Chris King’s DropSet headset lineup now has an IS41/IS41 possibility for downhill bikes, becoming the straight 1-1/8″ steerer discovered on most double crown DH forks.
This sixth iteration of their signature headset design has the identical GripLock characteristic because the originals, and that’s the important thing profit for rough-and-tumble riders like downhill racers.
What’s GripLock? Glad you requested.
Chris King’s GripLock is a four-piece higher headset cap (E) that protects the headset bearing and prevents issues from coming free whereas using. It really works by stacking a wedge-shaped break up ring (H) on prime of the higher bearing race (J). That race nestles into the higher bearing (Okay), after which the wedge (H) actually wedges between the race and the fork’s steerer tube.
This sandwiched design distributes lateral masses from impacts (the bumps your hitting) away from the bearings, decreasing stress on them. And if the higher race (J) tries to maneuver upward, which might trigger the headset to get free, it constricts the break up wedge (H), making it squeeze tighter onto the steerer, which prevents it from slipping upward, thus stopping the headset from turning into free.
Sure, this makes it tougher to take away a Chris King DropSet headset, however except you’re swapping forks, there’s seemingly little have to need to take away it.
The brand new DropSet 6 headset is appropriate with their included baseplate and all 45º built-in crown races. It’s additionally appropriate with carbon and alloy steerer tubes. It’s accessible now in all of Chris King’s colours, plus two-tone black and gold. MSRP is $176 with metal bearings, or $296 with ceramic bearings.
