Bicycle Mechanics - Headset Help.............

Is there really much difference between the highest priced headsets and units that cost less? I understand you get what you pay for, but what are you paying for? Yes, I did a search but it didn't help.

The reason I ask is that I'm thinking of trying to move parts from my current Trek 1200 to a Soma frame and thought I might put on a new headset while I'm at it.

Tonight I will be ordering Zinn's book to help with those things I try to do myself.

Any reccomendations or thoughts would be appreciated, so yes this is a shameless bump.

Is there really much difference between the highest priced headsets and units that cost less? I understand you get what you pay for, but what are you paying for? Yes, I did a search but it didn't help.

The reason I ask is that I'm thinking of trying to move parts from my current Trek 1200 to a Soma frame and thought I might put on a new headset while I'm at it.

Tonight I will be ordering Zinn's book to help with those things I try to do myself.


Does the Soma already have a headset/fork installed? If so, and you want to keep the current fork, your headset choices could be limited (depends on how much steerer tube your fork has). If the fork hasn't yet been cut, then you can use anything you want.

Headsets are like anything else with bearings on a bike. The expensive ones tend to turn a little more smoothly, might be a tad easier to install and adjust, will probably stay in adjustment better, and will probably last longer than the cheapies. If those things are worth it to you, then by all means spend the coin. But assuming you keep your inexpensive (not POS inexpensive) headset well maintained and adjusted, you'll never notice a difference while riding.

Tonight I will be ordering Zinn's book to help with those things I try to do myself.

I don't know how experienced you are with wrenching your bike, so I apologize in advance if I'm telling you something you already know. I recently installed my first headset using a home-made tool (http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/headset.html). I can safely say that this is the one bike-building operation that I will gladly pay my LBS to do for me any time I need it done again. Normally I'm all for doing it yourself with home-made replacements for expensive tools, but in this case a real headset press is essential. The problem is that the bolt diameter needs to be EXACTLY the same as the inner diameter of the bronze bushings or else they will wobble and not press the headset cups in straight. I'm glad I did it when my kids were in bed, because they would have otherwise learned some pretty colorful new vocabulary words :eek:.

Please disregard this entire post if you have your own headset press.

For a nice new bike, have a shop do proper frame and fork prep. Pressing in the headset and installing the crown race will be included in that, it's an afterthought after you get done reaming and facing everything

If your Soma frame has a 1" headtube and you are using a threaded fork, Shimano's Ultegra HP6500 headset is the bargain of a lifetime. It uses sealed cartridge bearings and is very smooth and last nearly forever. I got over 30,000 miles on one and replaced it only because I went to a threadless fork on the bike. They should still be available for less than $50, maybe way less.