[Closed] What's so good about Chris King Headsets?

When I first built up my bike (Feb 04)I used a Hope headset and the thing constantly required adjusting / tightening. I replaced it with a CK headset and haven't touched it since (2004).

The Hope has found service on a couple of other bikes, and hasn't worn out etc, but has always required constant tinkering

mine is pink, its tough to get nice kit thats pink

Headset going out of adjustment has likely nothing at all to do with the headset itself - will only come loose if stem bolts slip, or maybe it was not installed exactly square?

got a king on a bike with a reynolds carbon fork with carbon steerer, 4 years old, does a lot of winter miles w/o guards. no sign of steerer marking, it's never needed adjusting and never been anything but perfectly smooth. turns out that it was money well spent, i went on a reccomendation and my scepticism was unfounded.

necessary though? definately not. i've had 3 years + out of an FSA Orbit XLII on a jump / 4x hardtail in the past too.

crustypaulus - Member

Lecht, enlighten me... how would facing and trimming a steerer protect it from being scored by the o-ring? I can't see how this would stop scoring due to the o-ring being the only point of contact...

if the o-ring is scored during steerer installation, then you will subsequently develop 'play', thereby initiating any scoring on the steerer AFAIK

I've had a King headset in my road bike for 5 years now, it's been jetwashed on the very rare occasion it's been washed at all, and I've never had the fork out, it's probably done over 20,000 miles, and it still absolutely perfect.

The Cane Creek integrated jobby in my Epic was ****ed after a month, creaking and sounding generally awful.

I wish people would stop going to integrated/internal headsets, as there's just nowt decent out there! King are just about getting there with their In-Set, but they're usually too slow to innovate with things like that, the Perdido never really got anywhere!

I always wash down my bikes after a ride - no jetwashing - and consider myself a fuss-arse when it comes to my bikes, yet the RaceFace headset which came with my Orange P7 lasted about 8 months. I invested in a CK headset from a seller named TWEIVECAT on ebay. I had to wait a while for them to arrive from the States, but they cost me about £65 at the time since the pound was doing well against the dollar back then. I have absolutely no regrets about my purchase. No fuss, no creaks, just buttery smooth action. And they're fitted to 140mm Floats!

(Raceface BB bearings were shite as well)

CK's will out last your frame, thats why they are worth the money.

However to be honest I also run hope headsets and they have lasted me just as long.

I think we are having a placebo moment here people. I paid £100 for it so it must be great.

Does it use better metals? Bearings?
I am sure it is pretty/very good but I bet the mark up on one is huge.
As for going through headsets every 6-12 months? **** me you must be delighted that your EXTERNAL Crank bearings or wheel bearings last the ride.
Surley better to call it a Chris Bling?

I reckon I probably get through Cane Creek or FSA headsets over about 3 years. If that's roughly right then that's a tenner a year or thereabouts. As brake pads are £14 a pair or whatever, it doesn't seem like a lot for a semi-consumable component. I'm perfectly happy with a serviceable item that wears out at that rate rather than a better but more expensive item that never wears out.

Apart from anything else, it can only be a matter of time before we end up with the tapered steerers that are coming in on high-end road bikes, at which point your £100 headset is going to be obsolete even if it's still silky smooth. 🙂

[url= http://road.cc/content/news/10201-fsa-orbit-headset-now-colour ]FSA Orbit MX now available in gaudy anodised colours!!!![/url]

I like the way road.cc really doesn't give a hoot. 🙂

I suspect that the steerer on my Revelations was slightly undersized, which is confirmed by my Thomson stem having play on the steerer before tightening. Hence was fine when the o-ring on the CK bearing cap was new, but over 2 years of use it loosened to the point where movement was scoring the steerer, making the movement worse and causing creaking.

Probably would have been fine with a proper diameter steerer. Or a headset with a split ring design that tolerates more variation in the steerer, such as a Hope.

the only thing i've ever seen that 'wears out' headsets (even cheapy caged ball badly sealed ones) is jet washing

Oh rubbish. It's mud and crap and usage that wears them out! 🙂

I think we are having a placebo moment here people. I paid £100 for it so it must be great.

Does it use better metals? Bearings?
I am sure it is pretty/very good but I bet the mark up on one is huge.
As for going through headsets every 6-12 months? **** me you must be delighted that your EXTERNAL Crank bearings or wheel bearings last the ride.
Surley better to call it a Chris Bling?

I've had 4. Paid an average of about £55 for them (2 new, 2 used) And like I've already pointed out, how many other headsets last long enough to be sold on? A few, yes, but mostly just CKs. 🙂
They must use better bearings because the seals aren't much different to anyone elses, and when you do regrease one, you can feel the grit in there, you clean it out, regrease, and it's like new again
Mark up on everything is huge. Live with it, or buy at a discount like I do.
As for EXTERNAL bearings, I get far more use out of them than I ever did with sq taper, the axles don't bend, the cranks come off easily etc
Bling? I don't look at it like that, but if you choose to be offended by a headset, well, that's up to you! 😉

Why are you getting all arsey about this?
The OP asked what's good about them, people explain that they are no different in use (It's only a bearing after all) but the VFM comes from longevity, yet you whine on about crap like that! Sorry, me no understandee people like you.....

i have a fsa XL on my switch probably 4 years old now.
Got 2 years out of my fsa before it fail due to lack of maintenance, cost me 5 £ to service.

The bearings are made by Chris King in house, so they're made to incredibly tight tolerances. They can be serviced if needed too. Never touched any of mine though. Shame the same can't be said for the hubs!

Calm down PP, I remember posts from you that were remarkably similar to Junkyard's. Just replace Chris King with Thomson...

😉

I've an FSA Orbit XLII, its been in four different bikes over the 6ish years I've owned it, I've replaced the bearings once (I lost the originals in between removing it from one frame and fitting it to another) and its still going strong. Only comes in black though so loses marks on the prettiness scale.

I had a CK headset, got it free with a set of forks from the US a few years back. Sold it to someone on ye olde STW forum for £60 second-hand.

Spend what you like on a headset, only you can justify if its good value or not.

It really annoys me how much people go on about Chris King headsets being all about the name. Sure, they are bling and expensive, but they also last loads longer than any other headset and so are better value for money (if you can afford to stump up the lump sum in one go). I don't know what people's problem is with them - no one seems to feel this way about Hope stuff and that's just the same in that its bling but really good.

Anyways, the reason I got a CK headset (besides it being pretty) was because the manager at my lbs, Rob Lee (Hope sponsored rider and manager of Team Iron Horse Extreme and very sucessful endurance rider) talked me into it...

He said, that at 24 hours races, they just jet wash all the bikes as its the only way to get them ready quick enough. Afterward the race they have to rebuild everything (hubs, forks, etc) apart from the headsets, which don't need touching... he said that in his experience the 10 year is not needed as they last longer - even with bad treatment. They are very well made and exceptionally well sealed.

I still wasn't 100% I needed one (after all I'm now endurance racer!), but he gave me a personal guarentee that it'd last 15 years (he's a mate so I trust him!). Anyway, I worked out the cost against the FSA (which I know are good for a couple of years) and figured if he was right it would definitely save me money.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that as it changed my mind - and from a Hope sponsored rider with that much experience of racing and riding, it really says something.

Oh and he fitted mine upside down for me

[b]njee20[/b]I wish people would stop going to integrated/internal headsets, as there's just nowt decent out there! King are just about getting there with their In-Set, but they're usually too slow to innovate with things like that, the Perdido never really got anywhere!

If you read on the King website he says he won't make an integrated/internal headset as he believes it's an inherantly flawed design concept & selling a King one won't meet the high standards he maintains on the rest of his product range.

So, to summarise...

A £20 headset will most likely fail after a couple of years, with or without maintenance.

A £50 headset will last as long as you like, provided you look after it and regularly service it.

A £100 headset will last as long as you like. Virtually no maintenance required.

Seems pretty simple to me: If you don't mind doing maintenance or replacing the headset, go cheap. If you want a fit and forget product, go expensive. It's a sliding scale between the two.

Personally, I don't mind doing maintenance (it's my job after all!). I bought a CK because it was light, smooth, lasts well, and was just a bit tarty! 😀 I've kept it because it's stayed as good as new, despite the fact I've destroyed pretty much every other component I've ever used.

selling a King one won't meet the high [s]standards[/s]markups he maintains on the rest of his product range.

And like I've already pointed out, how many other headsets last long enough to be sold on?

If you read on the King website he says he won't make an integrated/internal headset as he believes it's an inherantly flawed design concept & selling a King one won't meet the high standards he maintains on the rest of his product range.

They're right about integrated headsets, they're just a pair of bearings after all, can understand them not wanting to get involved there as you're at the mercy of the framebuilders tolerances. But they have done an In-Set internal headset, hence my comment about being 'nearly there'. I've yet to actually see one for sale though, Aspire Velotech don't mention them, but I may see if I can get one for my Top Fuel next season, after 3 years with absolutely disastrous Cane Creek ones it'd be nice to not have to strip and regrease it after every wet ride!

I echo most of the above comments. Bought mine new and (fairly) cheap, used to get through headsets fast - even Hope ones - but my CK has had 4 years of use and no maintenance, still perfect. Whether it is worth the money is up to you.

I don't take any notice of people who say things like '... but I bought a cheap xyz and it lasted ages'. There are plenty of people on here who don't ride very much and don't wear stuff out.

There are plenty of people on here who don't ride very much and don't wear stuff out.

and plenty of fat cack handed IT buffoons who break stuff when they do occasionally ride to the sic and on the edge at the trail centres breaking all but the most expensive components money can buy. 🙄

I'm wondering if the interminable Chris King threads are the reason why it was caught by the swear filter on the old forum. 🙂

Just to add my contribution - I bet you could carry your stuff in a perfectly good plastic bag, instead of a fancy Timbuk2. 🙂

How does crank brothers hesdsets compare to CK? Actually just bought one. Good price too.
Anyone brooken one yet?

How does crank brothers hesdsets compare to CK?

Not used their headset, but if their other products are anything to go by, it'll look lovely and shiney, as well as being really light, and in 6 months time there'll be more peices than you started off with... 😉

My Cane Creek S8 internal headset lasted 18 months before it was a pile of rusted parts.

CC110 has much better sealing, but the CKs on the remaining bike have all performed faultlessly for years.

If CK did an internal headset I'd have bought that.

They just work - faultlessly, flawlessly and endlessly. What more can you ask of a component?

They “may” score steerer tubes but, has anyone (other than that roadie picture) had a steerer fail? Anyone??

you can afford to stump up the lump sum in one go

Im dragging this thread back up to the top

Im looking for info on regreasing the bearings on yet another seized hope headset,ive had a few and they always seem to pack up after about 4 years[from date of manufacture].So i buy another[All bought 2nd hand]

I have on my other bike[yeah only 2 😆 ]a chris king,its now 6 years old and still going strong.though i also bought that 2nd hand,before that i had a CK fitted,which ran for 9 yrs and was still going without any issues when i sold that bike on.

😳 sorry ,back on track
This time ive decided to attempt to clean and regrease the bearings on my seized hope.
Ive removed the steel covers and the rubber gasket below.Put a whole tin of poundshop degreaser through both bearings and thats freed them up[thank god] but has left them feeling a bit lumps as i turn the inner section.Its the same after ive pumped fresh grease in[pace grease gun,absolutely invaluable over the years,whose got one ?]
Is this 'lumpiness' mean the bearings are completely shot to shit and new bearings really need to be fitted 😕
Thank you all 😀

New bearings needed, or:

FSA Orbit extreme - £15 from On-one. (probably sell the Hope for £15 as spares or repair?)

FSA Orbit extreme

Which, in my experience you'll need to replace in a year. I'd just go with getting new bearings for the hope one...

lol boxelder i was just about to post that 😉

The reason Chris King headsets have the reputation that they have is because they have been performing brilliantly for years.

It may be that there are other headsets around now that are as good, or better value, but ten years ago there was nothing to compete with Chris King. Hence you won't find others that have lasted for 10 years.

I've had a Chris King headset on a bike for 10 years, have thoroughly thrashed it, never regreased it and it still works perfectly.

So why would anyone who has experienced that want to try something else? That is why Chris King has its reputation and still sells.

I also find it difficult to contemplate how a headset could be "better" than a Chris King, which to my mind seems about as flawlessly performing a bit of kit as ever I've come across.

Why do headsets need to be 'buttery smooth', I've got a six year old Hope with the original bearings and they're a bit grindy but you don't notice it when you're riding.

I can use my CK headset for 5 years and then sell it for about £45, which at current Aspire Velotech prices means it would have cost me less than £38. And that's assuming I bought it new in the first place. To my mind, cost isn't a reason not to buy CK.

Consider the FSA Orbit Xtreme Pro (1+1/8 only) at £16 with coupon EM33OUTLAW at Planet-X On-One clearance section.
It has stainless bearings and a solid stainless crown race.
FSA website claims a 10-year warranty.

They just last for a VERY VERY long time, which makes them good value

I've got a cheapo Tange headset that's about 16 years old and still fine. I give it a clean and a bit of grease about once a year. Think it cost about £12-15 new. Possibly less.

The reason Chris King headsets have the reputation that they have is because they have been performing brilliantly for years.

Doing what? A recital of Mendelssohn's 'Fingal's Cave'? A long run in 'The Mousetrap?

Cheeze, it's a headset. Not some finely-tuned instrument.

Elfinsafety,

You keep your cheapo Tange headset.

And while I'm listening to "Fingal's Cave", you can carry on listening to "The Birdy Song"

I, too, have heard stories of chris kings scoring through steerer tubes slowly and can in the end lead to failure.

As many others have said ive got a cane creek S3 and am perfectly happy with it. I reckon ive done around 1000 miles on it so far come rain or shine (or snow) and the bottom bearing is a little grittier than the top one. Only paid £25 from CRC which was nice aswell.

You keep your cheapo Tange headset.

And while I'm listening to "Fingal's Cave", you can carry on listening to "The Birdy Song"

No, no, I'll be listening to Bach's [i]Toccata and Fugue in D Minor[/i], while you listen to Phil Collins.

So there.

How about that one, eh? Ha!

Chris King have the benefit of American hyper-marketing sales pitch.

Hope are understated British and just as good, if not better.

Didn't stop me getting a Ti CK headset though. THe USP is that you can't see it's a CK until you are gasping up a hill and your breath brings out the subtle etching of the name. 🙂

I, too, have heard stories of chris kings scoring through steerer tubes slowly and can in the end lead to failure.

I heard of plenty of people saying their steerer has scored with them but I've never heard of a steerer failure - any links?

elfin, the point being how many old insert-cheap-brand-here headsets are going strong as a proportion of how many were sold (or even just in absolute terms) and compare that with CK?

Most CK headsets I know of are kept by their owners longer than frames. I've got 5yr old CK's on both my bikes and they are absolutely perfect and could be sold as new. I appreciate an annual clean and a regrease isnt a hassle (I am a compulsive fettler) but having once taken a CK apart to to re-grease it, I'll probably never bother again. I appreciate the quality of materials and manufacture from both an aesthetic and a mechanical perspective, and when you spread the cost over its life I think it offers better value than many other bike parts.

None of my (aluminium) steerers has ever been marked, either.

I have a Chris King Headset on my S-Works 7 years old, and still going strong. Great bit of Kit IMO!

If my Cannondale flash didn't have a lefty fork, then that would have had one fitted ASAP too.