Headset shot.....

[beanbag]

Aren't bikes meant to be cheaper than cars??!?!?!?!

My bike seems to be an eternal money pit! I've just replaced my BB which disintegrated and that's all sorted. I then had an annoying clicking noise which luckily turned out to be my pedals.

I now have a new pair of Mallet 2's which were very kindly given to me from my fiancée on my birthday.

After going for a good thrash in the mountains, my headset is now shot.....

It's clicking like crazy and feels "gritty".

So, once again I'm in the market for a new headset. I'm not going to spend silly money but I'm interested in the Hope headset. Seems to get reasonably good results, but what other options do I have for the same price? (£60).

Ideas?

[neil_bolton]

That, a Cane Creek, or a Chris King.

Preferably the Chris King if you can afford it: You'll never need another headset.

[Jimbo.]

Servicing it would be cheaper than a new one, non? A dash of grease, maybe some new bearings...sorted.

[beanbag]

neil_bolton said:

That, a Cane Creek, or a Chris King.

Preferably the Chris King if you can afford it: You'll never need another headset.

Both the Cane Creek and Chris King are quite a bit over my budget. I'm a bit short on cash this month having just replaced my BB, and bought a TFTuned RP23.

Is there anything for about £60 that is pretty hard wearing and good quality. (It doesn't have to last forever!! 3-4 years would be fine!)

[Parrot of Doom]

You could buy something for £20 that would do the same job.

[longblackcoat]

Hope do something really very nice for c.£50; though you can spend a lot less, be prepared to change the cheaper ones reasonably frequently.

[P-Jay]

I've got a Hope one on my Cove and it's been fit and forget which is all you want really.

I'd look for something with cartridge bearings rather than the other type. I've got a Chris King on my Endruo and after 2 years it's still perfect, but like you say they're very expensive.

[fergus]

beanbag said:

It's clicking like crazy and feels "gritty".

What you want is a bit of maintenance... Seriously, even a good headset is only as good as the maintenance you give it (unless it's toally sealed).

Or, just fit a cheap one and treat the bearings/races as consumables?

Edited by fergus on Monday 11th May 11:37

[neil_bolton]

Or just buy a Chris King, and never, ever, have to touch it again.

Seriously, they are expensive for a reason.

Mine only gets fiddled with when being swapped between frames.

[ratbane]

I've had a Cane Creek headset on my jobbie for around 8 years. Been swapped across three new forks.

Still works fine.

[neil_bolton]

ratbane said:

I've had a Cane Creek headset on my jobbie for around 8 years. Been swapped across three new forks.

Still works fine.

The one on my Trek is very good, but not of Chris King quality (obviously).

I think I paid £25 for it, and am pleased with it, but wouldn't say it'd last as long.

[beanbag]

fergus said:

beanbag said:

It's clicking like crazy and feels "gritty".

What you want is a bit of maintenance... Seriously, even a good headset is only as good as the maintenance you give it (unless it's toally sealed).

Or, just fit a cheap one and treat the bearings/races as consumables?

Edited by fergus on Monday 11th May 11:37

It's just the cheap OEM Crane Creek one that came on my Stumpy when I bought it.

Perhaps it is serviceable. It's never really given me problems until now. Any idea how to go about doing it without going to a bike shop?

Cheers,

BB

[mk1fan]

Cane Creek S-3 £20 on e-bay. Replacement bearings can be sourced for most headsets for £15 - even cheaper if you hunt around I bought four pairs of Cane Creek replacement bearings for £16 all in.

[mk1fan]

Park website or you tube for videos on headset maintenance. Very simple, only really need a couple of allen keys, a rag and some grease.

[neil_bolton]

mk1fan said:

Cane Creek S-3 £20 on e-bay. Replacement bearings can be sourced for most headsets for £15 - even cheaper if you hunt around I bought four pairs of Cane Creek replacement bearings for £16 all in.

Thats the one I've got on the Trek very nice

[pdV6]

neil_bolton said:

Or just buy a Chris King, and never, ever, have to touch it again.

Seriously, they are expensive for a reason.

Mine only gets fiddled with when being swapped between frames.

Although to be fair, yours probably gets swapped between frames more often than most people would think of servicing a headset...

[mk1fan]

I use S-3's on all my bikes. Commuter to DH

[beanbag]

neil_bolton said:

Or just buy a Chris King, and never, ever, have to touch it again.

Seriously, they are expensive for a reason.

Mine only gets fiddled with when being swapped between frames.

I would but I just don't have that kind of money lying about right now. I've already spent about £500 on my bike this past month due to upgrades and repairs. I can't do another £100 and £50 is pushing it big time!!!