Cane Creek 40 Series Short Cover Headset: Rider Review

 Have you been considering upgrading your headset? A cheap headset can wear out quickly and really take the fun out of a nice ride! Our friend Steve got himself set up with a sweet Cane Creek 40 Series headset and wanted to share with everyone how awesome it is. Check out what he has to say below!

 Overview

I've been working on fixing up my cheap bike as my skills progress beyond the abilities of the stock components. One thing I really wasn't counting on having to replace was my headset. Unfortunately, my stock headset had a "Semi Sealed" bearing that had a plastic seal/guard that broke. It allowed water and dust in which, as I am sure you know, did not go over well for the bearings. After cleaning and re-greasing twice due to contamination the headset started to have some play. It was time for a new one. My first attempt to get a headset went wrong... because I bought the wrong size. Oops. The great customer service team at Worldwide Cyclery helped me out with a return and sent me down the right path to get the correct headset.

Install (Not Your Standard Procedure...)

The Cane Creek 40 ZS44/28.6 / ZS56/40 arrived a few days after I placed my order. This is clearly a quality headset. I ran to the hardware store to get a giant bolt, some big washers and nuts to make my own press. (real bike mechanics would probably scold me but it cost 4 bucks and worked like a dream). I had the old headset popped out and this one installed in just a few minutes.

Why Cane Creek 40 Series?

I can see why Cane Creek calls this headset the workhorse of their headset lineup. Its no-frills design is solid and light weight, it would look great on any style bike. Not to mention it is smooth as butter. It won't break the bank either. After a few 20+ miles rides, I haven't had to think about this headset one bit. It's just smooth sailing (riding) and translates the feel of the trail nicely.

Final Thoughts

I am happy to have true fully sealed bearings on my headset. It's an upgrade I should have planned on a long time ago! If you are considering the Cane Creek 40 ZS44/28.6 / ZS56/40... Well, stop thinking and pull the trigger. You won't regret it!