[Ciaran]

It would depend on how good a machinist AND engineer your friend is. I would love more rear hub options for my DH9 though. She requires a 15mm through axel hub. I think it's either Edco, or Hadley. (I have the Edco).

But overall, yeah, I would be interisted in something like that.

 

[OGRipper]

I hear ya, and I agree some of it's a little odd.

With the control that comes from doing everything in-house, you'd think King would be able to adapt quickly to changing standards, so for example they could have been selling ISIS bb's all this time. I'd also like a King version of the newer external bearing systems, but will I ever be able to buy one? I know new tooling in expensive but...I dunno...

I DO know that King and his crew set me up with some awesome pancakes and about a gallon of coffee this year at the Downieville Classic. That is effective customer relations. I'll be loyal for life.

 

[buildyourown]

The story I heard about the BB is: They worked on one for years and decided they couldn't make one within the current constraints of a standard BB shell to live up to the CK name. (ie 10yr warranty) So until the industry adopts a new standard, no CK BB.

 

[Kornphlake]

in other words they can't make bearings that are significantly better than anybody else's for the application of a bottom bracket within the constraints of the current standard.

 

[Incubus]

Many people use an arguement similar to "my brand X headset cost $40 and lasts 5 years. I could buy 2 and be $20 ahead after 10 years" King's warrantee becomes the yardstick for how long it'll last and the 10 years becomes the denominator used to find out how many other headsets can be purchased.

What isn't taken into consideration is that it's likely the King headset will last longer than 10 years.

 

[buildyourown]

in other words they can't make bearings that are significantly better than anybody else's for the application of a bottom bracket within the constraints of the current standard.

Pretty much, yeah. That is nothing new though. Hence the newer outboard bearing BB from RF, Shimano, FSA. We just need new BB shells.

 

[Kornphlake]

It's just my personal soap box really. I just got too much bombardment on MTBR a few years back...

"Which helmet has better ventilation X or Y"
"By a Chris King and forget about it"
"Yeah"
"Agreed"
"NM"
"Thomson seatposts are awesome"
"Yeah mine has been going for 2 years"
"that's as long as my CK headset"
"will they ever make a BB"
"Uh, I asked about helmets!!!"
"I told you get a CK"
"NM"

 

[azonicbruce]

Pretty much, yeah. That is nothing new though. Hence the newer outboard bearing BB from RF, Shimano, FSA. We just need new BB shells.

I can just see it now... Endless threads of Oversize BB standard vs. the current BB standard

 

[Kornphlake]

Nah, FSA tried to introduce the overdrive standard and it only got a couple of threads started. Endless threads on the other hand have been popular from time to time, anybody know what happened to Sideways?

 

[250ox]

Can he make one for the Cannon dale hubs that come on the chase ?

 

[Zark]

One of the justifications for King doing things in-house is his responsible environmental philosophy. There was an article in Bike mag a little while back showing how King's company has taken a number of steps to reduce hazardous waste and other harmful byproducts generated in the manufacturing processes. The decision to do a lot of it in-house is based on the fact that most of the companies that sell components off the shelf are much less environmentally responsible. That article was a real eye opener for me.

The fact that not one person mentioned it yet shows they are not doing it for purposes of marketing. They don't brag about it but there's no question it increases the cost of the products. And it also justifies having all the control that comes with doing things in-house.

But yeah they definitely should listen and make 12mm rear hubs with different spacing options.

Very true. Chris King has a serious sense of ethics in his business practices. His efforts to reduce enviromental hazards is commendable. He is recycling the fluids of the anodizing process (VERY nasty stuff!)

His efforts in trail advocacy are also truly commendable. King's contributions to the trails in Santa Barbara county alone have bought my undying loyalty. I'd probably have one or more trails lossed to closures if it weren't for his (and many SB MTB'ers) efforts.

While you can argue about the dollars saved by going with another product, you can't argue that King is the MAN and his products/business practices are commendable.

As for the BB, he spent years developing a BB with adjustable chainline and all the goodies, but then square taper fell out of popularity and bearing life issue emerged from ISIS. I think he is waiting for things to settle on a standard of some kind.