So, I have a 2004 Pista with the stock headset.
As mentioned in a previous post, the headset is on its last legs thanks to the StuporBowl.
Now, I have the steerer tube cut down to fit without spacers as shown:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ek/headset.jpg

Now, I've been told that a steerer tube need only reach halfway of the top nut on the stem for it to be properly installed.

If I were to buy a Chris King, would I have enough steerer tube to install it properly?
I know it's hard to say with any certainty, but I'm hoping people with Chris King experience can chime in and give me some guidance.

PS: Just an FYI, my LBS accidentally left the headset cups on when they powdercoated it.

do you know the stack height of your current headset? i assume that as long as the ck doesn't surpass your current setup by too much you should be fine. you can go to the ck website and they should list the upper/lower/total stack height of their hs, as well as many other manufacturer's sites.

fyi, i checked around at different threadless headset manufacturer's sites before i bought mine for who made some with the lowest stack heights, and the lowest i found were certain models of cane creek, fsa, and the campy record/chorus. also that star headset that eai offers seems to be super low profile too.

the pista 2004 comes stock with a vp aheadset hs, stack height=25.5mm
chrisking nothread set stack height=28mm

so, you've got 2.5mm difference. i have also heard that if the steer tube
reaches the middle of the top stem bolt, then you should be ok. so, if you
have more than 2.5mm of play, then you should be fine.

edit: i made the assumption that the vp headset is the cheapest one on the
vp website (which is where i got the stack height). its possible that the
vp headset on the pista is a different one that is only available built on
stock bikes. ...so double check which vp headset it is.

oh ...you could also (if the steer tube isn't long enough) try
and find a stem that doesn't require such a long steer tube.

I found 25.5mm for the VP stack height as well.
They didn't have the exact Pista model on the site, but one that was pretty close.
I have about 1/2 inch of room to work with, so I should be okay.