Cane Creek Headset Comparison: 110 Series, Hellbender 70, and 40 Series Headsets

The headset on your bike can sometimes be forgotten about, because it often goes unnoticed. Having a quality headset you can trust on your bike from a brand like Cane Creek, Chris King, or FSA will keep your rig spinning for more miles without any troubles. We are a big fan of Cane Creek headsets for plenty of reasons: they offer a huge range of products that nearly covers all headtube standards, their headsets balance both performance and durability, and they offer headsets at multiple price point levels, which helps us find the right product for each customer.  After the launch of Cane Creek's newest headset offering, the Hellbender 70, we wanted to dig in to what sets their three most popular headsets apart: the 110 Series, the 40 Series, and the Hellbender 70. We also go in to detail understanding the Standard Headset Identification System, S.H.I.S., and the rest of the unique headsets that fill out Cane Creek's product lineup.

Max talking headsets with Cane Creek's Director of Engineering, Jim Morrison

110 Series Headsets

Cane Creek's 110 Series headset is their top-of-the-line, no compromise premium headset, littered with performance and durability features. All 110 headsets are made from 7075 T6 Aluminum at Cane Creek’s headquarters in Fletcher, North Carolina. The 110's dust cap locks in to the upper headset cup and bearing to keep all of the dirt and grime outside of the headset. This is part of what keeps the 110 headset running smoothly all year round. Check out the other standout features on the 110 Series headset.

• 110 series dust cap uses Cane Creek's high level of sealing clip seal design
• Hellbender stainless steel bearings guarantee a smooth steering feel
• Dual seal aluminum crown race keeps dirt and grime out of the lower headset bearing
• Headsets are offered in tall and short dust caps in a variety of configurations
• Dust caps and headset cups machined from 7075 T6 Aluminum. Made in the USA
• 7075 Aluminum offers optimal strength and weight but is more expensive to manufacture 
• High polish anodized finish
• Lightweight star nut included
• 110 Year Warranty!

The 110 Series is aimed at the customer who wants to leave no stone unturned on their bike build; the 110 sacrifices nothing. This is a top-of-the-line premium headset that gives you top shelf performance and reliability topped off with a high-polished black anodized finish. Be on the lookout for any limited edition anodized color options as well.

7075 Aluminum 2 1/2 inch bar stock is ready for a series of machining operations before ending up a 110 Series headset

110 External Cup lower headset assembly fresh off of the lathe. Next step, anodizing and laser etching

110 Series IS41/28.6 IS52/40 headset mounted up on a Santa Cruz Hightower

40 Series Headsets

The 40 Series headset has set the benchmark combining both performance and value. Compared to the 110, the 40 Series comes in at a much lower price point but still brings you some of the same performance and reliability features you expect from Cane Creek products. The 40 Series headset is designed in Fletcher, North Carolina, is manufactured in Taiwan, and is offered in the largest range of fitment options and industry standard configurations.

• The 40 Series dust cap uses a similar clip seal design but doesn't quite meet the 110's level of sealing
• Black oxide sealed bearings
• Single seal steel crown race
• Headsets are offered in tall and short dust caps in a variety of configurations
• Dust caps and headset cups machined from 6061 T6 Aluminum.
• 6061 is cheaper to manufacture compared to 7075 and still offers sufficient strength characteristics for a headset application
• Satin black anodized finish
• Standard star nut included

The 40 Series headset is aimed at the customer who is strictly looking for a functional headset without all of the fluff. The 40 series headset is a favorite for bike manufacturers spec'ing their bikes because it is cost effective while giving the customer a performance headset. The 40 headset is no slouch! You get a headset that won't break the bank and balances performance and value spot on.

Upgrade your 40 Series bearings with a pair of Zinc plated 40 bearings to help eliminate corrosion happening inside your headset

40 Series IS41/28.6 IS52/40 headset mounted up on a Santa Cruz Hightower

Hellbender 70 Headsets 

Cane Creek's latest headset model is the all new Hellbender 70. The idea behind the Hellbender is mixing and matching performance and reliability features of both the 40 Series and 110 Series headsets. The Hellbender 70 takes the machining techniques seen used on the 40 Series and pairs them with the sealing construction found in the 110 Series. The Hellbender 70 gets the same seal designs found in the 110 with a double sealed top cap and dual seal aluminum crown race. The Hellbender 70 is of course finished off with the Hellbender stainless steel bearings designed to battle any trail conditions.

• Similar machining techniques found on the 40 Series headsets
• Dust cap seal is similar to what is found on the 110 Series headsets
• Dual seal aluminum crown race
• Hellbender stainless steel bearings
• Headsets are offered in tall and short dust caps in a variety of configurations
• Dust caps and headset cups machined from 6061 T6 Aluminum
• Satin black anodized finish
• Standard star nut included

The Hellbender 70 headset is perfect for the rider who is all about riding their bike hard. If you are someone who is constantly having to wash your bike because of wet and grimy trail conditions, the durability of the Hellbender 70 will be perfect for you. You get a product that shares all of the premium performance features of the 110 Series headset without paying for the premium finish.

The styling and laser etching on the Hellbender 70 dust cap is minimal and understated

Hellbender 70 IS41/28.6 IS52/40 headsets mounted up on a Santa Cruz Hightower

In the photos below, you'll notice some obvious differences in the components that make up each of these three headsets. From the aesthetics, machining techniques, seal design, different bearing offerings, and crown race design, each of the 110 Series, 40 Series, and Hellbender 70 headsets offer something unique. Choose the headset that best suits your needs!

A look underneath each dust cap. From left to right: the 110 Series, the Hellbender 70, and the 40 Series headset

On the left is a stainless steel Hellbender bearing found in the 110 Series and Hellbender 70 headsets. On the right is a black oxide coated 40 Series headset bearing

On the left is a dual seal aluminum crown race found on the 110 Series and Hellbender 70 headsets. On the right is a single seal steel crown race found on the 40 Series headset

Standardized Headset Identification System (S.H.I.S)

With the Standardized Headset Identification System (S.H.I.S.), there are three steps to determining what Cane Creek headset is right for your bike. Just like when trying to decide What Size Bottom Bracket You Need, there are different standards and styles of headsets. Follow each step and illustration to make sure you get the exact headset configuration you need.

     1. Steerer Tube

• First determine what type of crown race your fork steerer tube uses. The crown race is the bearing interface between the headset bearing and the fork steerer tube. Most mountain bikes use a press fit crown race while gravel, cyclocross, and road bikes often use an integrated crown race.
• For this demonstration here, we are going to assume you are using a press fit crown race on your mountain bike fork. Measure the top of the steerer tube around the stem clamping area, most commonly 28.6mm. Next measure the crown race seat outside diameter around the bottom of the steerer tube. For this example, you might measure 39.81mm with a tapered steerer tube and headtube.
• Now convert your measurements to S.H.I.S. for the steerer tube. For this example, the steerer tube S.H.I.S. would be 28.6 | 40.

     2. Head Tube

• Now determine what headtube type your bike has. With some headsets, the bearings are contained in cups that are pressed in to the frame. Other frames use an integrated headset design where the bearing sits directly inside the headtube.
• Next measure the inside diameter of the top and bottom of the head tube using either a metal tape measure or a pair of Park Tool DC-1 Digital Calipers.
• Convert your measurements to S.H.I.S. by rounding up to the nearest 1mm using the charts below. For example, if you measured 49.59mm for the press fit top and 52.11mm for the integrated bottom of the headtube, the Head Tube S.H.I.S is 49 | IS52.  

     3. Headset Type

• Before you find your headset, you must first determine the headset type you are looking for. With a press fit design, you can either use a Zero Stack (ZS), External Cup (EC), or a combination of both. With an integrated headset design, things are made simpler with only the option of an Integrated headset.
• There are pros and cons to each, most of which comes down to bike setup, preferred handlebar height, and stem stack heights. For this example, we are going to decide we want a Zero Stack upper headset for the top bearing. The headset cup will press in to the headtube and the bearing will sit inside the cup down in the headtube. Because we have an integrated style for the lower headset, the bearing will seat directly in to the frame. Remember this is just a made up example to walk you through the process.
• Now you can determine your headset S.H.I.S. Starting with the upper headset fit and then to the lower headset fit. Here we have a ZS49 / 28.6 | IS52 / 40. Take your headset S.H.I.S. and find which of the Cane Creek model headsets is best for your build!

Full Range of Cane Creek Headsets

Outside of the most popular 110 Series, Hellbender 70, and 40 Series headsets, Cane Creek offers a full range of specialized headsets designed around E-bikes, slamming your stack height, saving every gram possible, or changing your headtube angle.

• The Viscoset. The Viscoset is specifically designed to handle instability issues with some E-bikes and cargo bikes. What makes the Viscoset different is that it has tunable damping characteristics built in to its design. Using a series of clutch style plates sitting in what Cane Creek calls Fluorocarbon gel, the Viscoset provides steering damping to get rid of uncontrollable speed wobbles on particular bikes.

When you remove the dust cover off the Viscoset, you can see the clutch style plates that add steering damping

• The Slamset. The story behind the Slamset is simple; design a headset that allows you to slam your stem down as low as possible. For those riders who are looking to get the most available adjustment out of his/her bike and prefer a very low stack height, the Cane Creek Slamset is perfect for you. The top cap design on the Slamset removes some sealing characteristics seen on other Cane Creek models in order to flatten out the headset as much as possible. The Slamset comes standard with Cane Creek Hellbender bearings.

On the left you'll notice the low profile theme with the Slamset continues on with the one of a kind top cap and top cap bolt

• The AER Series II. The AER Series II headsets are the second generation AER headsets and are designed to be the lightest headsets on the market. What makes the AER Series special is their hybrid steel/aluminum bearings. The AER bearings use an aluminum outer sleeve paired with durable steel ball bearings and steel ball bearing interface. This, along with radical machining techniques, makes the AER headset the lightest on the market.

Tearing apart one of the AER Series II hybrid steel/aluminum bearings

• The AngleSet. The Angleset headset was immediately popular when it first was released over 8 years ago. Bikes at the time were becoming increasingly more aggressive with more radical frame geometry. The Angleset allows you to change your head tube angle on your bike anywhere from .5 to 1.5 degrees. Now that bike design has caught up a bit, the AngleSet is less popular for aftermarket sales, but it is still loved by frame manufacturers testing new prototype frames.

About Me

Max Morgan is 26 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 8 years, competing in the UCI World Cup series and U.S. Pro GRT series. To learn more about Max, check out Max's rider spotlight here! 
Instagram: @mxmorgan77