Heast sets, Chris King worth it?

Haynes

Dont know whether to get my head set serviced or just go for a Chris King replacement. Are they worth the money and really fit and forget? I suppose I'm a bit lazy on the maintenance side, i'd rather ride. Its for my best road bike which despite rarely getting wet seems to have grease ozing out the head tube after a slight shower. It doesnt adjust up very nicely, obviously needs some sorting out. It does get a bit of a hammering on some dodgy rutted road surfaces around here.

gundersen

No

maddog 2

yes

you can pick them up for £65 on ebay, from the states

They're better than Hope in my experience.

Alternatively, you can pick up Cane Creek S8 headsets from ebay for £25 which is a killer deal.

portuguese mike

Definately yes, as close to fit & forget as you're likely to get - look good too.

pcd993

They are indeed fit and forget items. I have been running one for 7 years, and it is the only bit of the bike that has not given any cause for adjustment or complaint.

Having said that, if you forget the looks and kudos, there are much cheaper ways of getting the job done. C+ did a review of headsets a few months back.

John.T

Yes. I have had one on my best bike for 5 years. I have stripped it down once to service it. Just added a little more grease and re-fitted it. It was still perfect. They really are fit and forget.

geoff_ss

Aren't all head sets just about fit and forget? I have little experience of headsets with threadless steerer tubes but I've rarely had any problems with old-fashioned headsets and I was cycling up to 10k miles/year on singles, a tandem and a trike. I manage rather fewer miles these days.

I've never understood why headsets have totally changed in the last 10/15 years. It was one part I never had any problems with and it was easy to adjust handlebar height with quill type stems.

Geoff

Garybee

Geoff_SS wrote:

Aren't all head sets just about fit and forget? I have little experience of headsets with threadless steerer tubes but I've rarely had any problems with old-fashioned headsets and I was cycling up to 10k miles/year on singles, a tandem and a trike. I manage rather fewer miles these days.

I've never understood why headsets have totally changed in the last 10/15 years. It was one part I never had any problems with and it was easy to adjust handlebar height with quill type stems.

Geoff

I've had a couple of cheap headsets die on me fairly quickly but generally i've found that any decent quality headset lasts very well. I'm doing about 1k miles a month at the moment too so the headset on my training bike is getting a fair ammount of use. I wouldn't buy a chris king headset myself. I don't believe that the price is justified.

I like the modern A-headset system, it's easy to fit, stiff and lightweight too. As you say though, the old style threaded headsets allow for easier adjustment of bar height. Once you've set your bike up how you want it how often do you need to do that though?

mercsport

"Dont know whether to get my head set serviced or just go for a Chris King replacement. Are they worth the money and really fit and forget?"

Yes .

Agree with previous comments about the old style headsets .

As for Ahead sets I'd like to steer anyone away from Campagnolo's offerings on that score . In my experience of three Record sets in succession ( ..got to maintain the aesthetic y'see ) they rust and pit terribly if they're not regularly soused in grease throughout the wet times . And I , being a full time idler always managed to forget of course . No , they're grim .
I'm running a Cane Creek on one of my bikes and Chris King on another . They're both fine , but if appearance is a consideration then a Chris King is matchless and unlikely to be surpassed . The Cane Creek is cheaper , but then it is so readily apparent to any untrained eye . The King has such a beautiful finish you know instinctively that here's something that is 'right'.
There's a bike shop a couple of hundred yards away from me that's called ' The Cyclery ' and caters for all the city-suits that weekend as MTB's and has an artfully lit glass cabinet flogging all the Chris King stuff , and I have to say that even at the top whack prices he flogs'em at they're enticing . Because they're so good I expect . No , Cane Creek / Chris King ? An easy chalk / cheese comparison methinks .
Oh yes , I got mine off ebay for half the price from HK . And now I see that dealer in the US too . A steal really !

mrushton

lots of imitators but King headsets are still up there. Buy one and forget about it until it needs attention. Then off you go. Still needs to be set correctly tho' The new Cane creek 110 looks good and it's guaranteed for 110 years hence the name. If you look at the Handmade Bike show pages there are headsets on there at £300+

mercsport

Thanks to mrushton for pointing out the new Cane Creek 110 . I wasn't aware of that one before .
It looks like they've seriously studied a Chris King doesn't it ? Nice . But at a $140 US price I imagine it'll end up at £140 'ish here in the UK when it arrives .

John.T

The main reason headsets give out is riding without mudguards. The bottom bearing needs to be very well sealed to survive for long. The Chris King is. I just use any cheap headset on my mudguarded winter bike with no problems. They still need more servicing though.

Haynes

Popped in the LBS who've done me a good deal - the're gonna supply and fit the CK for 100 notes, so ive gone for that.

This is on my best bike which i try not to take out in the rain but have got caught out a handlefull of times, probably done 7000 dry miles, 200 wet miles maybe.

dombo6

Absolutely yes.
I have one on my mtb after getting through 3 non-King headsets in 4 years and when my road bike Cane Creek S-3 set eventually goes it will be replaced with a King.
They are the best.