Mountain Biking - Headset Suggestions

I just bought a slightly used 06 Santa Cruz Heckler frame(wanted and 07, but too much $$$ for me). I will be transferring most of my components from my Cannondale to it. However, the headsets won't swap( 1 1/2"). So, I'm looking for a good, reliable headset that won't break the bank, so, unfortunately, there goes Chris King($$ factor only, I know they are great headsets). What headsets do you use, and suggest?

However, the headsets won't swap( 1 1/2"). So, I'm looking for a good, reliable headset that won't break the bank, so, unfortunately, there goes Chris King($$ factor only, I know they are great headsets). What headsets do you use, and suggest?

Try this. (http://www.interlocracing.com/headset.html) About half the price of a King. Very nicely sealed and constructed. Been beating on one for a while now; no issues. Even swapped it into a new frame nice and smoothly.

Oh, and your Heckler has a 1-1/8" headset, not a 1 1/2".

thank you, yes, I meant to say the C'dale is 1 1/2". That's a nice looking headset. Still, @ $79, I can get a King headset for $100, and for that difference, I'd rather have a King then. Any other suggestions?

I've seen Cane Creek S8's for about $30 +shipping, anyone using these?

If you're riding aggressively I'd look at a heavy duty deep cup headset like the FSA Pig DH Pro... its not too expensive and its really, really beefy and durable.

I've seen Cane Creek S8's for about $30 +shipping, anyone using these?

I just installed a S2. Seems well built and has sealed cartridge bearings (like I care). It works very well; everytime I turn the handlebars the front wheel turns too.

It's on sale now at Nashbbar for under $15- I think I might pick up another if I can find a valid free shipping code.

If you're riding aggressively I'd look at a heavy duty deep cup headset like the FSA Pig DH Pro... its not too expensive and its really, really beefy and durable.
+1
On par with Chris King.:D

I just found a Chris King for $80 new/take off. I guess I AM going to break the bank, oh well:) Thanks 4 d advice all

However, the headsets won't swap( 1 1/2"). So, I'm looking for a good, reliable headset that won't break the bank, so, unfortunately, there goes Chris King($$ factor only, I know they are great headsets). What headsets do you use, and suggest?
.
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1489/arrowtoreplywquoteyf1.jpg

Have you checked out Hope? As nice as CK but alittle cheaper and comes in nice colors if you are looking to add some bling... but personally? I would spring the money for CK.

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1489/arrowtoreplywquoteyf1.jpg

:rolleyes:

Have you checked out Hope? As nice as CK but alittle cheaper and comes in nice colors if you are looking to add some bling... but personally? I would spring the money for CK.

Having recently bought a hope headset, I can say outright that the Hope is $20 more than a King.

Have you checked out Hope? As nice as CK but alittle cheaper and comes in nice colors if you are looking to add some bling... but personally? I would spring the money for CK.


Yes, Hope was one of the first (blingy) headsets I was looking at...they are nice looking and they would match my brakes well(mono mini), plus it would have been different:) If I didn't find an semi affordable CK, it prolly would've been my next pick. The Cane Creek S8 I mentioned earlier in the thread seems to have expired:( at "blueskycycling", otherwise I would have bought that:) Oh well, I will just have to settle for a Chris King:D

If you're riding aggressively I'd look at a heavy duty deep cup headset like the FSA Pig DH Pro... its not too expensive and its really, really beefy and durable.

Deep cups are not generally necessary especially on a Heckler. Honestly, how often do you see an ovalized headtube?

Deep cups are not generally necessary especially on a Heckler. Honestly, how often do you see an ovalized headtube?


I suspect you know something about these santa cruzs' working in a shop, but my headtube doesn't look"ovalized"...explain
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Heckler/headtube.jpg

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1489/arrowtoreplywquoteyf1.jpg

i started using quick reply, then decided i did want to quote part of his post... so i just scrolled down and used a cut/paste method...

do you naturally behave this anally, or do you have to work on it?

i mean, why not unwind your panties once in a while? no one will think you any less a man. really.

I suspect you know something about these santa cruzs' working in a shop, but my headtube doesn't look"ovalized"...explain


he means that a deep cup is used when you need deeper insertion cups for a bike that will be particularly abused/jumped/dropped hard. or they can be used to make a frame with a slight ovalization useable again.

ovalized headtubes normally come about from improper installation, or doing too abusive things to a frame. (picture landing badly on the front end off some drop/jump stuff) or sometimes the two in tandem.

i started using quick reply, then decided i did want to quote part of his post... so i just scrolled down and used a cut/paste method...

So you mean to say you were too lazy to have deleted the part that you didn't want to quote? The truth of the matter is it's actually easier to use the reply w/ quote and delete than to copy/paste.

So you mean to say you were too lazy to have deleted the part that you didn't want to quote? The truth of the matter is it's actually easier to use the reply w/ quote and delete than to copy/paste.

and you're actually going to waste your time pointing this out and then arguing about it... nice.

But anyway, I'd go for the CK just because I've had one (yes, just one) for 6 years on 4 bikes and it feels better than my cane creek C2 on my road bike that's 1 season old (granted it has 10k+ miles on it but so does the CK after this many years, and on mountain bikes!). They are a great piece of equipment.

Anyone ever tried a Fire Eye Iris-X headset?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/12141.jpg

and you're actually going to waste your time pointing this out and then arguing about it... nice.

Why not? You did.

ahh, gotcha thanks, thought it may have been new cycling fad that I missed:)

So you mean to say you were too lazy to have deleted the part that you didn't want to quote? The truth of the matter is it's actually easier to use the reply w/ quote and delete than to copy/paste.

Ah. I see. Using the "harder" option means I'm lazy? Wow. That's logic at work!

Someone didn't post the way you like or think it ought to have beendone, and you get all worked up (seemingly) about it. Jesus man, you really need to get a life if you nitpick this sort of thing on a freakin' message board.

How nice of you to contribute something to the OP original question, too! :rolleyes:

Back to headsets: me likey sealed bearings. Granted, I've yet to have an issue with a cup and ball headset or any sealed bearing units either. The sealed just means less overhaul time in the long run, not that it takes that much anyhow. I've got one Cane Creek Solos, one of the aforementioned IRD units, and two King no-threadsets in the fleet. I can't discern a damn bit of difference betweent hem when riding.

One of the Kings is 6 years old, and has been on multiple frames without any issues. The IRD is on the squish bike, which sees more drop/jump abuse than the King, but not by much; it's two years and going strong. The other two are on road bikes.

Pick how much you are willing to spend. If you can get a King in that range, go for it. If not, my preferences run to Cane Creek. These days though, it's hard to go wrong with any decent sealed until once above a certain price point. If you're a big hucker, or a really big guy, get the Pig stuff, or other companies equivelants. If you're not, those are pretty burly/overkill headsets.

Ah. I see. Using the "harder" option means I'm lazy? Wow. That's logic at work!

Someone didn't post the way you like or think it ought to have beendone, and you get all worked up (seemingly) about it. Jesus man, you really need to get a life if you nitpick this sort of thing on a freakin' message board.

How nice of you to contribute something to the OP original question, too! :rolleyes:

Back to headsets: me likey sealed bearings. Granted, I've yet to have an issue with a cup and ball headset or any sealed bearing units either. The sealed just means less overhaul time in the long run, not that it takes that much anyhow. I've got one Cane Creek Solos, one of the aforementioned IRD units, and two King no-threadsets in the fleet. I can't discern a damn bit of difference betweent hem when riding.

One of the Kings is 6 years old, and has been on multiple frames without any issues. The IRD is on the squish bike, which sees more drop/jump abuse than the King, but not by much; it's two years and going strong. The other two are on road bikes.

Pick how much you are willing to spend. If you can get a King in that range, go for it. If not, my preferences run to Cane Creek. These days though, it's hard to go wrong with any decent sealed until once above a certain price point. If you're a big hucker, or a really big guy, get the Pig stuff, or other companies equivelants. If you're not, those are pretty burly/overkill headsets.

thanks 4 the comments, I was refusing to pay $130 for the CK when I can get a "near high quality" headset for near half that much (AKA CraneCreek, Ritchey ETC.). I was looking at the SOLOS also, and noticed their 10 year warranty(just like a CK), but I found them for about $80-100. $80 was my limit on a headset, and I found a nice new/takeoff black CK for $80, so I'm happy with it. Plus, it'll match the bling in my grill! (J/K):D

I just installed a S2. Seems well built and has sealed cartridge bearings (like I care). It works very well; everytime I turn the handlebars the front wheel turns too.

It's on sale now at Nashbbar for under $15- I think I might pick up another if I can find a valid free shipping code.

The industry thrives on discriminating consumers like you. ;)

I run a raceface dues and it's working great, has sealed bearings which have a 5 year warranty and the rest of the headset has a lifetime warranty. Cost was about $50.

I looked at hope since I have several hope products but they cost $100, king was $120 so I opted for the raceface. If I were to buy a top dolla one, it would be Hope for sure.

everytime I turn the handlebars the front wheel turns too.
How are we supposed to justify, hemoraging cash on over priced, top of the line, performance parts for our toys. If you keep simplifying things to this extreme?;)

Ah. I see. Using the "harder" option means I'm lazy? Wow. That's logic at work!


You did what you thought would be easier - which in fact makes you not only incorrect, but lazy. Using the reply w/ quote also makes it easier to discern who you're quoting without having to backtrack through the thread (although not in this thread). The thing that kills me is that you took the time to italicize his comment to boot. :lol: As for contributing to the thread, what good would that have done? He had already decided on a King headset (which would have been my suggestion) prior to me entering the thread.

Sweeet! Showdown between Raiyn and scrub! Okay folks, let's see how they match up:

scrublover has

1) mad trail cred
2) interesting photos and captions
3) a sense of humor

Raiyn has

1) silly gifs
2) pedantic prattle
3) blue text

Gastro has:
Nothing better to do
Nothing to add to the conversation
Caustic urine (or so I've read)

Sweeet! Showdown between Raiyn and scrub!

Showdown? Hardly. I don't feel the need to play at internet dick swinging the way he apparantly does.

Oh no! Someone replied "wrongly" I'd better call them out for it... Throwdown! Well I for one am properly chastised. :rolleyes:

I'm not sure. Is it anal or pedantic that describes his behaviour better sometimes?

Well I for one am properly chastised. :rolleyes:
<sarcasm>Damn straight!</sarcasm> :lol: :beer:

I think sometimes Raiyn's E-dick get's blown up like an balloon animal because lots of people like him for calling out noobs or whatever. But sometimes he needs to pick his battles and not waste his time, who gives a flying monkey **** if you quoted someone or not.

But sometimes he needs to pick his battles and not waste his time, who gives a flying monkey **** if you quoted someone or not.
Because some people like to know who said what (and again I realize his is the second post :rolleyes:). It's the principle of the thing is all.

Because some people like to know who said what (and again I realize his is the second post ). It's the principle of the thing is all.

Hi Raiyn. I didn't see you there. :o

Gastro has:
Nothing better to do
Nothing to add to the conversation
Caustic urine (or so I've read)




1) Not true - I have lots of better things to do, I was just unable to do them at the time

2) Not true - I could write a scathing diatribe on how Chris King sucks, but alas, I have better things to do*

3) Yup, 100 proof :)


*see sig link for headset recommendation

Because some people like to know who said what (and again I realize his is the second post ). It's the principle of the thing is all.

Hi Raiyn. I didn't see you there. :o
http://img259.echo.cx/img259/6213/pimpslap4za.gif

2) Not true - I could write a scathing diatribe on how Chris King sucks, but alas, I have better things to do*

Spurious comments do not a diatribe make

Raiyn has

1) silly gifs
2) pedantic prattle
3) blue text
Darn! . . . and he was doing so well fresh out of anger management class too! I was waiting for the other shoe to drop after he announced a "...kinder, gentler Raiyn."

Still, it's good harmless fun as long as nobody takes it too seriously and gets sucked into the vortex.

Spurious comments do not a diatribe make

Indeed they do not. But I can come up with three legitimite gripes about the company right off the top of my head - add some colorful filler, and that would at least qualify me for "heavy rant" status. With a little more research and a couple emails, there's no reason I couldn't develop a passable diatribe.

But I'm not going to bother with all that. Suffice it to say that King headsets are perfectly acceptable for 95 percent of the people on this forum.

Suffice it to say that King headsets are perfectly acceptable for 95 percent of the people on this forum.


LOL!

Suffice it to say that King headsets are perfectly acceptable for 95 percent of the people on this forum.
:crash::crash::crash::crash::crash::crash:

LOL!
It would be funnier if you knew about the inside joke.

It would be funnier if you knew about the inside joke.

Ahhhh, I do Mr. Mechanical-Disc-Brakes (aka BB7)...hence the LOL...

Darn, and I just wanted some headset suggestions for my build up, but this is EVEN better, and I didn't have to pay nobody:lol: