Bicycle Mechanics - reccomendations for a 1 1/8" sealed threadless headset?

i am looking for a sturdy, reliable, but reasonably priced (not cheeeep, but reasonable) 1 1/8" sealed threadless headset. somethiong that'll last me a good long while, but doesn't have to be cheap. something my lbs can get for me, despite their ineptitude.

tia,
-rob

Two Words:

Chris King

Chris Kings are obviously the best out there but at $120 they aren't really inexpensive. A Cane Creek at around the $50 range should last you a good while.

-Ryan

Chris Kings go for under 100 on e bay all the time...they are the best, no question. You will never have to buy another headset.

my .02

I agree with BikerRyan on this one. Although Chris Kings are generally thought of as the best there is, I've used Cane Creek headsets without problems for years... and they come in at about half the price.

thanks for your input. $120 is a bit steep, but i'll check ebay out for a deeeel. thing is, i prolly will buy it thru the shop, as i'll prolly want them to install it(i dont have a headset press, and i dont wanna drop that much coin on a tool i wont use a lot.) i'd feel pretty uncool rolling into the lbs, all "hey, i ebay'd this, but i figgered you bastards would put it on!" in the old days, it woulda been fine, but my lbs no longer employs any of my drinkin' buddies. i do still get di$counts, though. =P

-rob

go with a fsa pig or pig dh.Definelty priced right and strong! Maybe be a bit heavy but its defineltly worth it for the price.

Chris King is the absolute best there is plus they are by far one of the "greenest" bike part makers on the planet.

CK headsets are definately the benchmark... However, if you want to look for a headset that can perform really well in wet muddy conditions, you may also want to consider the Race Face Thermo SP or Real Seal headsets. I have a CK on my roadbike but I have a Thermo SP on my MTB.

I use fsa pig headsets without any problems. They are steel so are heavy but last a long time and are cheap.

ritchey logic $20 installed. thin stack too =] while kings are the "best" i have yet to find a real need to replace a headset, although i may be knocking on wood.

Everyone has been telling everyone else that Kings are the best.....this may have been true 10-15 years ago when they were put alongside caged-ball campy or Shimano headsets, but things have moved on since then. There are loads of good headsets out there, Cane Creek, FSA, Race Face, etc. I can recommend from first hand experience the Cane Creek S6, the FSA xtreme II. Both are still running after years of use. For something a bit different that's as good as it gets, get a Shimano XTR headset, fit an aftermarket threadless converter cap, and you've got a headset that'll outlive the bike.

Reasonably priced is so different depending on who you ask. A specific price range would get you more precise responses.
For me, my $30 Cane Creek S2 is solid, easy to setup, and takes a beating on and off road on my Cyclo-Cross bike.

For something a bit different that's as good as it gets, get a Shimano XTR headset, fit an aftermarket threadless converter cap, and you've got a headset that'll outlive the bike.

I've converted two XT headsets and used them for around 4 years, and they work wonderfully.

I don't know of any other company that combines Chris King's high tolerance machining with sustainable manufacturing processes as well as they can. http://www.chrisking.com/pucks/index.html

Plus how many bike parts are actually still made in the U.S. anymore?

The new Bicycling magazine (March) has a comparison of road headsets. Of course Chris King is the bench mark but they list two others as being excellent values. I think they were American Classic and Ritchy, don't remember witch models. I tired to find the same info at their website but had no luck. I also remember that they rated one of Stronglight's headsets highly in the past.

Like all headsets and many other parts on the bike, it all depends on your maintenance. Cane Creek Headset, good quality, but only last me two years at the most. Why? Because I fit it and forget it, Never strip down the fork to really clean, Bearings go rusty on me, cos I don't worry about them or check the seal is still good. But for two years they are perfect. Can't grumble at the price.

You say your LBS is innept. CK and other high precision headsets need a certain level of eptness to install correctly.