Will need a new headset soon only have an FSA Pig DH, was considering Hope £80 fitted at LBS but Chris King only looks to be £30 more, is the Chris King worth the extra? If so why? Or should I be looking elsewhere?
hope are great. Why pay £30 more for one that will cut into your steerer tube and need sending back to the US when it needs a new bearing?
and I have had both, the CK was feeling a bit gritty after 3 years or so, so I'm not sold on the whole last for ever thing they go on about
CK new ones don't do this anymore.
You are very unlikely to ever need a bearing either.
Second the Hope, prefer them to the (whisper it) rather ugly King.
Hope upper and lower cup for 25 each from CRC, a hammer and a block of woof is only 50 too.
I’ve got a CK and it is only starting to go now after 15 years, out of warranty now though. They only have a 10 year warranty. They were the best by far in them days, but now Hope are pretty good too. If I had the money I would still get a CK though.
Yep, that's definitely the way to do it.a hammer and a block of wood
Just get a Cane Creek one and save yourself a load, because the Cane Creeks work as well as Hope but are a lot cheaper.
I do prefer the look if the hope and like hope stuff in general but was under the illusion CK lasted a lifetime, Hope likely to last as long? Guess they're very easy to restore to new aswell given you can buy all parts?
hope have £12 bearings you can replace in 10 minutes. CK need sending back to CK
PS confident getting the cups in is easy but how do you get the old one out without the specific tool?
Cane Creek 40 - As good a headset as any bike needs.
CHRIS KING....end of thread 🙂
nwill1 - Member
PS confident getting the cups in is easy but how do you get the old one out without the specific tool?
Stick something (a wooden rod i found in my shed does me) in, put it against the lip of the headset cup, tap with hammer around in circle, headset pops out.
thats one thing i never tried. i'm told the trick with the copper tube and 4 vertical slits works though, did you ever see pictures of such a thing?
http://www.mbr.co.uk/mountain-bike-videos/workshop-video-bodge-your-own-tools-together/
certainly pressing the cups in with a long bolt and some bits of wood and a long spanner works, i did that recently
The main benefit of a King is that everyone else can see you have a King headset...
nwill1 - MemberPS confident getting the cups in is easy but how do you get the old one out without the specific tool
either same as gettin in with wood and hammer and patience. or if you anywear near blackburn i have the proper tool you could borrow.
Save your money, get one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSA-Orbit-MX-1-1-8-A-Head-Headset-BLACK-/290713554981?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item43afe0d025
Cheers watsontony but I live in Stourbridge in the Midlands. Sounds simple enough if I'm patient. Will look for a cheap Hope, there might be some deals after Christmas.
Why spend that money on any headset? £50+? Nah mate.
Just buy a used King, because it'll be just as good as a new one and will still last longer than anything else. £45 is the going rate. 🙂
Do they really last longer? Some seem to think not.
Got a few Kings (all bought s/hand) and a few Hopes (usually aquired on a deal somehow) spread between mine and her bikes.
King bearings are better, as is the sealing - maybe need tlc once every 5 year? The Hopes usually need attention once a year and never generally feel quite as smooth, although you'd neve notice it once riding. I have had issues with the stupid King O-ring top cap scoring my steerer, which is why I don't use them on the bigger bikes.
The one Cane Creek I have is shockingly badly sealed (and it wasn't a a cheap one either.
If you can get a King s/hand, I'd do that. If not, the Hope will be absolutely fine.
King, nothing has come close in my 18 years biking.
King, second hand is fine. That there's a good market for them says it all!
Cheers jon, very balance opinion much appreciated, what risks are there with a small amount of scoring?
I have had issues with the stupid King O-ring top cap scoring my steerer, which is why I don't use them on the bigger bikes.
Changed the design now, so no longer an issue.
what risks are there with a small amount of scoring?
See above.
Hope for headsets
I would go with a Chris King, if cost is the issue then get a decent used one for £40-£50, it will last years before it's needs anything doing to it. Hope is a good alternative otherwise.
Never had the steerer damage issue with my Kings in 6 years of using them on different bikes (no DH bikes though).
You can home service them whilst they're in the frame.... http://chrisking.com/tech/tech_headsets
-With the point of a knife lift the metal ring and rubber seal very carefully
-Flush out the old crap with degreaser
-Re-grease
-Re-fit seals
You can send them to the UK Chris King importer Evolution Imports if you want them ultra sonic cleaned etc. Doesn't need to go to the US.
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Changed the design now, so no longer an issue.
I know. Bought all mine pre-design change, and I've yet to need a new one post design change.
I doubt if the steerer scoring is much of a structural issue, but it does make it very hard to get the headset to stay tight. I was havin to retighten mine 3 or 4 times a day when I was in Whister a few years ago.