 with stainless steel bearings and extra seals had corroded and siezed withign 3 months.

Replaced with FSA MX based purely on its looks, I've got the catalogue for the FSA/Cane Creek/TH Industries factory somewhere, most of them are just a different combinations of bearing/cup/race/seal.

XL 2 every time. Got them on three of my bikes, they're reasonably cheap, tough and do the job. They also seem pretty easy to install. I've had one fitted to one of my bikes for 4 years and haven't had a single problem with it. I've been tempted to buy more expensive head sets but can never quite bring myself to do so when I know an XL 2 will do the job just as well.

Picked up an extreme pro on ebay for 25 quid last week.
Not ridden it yet but the write ups are glowing!

Second the 'too good to be true' purchase. Bought an 'S8' and the bearings moved around in their cups and yes they rusted too!