This.

The Chris King will offer more bang for the buck over its lifetime compared to a CC40, but you have to be willing and able to pay for 25 years worth of bang, up front. The CC40 will get you on the road and work perfectly well for a while. But in a few years, it'll wear out and need replaced, in about the same time the King is just getting worn in. In the loooooong run, the King will be cheaper, even though it costs a whole lot more up front. The benefit of paying that high up front cost is the ability to enjoy a top of the line headset for the next 25 years, instead of one that is merely good enough.

Which is the other side of it...not many consumers buy a frameset and keep it that long and ride it. At least it doesn't seem that way to me, although maybe that is just the bike companies trying to force a distorted view of "normality" on us to make us feel less bad about our throw-away society.

The $120USD (back then) 1-1/8" King in my Seven that is a decade old is still fine. The $150USD Cane Creek 110 (tapered headsets are not cheap) I put in my Carver I expect to live just as long...and I expect to be riding that bike as long.

I think you're right, sadly.

I'm in the process of ordering a new bike, with each component individually specced. It will be a daily-utility/commuter/touring bike, optimized for high reliability, near-zero maintenance, and excellent durability & longevity. It's a frugal build, but not a budget build. I'm interested in total cost of ownership. I expect it to be a lifetime bike, and have considered component costs accordingly. I did, BTW, opt for a Chris King headset.

My Carver, I originally spec'd in my Dark Lair to have a King...LBS like many has Kings on display...and said the CC110 would be what they'd reccy (even though they'd have to spec order it from Cane-and maybe wait for production). Both are equally ginchy bits of bike jewelry visually.

I amy be wrong, but black is cheaper in the manufacture because it is paint, not anodising. Shimano started that with their grey stuff.

You have got to ask though... if the CK set is three times more expensive, and you wear out three of the CC, doesn't that sort of work out the same? Plus, when it comes to replacing the CK set, you can guarantee it won't be at 2017 prices.

25 years is a long time in the ownership life of a bicycle. Fair chance that it will be non-functional, or the owner has moved on to some other pastime in that period. Also, I find a lot of people who have expensive bikes, simply don't ride them much because they are afraid of damaging them.

Go to the Touring forum to see how posters agonise over what they should buy, how much they should spend and the chances of anything going wrong in the middle of nowhere (hallmarks of this thread in a way). They become paralysed by the conundrums (conundra?). And when they do actually get on the road, use the bike once for that epic journey, then leave it languishing.

CC has served me well throughout the years. I have never been inclined to CK because of the cost. Warranties are almost irrelevant to me (I live in Australia, and the costs associated with making claims with American-based companies just aren't worth that price premium).

I'll remain skeptical that there aren't more affordable options for equally long term durability.

It's tough to generalize in this way.

Dura Ace and Ultegra are clearly nicer than 105 in both shift and braking performance, as well as in weight.

The question is, do dura ace and ultegra bearings last longer than lower end 105, tiagra, claris and sora bearings?

Do Chris King headsets last longer than claris headsets? Assuming proper adjustment and maintenance, that is. Are sora headsets more likely to pit because the material is softer? Are the seals so porous that even a single 3 mile ride in a light drizzle will destroy the bearings in short order?

What exactly is low end here? Which headsets need to be replaced over and over again and where is the evidence that chris king headsets last 25 years?

My bet is there is zero evidence aside from a few tall tales on the internet.

I used to hear these stories too back in the 80's about campagnolo: their hubs spin forever! They make roads feel as smooth as glass! All of these tall tales without the slightest shred of scientific evidence.

I have a Ross mountain bike I bought new in 1987, and got 25 years out of the OE headset.

Judging by the grease I cleaned out of it, my 1935 Raleigh has its original headset, yet clearly led a rough, high mileage life without detriment.

Even if the CC40 end up at the same price as the CK after 25 years (unlikely), I will have enjoyed a quarter-century's worth of use of a higher quality component. Generally, that only enhances, user experience.

Of course, one won't be able to replace the CC40 in 3-5 years at 2017 prices. Or in 6-10 yesrs. Or in 9-15 years, etc. There's no reason to believe inflation will affect their respective prices differently.

25 years might be a long time to keep a recreational bike, but it isn't very long to keep and use a utility bike. As long as it continues to work, keep using it. If it was designed well and built appropriately, a high quality bike should provide at least several decades of reliable use.

A lot of people buy a new bike for a tour. My own experience is that I avoided a lot of issues by touring with the same bike I'd been riding daily to commute to work and haul groceries & laundry for 20,000 miles. The check boxes for my ideal commuter and the check boxes for my ideal expedition tourer are essentially the same check boxes.

Cane Creek is fine. The 110, by most accounts, is fantastic. I've got the Forty in a current bike. It has about 10,000 miles, and is overdue for replacement (due to its condition, not because it has a certain number of miles). It did what it was supposed to do, but it wasn't exactly good value, given its short life. When I bought it, a CK wasn't an option due to budget considerations. Now that's much less an issue, and I'm willing to pay the bigger up front expense in order to enjoy greater quality and value over the life of the bike.

I installed a $20 CC Tank headset in my Kona mtb. Now, five years later, the frame is trashed and the headset is ready for its next frame.

I'd love to know what they are. My CC40 has lasted longer than anything else I've tried, and it was ready for replacement after no more than two years (of heavy use).

Be careful about drawing conclusions from specific anecdotal examples that have survived to an old age.

These outlandish claims that only chris king $150 headsets last 25 years and every other lower priced headset crumbles into dust within a couple of years is just nonsense.

Just tall tales from people who overpaid for their headsets.

It is your straw man that is complete nonsense.

Tell us, from which budget headset can we expect to typically last as long as a Chris King? The whole reason for CK headsets' existence is that Chris King was unable to find any headset to use that was designed in a way that would allow it to withstand the rigors of touring.

I have no issues with Cane Creek or Chris King. Currently have an FSA headset on just about all of my bikes I think, and they have served me well so far. If I was going to do a build and really wasn't worried about a budget, I would either do the Cane Creek 110 or Chris King. Had CK on a previous bike, and not only did it work perfectly, it looked really nice on there. To some, aesthetics are a low priority, but to others it is just as important as function. Personally, finding a mix of both really is ideal. A matte black carbon bike, with a CK mango headset and matching hubs laced to carbon wheels......oof.

Exactly. You have no evidence. Blah blah blah....verbal diarrhea.

Interestingly enough, looking back, I've gone through more headsets on my current bike than any other component except chains, and that's including tubes and tires.

Where are the inexpensive, long lasting headsets you claim are readily available? Talk about verbal diarrhea. :rolleyes:

I have an SKF/*** BB on my commuter. And that thing just goes and goes. Salted, sanded winter roads, year after year. I've put at least 30 000 miles on it since I got the bike. And no idea what the previous owner put in.

Headsets, I dunno. Apart from rusted out units on badly neglected bikes, I don't see many damaged headsets.

You can post that reptilians control bush's brain and it's true on the internet. Post an objective scientific study showing $150 chris king headsets last 25 years on average. I dare you.

You have no evidence. Just internet tall tales.

Nice - My next bike will be a gravel build. I think there is a fine line between spending "too much" and exceeding the value/benefits line...hope that makes sense. There are so many component options out there...if I were you, I would pick type/frame with geometry that works for you 1st. Hard to advise on components until I know what they are going on.

I never understood the expensive headsets. A $40 Cane Creek and a $150 CK feel no different when on a ride. For those who say I'll keep this bike for 25 years, and the $150 headset will end up saving me money, here's the other side of the argument: Let's say you have to swap out a $40 headset 4x during that same amount of time, costing you ~$160. Great! you saved $10 and enjoyed having some jewelry on your bike. Not so fast.

If you consider time value of money, given average market returns of ~6%, and 3% inflation:

You save $110 up front until you need to change out your $40 headset after the first 6.25 years. That $90 you saved is now $158.33.
The $40 headset is now $48.12. Subtract that from the $158.33 and you have $110.21.
Save that money for 6.25 years, and you have $158.63.
At year 18.75, your new (3rd)headset now costs $57.88.
You have now have $100.75. Save it for another 6.25 years, when you need another headset. You now have $145.01.
The new headset now costs $69.62. You have $75.39 left.

Now, at year 25, both the single expensive and fourth cheap headset are worn out. If you had gone with the cheaper one, you have some extra cash in your pocket. Buying the fancy headset did not actually save you money. You would actually come out ahead 75 bucks in 2042 dollars.

It is basically bling. But this is a hobby. There is no need for justification.

Just because some goofball pulls a 25 year figure out of their behind doesn't make it true. There's no evidence that a $150 headset lasts any longer than a $40 headset.

There's so much snake oil in the cycling industry it makes MS13 look like saints.

"Biopace makes you more efficient!"

"Steel is real!"

"Titanium lasts forever!"

"Trek Madone propelled Lance to 6 straight Tour de France wins!"

This is hilarious. In this thread I have to back Mr. SpeshulEd.

He is right in this: The "Chris King, 25 years" thing isn't even a thing. it is just something someone said. There is no data.

In fact, there is no data that any of the really high-end headsets do Anything better than a decent headset of just about any brand.

If I was going to market a part ... I might give it a 30-year warranty or even a 300-year warranty ... if I thought that most people wouldn't use that component for anything like that long, and if I thought the basic product was so simple that unless people deliberately or inadvertently abused it (thus voiding the warranty) I would rarely have to pay off.

For road biking, headsets have never been an issue for me. I cannot say I have even really wanted a "better" headset ... I cannot name a known brand which I wouldn't trust.

FSA, Cane Creek ... even their cheaper units ... How many of us can link to stories of widespread failure?

I have nothing against Chris King parts. I also have no reason to believe that CK headsets are going to last a lot longer ... and particularly since I have multiple bikes and pretty much mix it up when picking a ride ... a 25-year headset would almost certainly outlast the rest of me.

There was another thread recently where some guy defended some brand endlessly .... sometimes people Really like a particular product with an affection exceeding absolute reason. They just really like the part, the frame whatever they got. That's fine. But those folks need to also take a step back and look objectively.

I am not asking any body to give up their CK headsets nor am I disparaging the product.

If I build a headset and warranty it for 3,000 years ......

My 19 year old bike was entry level as is my new one. I splurged for the new one and put Jones H-loop bars on it. I couldn't be happier with them. Component wise, entry level has worked for me and I love both my bikes. They are both mountain bikes and I beat the snot out of the old one, which held up very well.

It's a headset. Think about what it actually does. If properly maintained even the cheapest headsets will perform just fine, and will outlast any other moving component on a bike. Spend more if you want, but not because you think it may be more durable or perform better.