Reviews :: Dropmachine.com - Chris King Headset

To be honest, there isn't much to say about a King headset. I mean, its all been said already hasn't it? Everybody who rides seriously knows about them. They know the near-legends about them. They know the silly pride owners have for them. So whats to say?

For those that don't know (all 3 of you) the Chris King headset is quite simply the best headset on the market. Its been that way for years, and will likely continue to do so. Really, the only way to make a better headset would be to make Kings cost $20 bucks. Really there just isn't much you can improve on with this thing. Look at the list.

Of course, some will complain about the price. But, considering the fact that the Chris King Headset will probably outlast whatever frame you are on, and can be transferred from bike to bike with no issues, the price is worth it. Just know that when you buy a King headset, you're in it for the long run. There are stories of riders having the same headset 10 years after buying it, and it outlasting 5 or more frames. This ain't no one night (or season) stand. When you slip that top cap on, you might as well be slipping a ring on a finger.

Are they perfect? No. The lack of a compression ring up top means they can slide and creak a bit if you don't maintain it. Some do, some don't. If you are a hard rider (HI TERRY!!!), you can definitely kill a King. But for most mortals...you're all good.

Of course you ask, is it worth the price? Well, if you're measuring performance vs performance, then probably not. FSA makes a line of killer headsets that perform excellently, albeit without the flash and sizzle of the Kings, but also without the price. But, a King is a King, so if that matters to you then I guess whether or not its worth it is entirely up to you.

So thats it really. There is nothing I can say about this damn thing other then its the (debatably) best. King knows it, and so does everyone else. Can you kill it? Of course. If you're a monster hucker, you might want something a little more beefy. One of Toronto's more infamous riders managed to crush the bearings in his. But he goes DAMN big, and really I don't think anything is going to hold up for long. The rest of us (thats 99.3454359343% of us) will never damage one, or have a reason to not keep it.

	The Rear Admiral - November 10, 2006 It renews my faith in the human race that every so often, A company actually gets something totally right
	(-XAdrianX-) - November 26, 2006 It's too bad King can't transfer this reliability and perfection to their hubs. Don't get me wrong, I love my king hubs, but the rear needs more attention than my wife and my mistress combined! My trials bike is set up with chris king classic hubs front and rear and of course a king headset. The front has given me no trouble, nor the headset. The rear however seems to like to loosen itself and requires service probably 100 times more often than my hadley. Of course, when well maintained, it's an incredible hub. It sure would be nice if the cone would stay tight for more than a few rides though.
	kifu - December 6, 2006 For those "monster huckers" you can't forget about the StealSet, it's the best headset in the world made for stainless steel. But kings have a 10 year warrenty thats basically no questions asked. And for those that want there headset to survive a nuclear holocaust (or have to much money) there is the Ti NoThreadSet. For me, I'm happy with my pretty pink King.

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