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Headsets: Let you tell me about them

stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,616
7,276
Colorado
I finally got a real frame (2008 575 Carbon w/ DHX 5.0 shock), and I need to start ordering parts to build it up. I will need a HS, and I haven't looked at headsets since probably 2004, so I have no idea what's worth anything now.

Obviously there is the standard King, and I can pick up a new one for ~$50.

What else is there that is install and forget, light, and strong? I'm looking to go semi-budget, so the over the top headsets are out (new King for example). Do Cane Creek, FSA, etc have anything worth buying?

For context, my riding style in more DH oriented trail/XC riding. I'm well over 200#, and break stuff... but I've never broker a headset (minus the $20 specials).

Thanks,
-Mark
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
The highend units from both CC and FSA are solid, get 'er done, no flash units.
While not as pretty as the King, they work better.
I recommend the FSA Orbit Extreme.

After seeing a Crank Bros headset fail in an unbelievable manner (on 1st ride), I won't be buying or recommending them.
Their design clearly illustrates that they have excellent design aesthetic but horrible engineering.
 
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MtnbikeMike

MtnbikeMike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2004
2,637
1
The 909
The Cane Creek 110 is all the rage these days. I don't have one personally because my bikes all happen to have special headset needs, but I hear nothing but good things about them.
 
DirtyMike

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
buildyourown said:
The highend units from both CC and FSA are solid, get 'er done, no flash units.
While not as pretty as the King, they work better.
I recommend the FSA Orbit Extreme.

After seeing a Crank Bros headset fail in an unbelievable manner (on 1st ride), I won't be buying or recommending them.
Their design clearly illustrates that they have excellent design aesthetic but horrible engineering.
Click to expand...
Exactly what he said
 
stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,616
7,276
Colorado
I know. I picked up the 575 today, so it should be here in a week. The build will be mostly stolen from my current bike, anything in blue is new:

Fork: Fox Vanilla R 125 *To eventually be upped to Fox 36 Talas
Headset: Cane Creek 110
Stem: Thomson X4 90 x 10* x 31.8
Bar: Easton Monkeylite DH 31.8
Avid Juicy 5 185 F / 160 R
Wheels: Mavic Crossride
Grips: ODI Rogue
Shifters: Sram X9
F. Der: *Whatever fits. Could be LX-XTR depending on what I have
R. Der: Sram X9
Chain: Sram something
Cassette: Sram something
Cranks: Shimano XTR-952 for general riding / Truvativ Hollzfeller w/ e.13 SRS for DH-Duty
Seatpost: Thomson Elite *Possibly Joplin-R
Saddle: Selle Italia Trans Am Flight Ti

I wish I could go for new XT cranks, lighter wheels, new cassette and chain, but this is budget build.

I'm building the remnants of my Look up on a Redline Conquest Frame. Cheap and heavy, but it gets the job done.
 
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stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,616
7,276
Colorado
buildyourown said:
The highend units from both CC and FSA are solid, get 'er done, no flash units.
While not as pretty as the King, they work better.
I recommend the FSA Orbit Extreme.

After seeing a Crank Bros headset fail in an unbelievable manner (on 1st ride), I won't be buying or recommending them.
Their design clearly illustrates that they have excellent design aesthetic but horrible engineering.
Click to expand...
Okay, I'll bite. Please tell me more.
 
stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,616
7,276
Colorado
Yeah, a little overkill. I never killed my King's, so that's kind of my benchmark.
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,212
13,346
Portland, OR
The Joker said:
Yeah, a little overkill. I never killed my King's, so that's kind of my benchmark.
Click to expand...
I'm just too cheap to buy a King. Since I've never paid more than $40 for a headset and have never had a single issue with the Pig DH Pro, I have no reason to switch now.
 
Jim Mac

Jim Mac

MAKE ENDURO GREAT AGAIN
May 21, 2004
6,352
282
the middle east of NY
I've had great luck with FSA (who were sued by Cane Creek for copyright infringement, so essentially the same thing???). Had good luck with King on single crown bikes, so-so on dual crown (some creaking). I do like the wedge system in cane creek/FSA versus the king set overall.
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
Easy to replace the cartridge bearings on a cane creek.

It's a pain to service a King, and the only way to replace the bearings is to send it to king.
 
stoney

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,616
7,276
Colorado
I won't get the King because it is very tall. With a 6" Headtube, a 20mm HS vs 39mm HS is a lot of adjustability removed from the front end.
 
DirtyMike

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
You dont want a King anyways, its been discusses here Many MANY times.... the design is flawed, they come loose, they creak, they are an expensive peice of Head tube jewelry.

There is a reason why we are seing so many more Cane Creeks headsets on xc am and dh bikes. THEY WORK. Its that cool wedge that makes it all work.....Sorry Chris King, but being told that I have to use your version of a headlock with your headset even on a roadie that keeps creaking is BS. Just use something that works like it is supposed to.

The Pig and Pig Pro are two great headsets that are even better because of the price, Little tall, and a little heavy, but they are bullit proof The CC 110 costs a bit more than the pigs, but its exactly what your asking for, its a lower stack, its strong, it is dependable, it stays tight, its pretty bullit proof.
 
TreeSaw

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,670
1,855
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
The Joker said:
Yeah, a little overkill. I never killed my King's, so that's kind of my benchmark.
Click to expand...
The Joker said:
I won't get the King because it is very tall. With a 6" Headtube, a 20mm HS vs 39mm HS is a lot of adjustability removed from the front end.
Click to expand...
Sorry...missed that part. FSA or Cane Creek then. I've never had an issue with a Cane Creek on any of my bikes and they're affordable.
 
narlus

narlus

Eastcoast Softcore
Staff member
Nov 7, 2001
24,658
63
behind the viewfinder
DirtyMike said:
You dont want a King anyways, its been discusses here Many MANY times.... the design is flawed, they come loose, they creak, they are an expensive peice of Head tube jewelry.
Click to expand...
gee, i guess my bikes missed that conversation. i've had kings on bikes for 15 years and they are going strong.
 
OGRipper

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,654
1,129
NORCAL is the hizzle
Kings are great for trail bikes and some light DH. The rubber o-ring gets crushed on my DH bikes. Go with Cane Creek if you're worried about King.

I had never actually broken a headset until I tried a Crank Bros. on a borrowed bike. I mean the whole thing exploded. Maybe lighter riders can get away with them but that ain't me.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,442
20,248
Sleazattle
narlus said:
gee, i guess my bikes missed that conversation. i've had kings on bikes for 15 years and they are going strong.
Click to expand...
There has been a problem with them and looong travel forks. I will never buy another King headset again as mine will probably last forever, and I don't plan on ever needing more than a 5" fork.
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
Everything breaks, but King does have good CS.

Edit -- This was on a XC HT with an 80mm fork.

Wumpus said:
The damage:




I cracked the bottom cup(and top cup???) of my King headset. I took a couple of months before I finally called and sent it in, but after King got it, I had an essentially new headset in less than two weeks.



New top and bottom cups. They also gave me a new bearing cap(corroded from my sweat), a new race and crush ring --FOR FREE. Repacked bearings and new seals.:thumb:
Click to expand...
 
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jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,212
13,346
Portland, OR
On my Bullit I used a Odyssey (I think) BMX headset that had needle bearings because it was a very low stack and the fork I was using had a short steer tube. It held up way better than I thought, but I forget what it was called.
 
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