Review on 🎯 Cane Creek 40-Series External Cup Complete: 34mm Head-Tube, 1-1/8-Inch Steerer, Black by Donald Larson

Over the years I have used different brands of headsets although most of them were Tange threaded models. I've used a threadless Cane Creek 110 series on a previous bike (a Trek 720 disc that had a cracked frame at the seat tube to top tube junction, but that's a tangential tirade I'll skip for now), which was an expensive one upgrade was. While I'd love to put a 110 series in my new steel frame, I couldn't justify the cost. The 110 is 100% American made and beautifully finished, including the smoothest bearings I've ever worked with, but the 40 series feels just as good in the hand despite not being entirely American made. The bearings were as smooth as my memory from the 110 series. Installation was easy with a homemade headset press (thread rod, a set of fender washers and a couple of nuts - look for a DIY headset press and a crown installation tool). in your favorite web search engine), a couple of wrenches and some lube (use liberally on the interface between the headset and head tube). Adding the crown clip to the fork was easy using a piece of PVC tubing long enough to extend from the fork crown to the steerer tube. You want the PVC to fit the track as snugly as possible so that any subsequent forces are on the track, so take the race to your local hardware store of choice. PVC is key since you want something softer than racing. Place the crown ring and spacer on the crown (more lube), place the PVC pipe on top, turn the whole assembly over and pound the PVC on a hard surface until it is properly seated on the crown. Or you can pay your local bike mechanic to install it, but it's really easy to skip the expensive specialty tools from Park and other manufacturers. Installing the bearings and dust covers is easy with Cane Creek's included instructions. .I definitely recommend Cane Creek, the 110 series (if you can afford it) and now the 40 series. I expect it to last for years, and Cane Creek sells aftermarket parts so it's basically one purchase for life.