Bicycle Mechanics - Needle bearing headsets

What are my choices and do you have any particular recommendations. Ideally I'd prefer steel cups.

And please, no "buy a King" comments.

You didn't mention the size. I've used an FSA 1" Orbit UF with good results and it was still running smoothly when I sold the bike so I'd try another one if the opportunity came up again. It's only about 1/3 the cost of a King.

Good point - 11/8 threadless.

What are my choices and do you have any particular recommendations. Ideally I'd prefer steel cups.

And please, no "buy a King" comments.

Just out of curiousity, why don't you want to buy a Chris King?


Tim

I've got an FSA orbit on my MTB. It has been great, no complaints. I've had it for 3 or 4 years.

The Stronglight O Light comes in 1 1/8" and has sealed needle bearings. You can find them for about $70.00 US.

I've got an FSA orbit on my MTB. It has been great, no complaints. I've had it for 3 or 4 years.

I have the same headset on my MTB as well and it's been working flawlessly for a few years now, but I did take a cycling break for a year or so, so it wasn't constant use. :)

Just out of curiousity, why don't you want to buy a Chris King?


Tim

Because I don't like the design and they don't use needle bearings.

Stronglight are well proven and std issue on many touring bikes. Inside the Al cups are replaceable steel bearing surfaces.

Because I don't like the design and they don't use needle bearings.
That's fair. I had a Stronglite roller bearing headset on an old Waterford I'm rebuilding. I don't know if I'll keep it or not.


Tim

Dooley:

Did you ever find the needle bearing headset? I scoured around and can't really find any. Stronglight still makes one but no one seems to carry it. Let me know.


Tim

For MTB, the FSA Pig Pro is just about the defacto standard for hardcore use. For road, I'd look at the Torelli. It's a high quality headset, looks good, and he offers the replacement bearings at a very reasonable price.

Not found one yet, but that Torelli one does look nice.
I'm having doubts about whether needle bearings are best for a bike like mine, it worked awesomely on my BMX but then the steerer tube on that doesn't flex at all.
This is the only steel needle bearing one I've found, but it has zero sealing... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/eggit/solid_headset.jpg

Because I don't like the design and they don't use needle bearings.

Are needle bearings really best? It would appear that ball & cup arrangements offer more lateral support. I've seen some roller bearing setups that use a tapered roller to address this, but I think balls are better for bike headsets.

I know some of the Shimano headsets used to use needle bearings... i want to say the old Dura Ace or Ultegra did... not sure if they still do but its something to check into.

I was just reading something this morning about a headset that uses roller bearings in the lower for strength and balls in the upper for stability. Sounds like a good arrangement but I cannot remember which one it is or where I saw it; that's what I get for hitting the 'net before my first cup of coffee...

I know some of the Shimano headsets used to use needle bearings... i want to say the old Dura Ace or Ultegra did... not sure if they still do but its something to check into.Not that I have seen.

Well, some that I have seen do :D

I know some of the Shimano headsets used to use needle bearings... i want to say the old Dura Ace or Ultegra did... not sure if they still do but its something to check into.

Stronglight & Mavic come to mind. I don't recall Shimano ever using anything but caged balls.

xxcycle in France carries Stronglight headsets. They ship to the US and EU and are affordably priced in both Euro and USD. I've ordered from them before without incident. Harris cyclery carries a more limited selection of Stronglight headsets.

As far as whether needle or balls are better for headsets is concerned, needles don't index, balls do. The other nice feature of Stronglights is that the bearing races are replaceable without removing any press-fit parts.

http://www.xxcycle.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?SCREEN=liste_produits&CAT=36&MARQUEID=31

Not found one yet, but that Torelli one does look nice.
I'm having doubts about whether needle bearings are best for a bike like mine, it worked awesomely on my BMX but then the steerer tube on that doesn't flex at all.
This is the only steel needle bearing one I've found, but it has zero sealing... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/eggit/solid_headset.jpg

What kind of bike is this for?

What kind of bike is this for?

BMX, if you're talking about the link. If not it's for a retro/mtb type thing.

I've gone and bought a King Steelset now, oh well....

BMX.

I've gone and bought a King Steelset now, oh well....

Good for you; they do seem to get the best reviews.

What are my choices and do you have any particular recommendations. Ideally I'd prefer steel cups.

And please, no "buy a King" comments.

I hope you're still keeping tabs on the forum try this


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42336&item=7166807547&rd=1

Interchangable with Stronglight.

Tim

I was just reading something this morning about a headset that uses roller bearings in the lower for strength and balls in the upper for stability. Sounds like a good arrangement but I cannot remember which one it is or where I saw it; that's what I get for hitting the 'net before my first cup of coffee...

Well I know the Ritchey Logic I picked up at the swap meet uses that setup. However I have absolutely NO clue if it's durable or not. For $3 if it only lasts a few months tops I'm fine with that. I saw a lot of reviews talking about the "plastic" but the part I have is aluminum so no clue if I have two mismatched upper/lowers that just happen to work well or not.

Speaking of that, is there any compelling reason to not swap headset upper/lowers?