InSet™ is the latest addition to the Chris King®
NoThreadSet™ family. InSet™ is a low-stack threadless headset designed for use
with contemporary frames featuring what would traditionally be
called "oversized" headtubes. As times have changed, so have the designs of
many of our favorite bicycles. These new large headtubes allow frame
manufacturers greater surface area on which to attach top tubes and down tubes
with the overall result being improved frame strength and rigidity. We pride
ourselves on adapting Chris' forward-thinking original modular designs into
ever-evolving configurations to meet most new bicycle designs. The Chris King®
InSet™ now brings King's legendary bearing quality and time-tested durability
to even more bicycle models.
We began testing InSet™ in early 2008 by working with a number of custom framebuilders. InSet was featured on over twenty custom bicycles showcased at the 2009 National Handmade Bicycle Show in Indianapolis including three award- winning designs. Further, InSet™ has been chosen by the Giant Mountain Bike Team as official team equipment for the 2009 season. With development and testing now complete, InSet is now available at your favorite local bike shop in three configurations.
- 1 1-8" (Upper and Lower cups are 1 1-8" InSet)
- Tapered ( 1 1-8" Upper cup with 1.5" Lower cup)
- Mixed Tapered ( 11-8" Upper InSet cup with Lower external type cup)
What is InSet™? Is it an internal headset?
InSet™ is a Chris King® headset, plain and simply stated. User-serviceable
stainless steel bearings, aluminum cups, bearing cap and stem cap. It’s a
member of the NoThreadSet™ family with the same ten-year warranty. While it
may look different than a standard King NoThreadSet™, it adheres to Chris'
firm standing that both bearings should be fixed in place. It’s a Chris King®
headset but with a different attachment style. It can best be described as a
low-stack height headset. We’ve said for years that we would not produce a
loose,drop-in bearing style headset. Still saying it.
What bikes are compatible with InSet™?
Inset is compatible with any bike with dimensions that match the existing
standards to which we've produced InSet™. For example, for 1 1-8” you will
need the inner diameter (ID) of the bicycle headtube to be 44mm (+0, -.05).
There are a number of bicycles in the market now with compatible headtubes
such as models from Giant, Trek, Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz, Jamis and Pivot.
InSet™ is not a proprietary system to King or any specific frame
manufacturer.If the numbers match up, you've got compatibility. The proper
reaming and facing of your frame's headtube is absolutely essential with
InSet™. Please talk to your service advisor or mechanic about InSet
installation and assembly.
InSet™ is not a replacement for, or a solution to, loose drop-in bearing style headsets. Further, we do not advocate modifying your internal-style headtube to allow for the dimensions of this headset unless authorized by the frame manufacturer. In this very rare case, exact dimensions must be met to allow for compatibility. InSet™ is most likely not a solution to a backward looking problem so much as it is a compatibility option for contemporary bicycles.

| InSet™Specifications | |||
| InSet™ head tube type | 1-1/8" | 1-1/8” to 1.5” Tapered |
1-1/8” to 1.5” Mixed Tapered |
| steer tube OD | 1-1/8" | 1-1/8” | 1-1/8” to 1.5” tapered |
| upper head tube bore ID (tolerances) |
44.0 mm (+0, -.05) |
44.0 mm (+0, -.05) |
44.0 mm (+0, -.05) |
| lower head tube bore ID (tolerances) |
44.0 mm (+0, -.05) |
55.95 mm (+0, -.05) |
49.60 mm (+0, -.05) |
| upper head tube ream depth | 10 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm |
| lower head tube ream depth | 10 mm | 15 mm | 15 mm |
| fork crown seat OD | 30.1 mm | 30.1 mm | 39.8 mm |
| press fit tolerance | .1 mm | .1 mm | .1 |
| upper stack height | 8.46 mm | 8.46 mm | 8.46 mm |
| lower stack height | 4.24 mm | 5.61 mm | 14.8 mm |
| weight | 120 g | 170g | 150g |
| stem cap screw torque | 6-15 in.lbs | 6-15 in.lbs | 6-15 in.lbs |
we also have lycra shorts and bib shorts with a logo printed on the leg.