Mountain Biking - Why are Chris King parts so expensive?

Like 5 times the price of XTR? I just cant get it no matter how much i read up on them, yes they're "precision machined parts" and they're lightweight, and look cool, but why is it so popular?

Made in the U.S. by machinists earning a real living wage is part of it:

http://www.chrisking.com/asiamfg/index.html

The same reason people are gold plating their teeth with grills. *BLING BLING*
No other reason imo.

my Trek has a CK headset and I like it quite a bit. Granted it was on the bike when I bought it, so I didn't drop $200 for a NoThreadset.

The same reason people are gold plating their teeth with grills. *BLING BLING*
No other reason imo.

It'd be a mistake to think that people in the bike industry are making big money. Mountain biking is still a sport in its infancy, fueled by enthusiasts and people with a passion for the sport, and many smaller grassroots companies survive on thin margins.

It'd be a mistake to think that people in the bike industry are making big money. Mountain biking is still a sport in its infancy, fueled by enthusiasts and people with a passion for the sport, and many smaller grassroots companies survive on thin margins.

It is all relative. I agree no one is making money on the scale of a Nike, Body Armour etc, but some are making a good living. Many are making decent money and they work on/with stuff they LOVE. They would not trade that for the world.

I do disagree with the thought that MTB is in its infancy. I cannot see it getting that much larger to be honest. Sports like running, cycling, swimming, climbing, hiking, kayaking, etc are niche sports. They gain about as many people as they loose each year. I guess the one exception is that if cycling picks up do to gas prices. Even then I am not sure how many would pick up MTB as well.

I mean nothing negative by this, just that I do not see MTB any more popular in 5 years or 30.

Made in the U.S. by machinists earning a real living wage is part of it:

http://www.chrisking.com/asiamfg/index.html

Living wage is a relative term. There are many who work in factories over seas that are making much more than other native jobs.

And I do not think people are paying $200 for a headset or whatever in order to make a stand for American jobs and wages. It is about the bling. Bling that happens to be very very well made.

the headset costing $130 is reasonable as it will last your lifetime. the hubs costing $250 or $300 would be more reasonable than $500.

And I do not think people are paying $200 for a headset or whatever in order to make a stand for American jobs and wages. It is about the bling. Bling that happens to be very very well made.I don't think so either; but the OP's first question was about why they cost so much and I think country of manufacture is one of the major contributing factors.

I personally will probably never own a King headset; but I can still appreciate their corporate philosophy from afar.

Sorry, I misread your tone. That is my fault. You just answered a question.

their wheelsets aren't too bad pricwise, $600 or $700 for that quality is a good deal. the hubs alon are a bad deal though. i'd have a pair of their wheels if i could afford them. the headset too.

I have one on a bike I bought. It works no better nor worse than any other modern aheadset that I've owned. Nor is it any lighter than $20 ones. That's what gets me. Usually $$$ gets you something, but in this case I've so far yet to see it. A Cane Creek is a damn nice headset. Then again, to me, headsets are like fan belts. I wouldn't go out of my way for a name brand one. They're all the same. Spend an extra $100 on a wheelset where you'll tell the difference.

It'd be a mistake to think that people in the bike industry are making big money. Mountain biking is still a sport in its infancy, fueled by enthusiasts and people with a passion for the sport, and many smaller grassroots companies survive on thin margins.

I have a funny feeling that two machined aluminum cups and a pair of bearings can be made for cheaper than ~$140 min.
Cost of aluminum-Nill
Cost of bearings-Nill
Cost of machining-Miniscule
CK headset-literally priceless

I agree with the guy above Cane Creek all the way. All the bling and technology you need in a headset and at a fraction of the price.

I actually like my FSA Pig DH Pro headset more than I liked my Kings.

Just a thought, maybe the King stuff isn't expensive... maybe it is just that you are poor or cheap?

Just a thought, maybe the King stuff isn't expensive... maybe it is just that you are poor or cheap?

$250 for a 2 headset cups? sorry life is bigger than 17.5" of Al7000, stop trying to cause trouble.

Lacrosse is for p*ssies.

I actually like my FSA Pig DH Pro headset more than I liked my Kings.

Thats really all my point is, you can only squeeze so much functionality into a part like a headset, and the functionality of a CK is no different from any FSA or other machined Al headset.

Lacrosse is for p*ssies.

:lol:

Lacrosse is for p*ssies.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd223/justinm231/oops2.jpg

"Football" is a man's sport.

Thats really all my point is, you can only squeeze so much functionality into a part like a headset, and the functionality of a CK is no different from any FSA or other machined Al headset.

Not to mention that the lack of a compression ring in a King Headset isn't the best of options if you have a long travel fork on your bike.

Not really. They appear to be enjoying it too much.

I have a funny feeling that two machined aluminum cups and a pair of bearings can be made for cheaper than ~$140 min.
Cost of aluminum-Nill
Cost of bearings-Nill
Cost of machining-Miniscule
CK headset-literally priceless

I agree with the guy above Cane Creek all the way. All the bling and technology you need in a headset and at a fraction of the price.

I'm not trying to promote CK products, nor do I use them myself. I think that there are cheaper, better, alternatives. That said, the above is simply ridiculous, not to mention narrow minded. Go back and read post #2.

There is no doubt in my mind that no one is making big money from headsets. King's are manufactured in the USA, meaning a higher overhead for labor and administration. It's absolutely reasonable to say that King's price is inproportionate to the performance and functionality offered. However, it is ludicrous to suggest that they are somehow making lots of money and somehow gouging the customer based on their reputation.

Not really. They appear to be enjoying it too much.

Yes, the source caption stated that this was a half hour before the game started.

I'm not trying to promote CK products, nor do I use them myself. I think that there are cheaper, better, alternatives. That said, the above is simply ridiculous, not to mention narrow minded. Go back and read post #2.

If it was within in my means i would have a CK headset but they charge that much because they can, not because that is the cost of production. Same deal with anything else, they charge whatever the supply-demand will support. The demand for their parts is very high currently, so whether or not anyone thinks that some CK executive is rolling in big bucks dishonestly, its just good business for them.

And i agree completely with the majority of posts, hardly anyone is rolling in big bucks in the biking industry, its a passion. But eventually the biking community will grow (certainly road biking, and we MTBers always draft in the roadies sooner or later). I believe the main thing is to get the youth involved. The only way to get the youth involved is to make good MTB's affordable. So in a sense i really hope that CK does put back into the biking community more than Bling-ish parts.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd223/justinm231/oops2.jpg

"Football" is a man's sport.

Hurling rules all. Lacrosse is a second class citizen compared to the mighty hurling.

CK also has invested large sums of money into greening up their plant. Look at Patagonias prices, same thing.

$250 for a 2 headset cups?

You should shop around. A 1 1/8" Nothreadset can be bought for less than half that.


But the real reason King products are priced the way they are -- because people are willing to pay for quality and service.

Call Cane Creek and ask them for either a headset that has .008" oversized cup skirts to fit a well used, but beloved older frame, or a spare part for a product that has been out of production for several years. You'll probably get silence or laughter. King will cover you in both situations, even if they have to manufacture custom parts.

they charge that much because they can, not because that is the cost of production.

That's not the whole story. Their costs are higher because of local manufacturing plus the long warranties. It's just not a 1:1 relationship to their final prices.

My old-school riding buddies said CK used to be the best by far. Now, the others have caught up largely, so the premium isn't quite so justified as it used to be... but they still are the ones everyone else is measured against.

Dude lacrosse is the world's ultimate sport, its only downside is that you have to start young to have any skill, it almost takes natural born skill, its wayyyyyy faster than baseball, there isnt a second that you are on the field that you are not running and concentrating on at least 3 different things at the same time.

And you have officially made me hijack my own thread >:O

That's not the whole story. Their costs are higher because of local manufacturing plus the long warranties. It's just not a 1:1 relationship to their final prices.

My old-school riding buddies said CK used to be the best by far. Now, the others have caught up largely, so the premium isn't quite so justified as it used to be... but they still are the ones everyone else is measured against.

Yes, im sure its more complex than just that, but i think its quite obvious that if they had any serious competition they would definetly be capable of dropping their prices without having to do something like lay off employees.

Yes, im sure its more complex than just that, but i think its quite obvious that if they had any serious competition they would definetly be capable of dropping their prices without having to do something like lay off employees.

Wow, you're incredibly naive.

? um que....

? um que....

I don't think you quite understand that most of the products you use everyday are so affordable only because of outsourcing.

http://www.arielbravy.com/photoblog/images/20060924185206_rugby.jpg

Don't kid yourselves. The only reason for "football" and lacrosse is the lack of testes to play the only sport worth playing.

Rugby.

As far as the CK issue... meh...

I don't think you quite understand that most of the products you use everyday are so affordable only because of outsourcing.

I understand completely but thats not what i am referring to, outsourcing really only helps with labor expenses by contracting someone in a country with cheaper labor or already posseses the neccesary machinery (such as china which has both), but this is simple supply and demand. No other company would be able to efficiently market something similar in price to CK products if their were not a large customer base.

I agree with whoever said that the wheels aren't a bad deal for that kind of quality. I'd rather get them than some of the really expensive mavic wheelsets for the same price any day.And CK headsets can be had for about 120 bucks. Expensive for a headset, yes, but honsetly look at some of the builds you see on these forums. Not uncommon for many to exceed 5 grand in total cost, especially when doing it from teh frame up. So 120 for a single bike part becomes rather miniscule when you're building up a top of the line machine. Why not get one, and feel good about supporting a company with good labor and environmental practices?

Note: I'm too poor to use CK, but I would really like a set of CK wheels someday.

Don't kid yourselves. The only reason for "football" and lacrosse is the lack of testes to play the only sport worth playing.

Rugby.

As far as the CK issue... meh...

Bah... we see rugby players while we play lacrosse and laugh at how slow they are compared to our guys and also the only reason rugby is more popular is because it appears that they are wearing less equipment, but we hardly wear any pads to speak of when we play. Plus we get to beat each other with steel poles.

I agree with whoever said that the wheels aren't a bad deal for that kind of quality. I'd rather get them than some of the really expensive mavic wheelsets for the same price any day.And CK headsets can be had for about 120 bucks. Expensive for a headset, yes, but honsetly look at some of the builds you see on these forums. Not uncommon for many to exceed 5 grand in total cost, especially when doing it from teh frame up. So 120 for a single bike part becomes rather miniscule when you're building up a top of the line machine. Why not get one, and feel good about supporting a company with good labor and environmental practices?

Note: I'm too poor to use CK, but I would really like a set of CK wheels someday.

Im with ya on wheelset but my main burn up is the hubs, and somewhat still the headset.

I understand completely but thats not what i am referring to, outsourcing really only helps with labor expenses by contracting someone in a country with cheaper labor or already posseses the neccesary machinery (such as china which has both), but this is simple supply and demand. No other company would be able to efficiently market something similar in price to CK products if their were not a large customer base.

I think what you're getting at is the "hype" about CK. And you're right, CK does have an extremely positive reputation. But it's a reputation that they created with the quality of their products. Now, years after they've established their reputation, the margins are closer, and many people are choosing alternatives from FSA, cane creek, etc. Why wouldn't they cut costs if they could? I do believe that the main thing that is maintaining the high price of CK headsets is the labor costs...

so, blame the unions.

I think what you're getting at is the "hype" about CK. And you're right, CK does have an extremely positive reputation. But it's a reputation that they created with the quality of their products. Now, years after they've established their reputation, the margins are closer, and many people are choosing alternatives from FSA, cane creek, etc. Why wouldn't they cut costs if they could? I do believe that the main thing that is maintaining the high price of CK headsets is the labor costs...

so, blame the unions.

Thats basically what i meant earlier, they can charge that much so im fine with that, and hope they continue to be capable of charging that much.

so, blame the unions.

No, blame the high standard of living, clean environment and legal protections we enjoy in the U.S.

There's a big difference between 'cost' and 'value'. Many things are only cheap because the real costs are amortized on to lots of other places that are conveniently forgotten by the people making money at the time.

Race Face headset comes with a lifetime warranty and you can get them for $50. It's all about the bling I think.

Like 5 times the price of XTR? I just cant get it no matter how much i read up on them, yes they're "precision machined parts" and they're lightweight, and look cool, but why is it so popular?

maybe your brother can make some cheaper hubs in machine shop

mx

maybe your brother can make some cheaper hubs in machine shop

mx

you pretty much could, it would take a while putting the specs into the program but it is definetly possible, it depends on how much he is willing to do, since a lot of people at the machine shop know him and it would be weird to spend like 3 days machining something that is completely non educationally related. Seriously speaking though he has every right to use that machine for whatever he wants with the tuition he is paying per semester (he could have bought one of those machines himself by now:twitchy:)

you pretty much could, it would take a while putting the specs into the program but it is definetly possible, it depends on how much he is willing to do, since a lot of people at the machine shop know him and it would be weird to spend like 3 days machining something that is completely non educationally related. Seriously speaking though he has every right to use that machine for whatever he wants with the tuition he is paying per semester (he could have bought one of those machines himself by now:twitchy:)

i think it would be pretty damn educational. let me know, i'll buy one. but only if he is environmentally conscious and uses "green" materials wherever possible.

mx

i think it would be pretty damn educational. let me know, i'll buy one. but only if he is environmentally conscious and uses "green" materials wherever possible.

mx

Il be sure to give those hubs a shiny coating of lead and arsenic and run down a deer with my hummer on the way to the shop.

Il be sure to coat those hubs in lead and arsenic and run down a deer with my hummer on the way to the shop.

:eek:

:beer:

mx

Every part Chris King makes is constructed entirely in house, that's a true testament to it's quality.

There may be better values out there, but King's quality is second to none IMO.

There are no better hubs in my opinion, the headsets you can have, they are pricey and there are other options, but I wouldn't ride any other hub given the choice, they are very fast to engage and in three years have had no issues, worth every penny.