Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Head set primer

So I was thinking that Chris King is the way to go. But the other day I saw a nice FSA headset on a Fuji track bike.. and it got me to thinking...

Thinking that I don't know crap about headsets. So, what is there to know, what's good, what's a waste of money and what will make sure that Skitbraviking never takes a fancy to me like he has with 165?

Cost: an object, but not a hurdle.

I got a nice new FSA headset recently for my ride. Cost about $50, all black, sturdy. While the FSA will last for quite a while, if you're into gtting the very best the first time round and making that last forever, go for the Chris King.

[QUOTE=William Karsten] and what will make sure that Skitbraviking never takes a fancy to me like he has with 165?

QUOTE]


I have an FSA and have found it great.

But WTF is the above statement regarding?... If you're projecting your homoerotecism on my again, please point it in another direction. If not, then WTF?

wow - someone hit the nerve. I think WK was simply stating that he likes you, in an underhanded manner.
FOR THE RECORD - Skitbra had the DeBernardi frame first. Yup, I was gonna get a Soma, but went with what Marcus had. I would rather purchase from YoJimbo's than anywhere else.

As far as headsets go:
Chris King - the cockroach of headsets. Not even a nuke can take 'em out. In theory...
FSA - running one too. Cost effective and then some.

i really like my campagnolo record headset. it's butter smooth and doesn't cost nearly as much as a chris king. i think i got mine (1.125" threadless) retail for 72 smackers at colorado cyclist. of course, it's not sealed... is the fsa you are considering sealed? is that an issue?

That frame deserves a King. You will seriously have that headset over 10 years, so amortize the cost in your mind. That said, if you are reluctant to pay that much for a headset (I was the first time I bought one), one of the mid to high level Cane Creek units will do a fine job for a slightly better price.

The King is liable to outlast the bike.

$10 Tange, baby... Go cheap!

Well, that's my theory. Of course my headset also sticks in the straight-ahead position, at least on the workstand. :)

Gotta disagree on the Cane Creek stuff. I firmly believe they come from the factory ovalized. FSA's are great as are the King's. Again, the King will be a lifer.

Thinking that I don't know crap about headsets.

I feel the same way... especially because the headset that came with my bike (1980 Trek) is completely smooth. What else is a headset good for besides making the turning motion smooth? <--rhetorical question

Which makes a Chris King/Campy Record/FSA headset just seem like a waste of money. I mean, my roommate's headset on his 1960s Schwinn wasn't smooth at all, but then we just serviced it. None of the bearings were pitted or anything so it was just a matter of puttings lots of lube in. Took like 10 min, now it's running completely smoothly.

I dunno - since many people who know more about bikes than me recommend Chris King, it makes me feel like I don't know crap about headsets also. Cause there must be an advantage to it.

I dunno - since many people who know more about bikes than me recommend Chris King, it makes me feel like I don't know crap about headsets also. Cause there must be an advantage to it.


Good point. The name alone seems sort of inflated much like Campy, etc. I mean seriously think you're gonna give a sh*t in twenty years? If no, then why care whether your headset is perfect now?

He's putting it on the Thylacine...

Go to pricepoint.com they hace the ritchey WCS headset for 30 bucks instead of ninety. Supposed to be just as good as a king and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Have it on my iro and so far it is fine.

Sure, you can service any loose bearing headset from here to the rapture... oh, and your bottom bracket, and your loose bearing hubs, and so on. At some point you realize you don't have enough time to service all of your low-cost but serviceable parts and sure wish you had something that just didn't need as much maintenance.

Now having said that, I have an almost 20 year-old loose bearing Fuji headset that is smooth as butter and who knows if it's ever been service. And I repacked an almost 30 year-old one that felt good as new with some cleaning and fresh grease. (Though in both of those cases, I suspect it's old but quality versus new and cheap--my Tange)

[QUOTE=William Karsten] and what will make sure that Skitbraviking never takes a fancy to me like he has with 165?

QUOTE]


I have an FSA and have found it great.

But WTF is the above statement regarding?... If you're projecting your homoerotecism on my again, please point it in another direction. If not, then WTF?

I was just poking fun at what others have been poking fun at.

All apologies if it didn't hit the funny mark.

I was just poking fun at what others have been poking fun at.

All apologies if it didn't hit the funny mark.

No problem. I must have been feeling "sensitive" this morning. I must eliminate that completely. Only then will I be a complete robot!

I'll let this .wav speak for me. Opinion (http://shagpro.com/Lise/ED/hail.wav)

I'd recommend King, except they wouldn't OEM me because I'm 'one of the little' guys. So King sucks mailorder wangers, who woulda guessed.

Anyway, I guess I'd get a King mailorder anyway, coz they're only a hundred bucks and once you put them on, you can pretty much forget about them, for, like, forever.

What do I run on all my bikes? An obscure headset called the Tange TechnoGlide that I have to order from Japan coz that's the only place I've seen them sold.

On customers bikes I've been spec'ing FSA Orbit X, which seams okay. Seals aren't super, but we'll see how they go.