Headset & Restoration Help with 1995 Kona Cinder Cone

Hey everybody! I recently got a 95 Cinder Cone that is in pretty great shape, pics up soon, but one thing that is messed up is the headset. I don't think this bike needs much work so I thought I would keep it simple: new headset, V-brakes, and new cables & housing.

What I wonder is what headset will be compatible with it? I'm guessing I will need a 1-1/8 threaded headset? It has the original P2 TB fork. Ideas?

As for the rest I think its under control, I'm thinking of an orange highlight scheme with the new cables and pedals, like I said I'll do some before after pics once I get the headset stuff sorted,

Cheers!

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Hi unofficial

Hey everybody! I recently got a 95 Cinder Cone that is in pretty great shape, pics up soon, but one thing that is messed up is the headset. I don't think this bike needs much work so I thought I would keep it simple: new headset, V-brakes, and new cables & housing.

What I wonder is what headset will be compatible with it? I'm guessing I will need a 1-1/8 threaded headset? It has the original P2 TB fork. Ideas?

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I think you will find this link most helpful

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html


My advice is to buy the very best you can , as you could be replacing headset quite often if they are low quality units


Hope this helps

Ian

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Im pretty sure it's 1-1/8 threaded (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the choices for that size seem pretty limited. There is a new Ritchie Logic but as you stated the quality on this seems low based on peoples feedback and would mean frequent replacement. I have found literally no other options other than sourcing an old used one, was hoping somebody here had some ideas.

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if you're willing to go new, try Cane Creek ... they still make a wide range of retro-size options (I got a fabulous 1" threaded from them not too long ago).

Hope headsets last well and are in the 'quality but without being silly expensive' sort of price bracket. Even 5 years on the tandem has failed to wreck a Hope (tandems eat headsets), another one has done 10 years on my singlespeed MTB.

The top rarely wears - it's the bottom that takes a pounding and gets sprayed with muck. As you can now buy Hope bottoms on their own, you can pair it with the existing threaded top.

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unofficial

Im pretty sure it's 1-1/8 threaded (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the choices for that size seem pretty limited. There is a new Ritchie Logic but as you stated the quality on this seems low based on peoples feedback and would mean frequent replacement. I have found literally no other options other than sourcing an old used one, was hoping somebody here had some ideas

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It sounds right for the period , but I'm no Kona expert , I'm sure someone on here will confirm this for you before I finish typing

Also if you look in the archives on the forum, you should find a catalog with the original specs in

The Ritchey headset are not the highest quality out their but they are damm good value for money, you could do a lot lot worse.

I've actually been using 'Ritchey' headsets and not really had any major issues, other than the actual unit working loose more often than I'd like, but I think the application of a thread lock solvent would resolve this.






Above all the correct fit , and a regular maintenance schedule are key.

A complete strip down, degrease and close inspection of all interior parts, especially the ball bearings, ball races are essential, liberal helpings of good quality grease when reassembling also goes a long way

If you want the best out their , it has to be a Chris King Headset , which , I must admit , my original thought was ' :shock: Jesus, HOW MUCH !! ' , but now having actually owned one for well over 4 years , it was worth every penny

I've never had to touch it , plus all the 'Chris King' headset carry a 10 year guarantee, which has to say something about the quality

The 'Chris King' headsets are available in loads of colours , and configurations , Threadless and threaded versions too.

All the individual parts of the headset are readily available , should you ever break anything.

A big plus side for me is they look beautiful to boot




Major down side however, is affording to buy enough of them for all my bikes :facepalm:

Ian

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If you're running V's you'll need a cable stop solution for the rear. There are sorts of ways of doing it, none if them particularly pretty.

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Thanks for the replies so far! Some food for thought and good resources!

I think the main problem is finding a threaded headset in that size, threaded 1 inch us common but every 1-1/8 seems to be unthreaded.

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Here is a couple for you

A Ritchey .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RITCHEY-LOGIC ... SwJQdXCPfO

Shimano's top of the line XTR

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHIMANO-XTR-H ... SwZQRYa2Q9

I'd forgot all about Edco , these are very nice too

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-Kult-NO ... SwLEtYhN-9

And the ultimate imho, a Chris king

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-Chris ... SwA3dYd~E3

Hope this helps.

Ian

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I've got a strong light x15 on my 96 explosif. Nice headset.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Kult-NOS- ... Sw241YhN0x