Chris King has made it official, their industry benchmark headset makes AeroSet 1 & AeroSet 2 options (patent pending, it seems) available to fit even more bikes with fully internal cable routing. Fully integrated cable routing has fully taken over modern bikes. It’s not limited to one frame material or the other. And not really limited by discipline either. So if you are going to have to run your brake and shift lines through your headset, you might as well give your bike a US-made headset built to last a lifetime…
Chris King AeroSet 1 & 2 integrated internal routing headsets
More custom frame builder and production bikemakers are adopting fully internal cable routing. And while Chris King wasn’t quite an early adopter, they do make some of the cycling industry’s longest-lasting and most desireable headsets. And Chris King is catching up.
We first spotted this AeroSet 2 three years ago in the US-made carbon ENVE Custom Road. Then, the external AeroSet 3 a year and a half later in Moots’ titanium Vamoots CRD road bike. First, you had to be a custom builder developing a bike with Chris King to get one. Then, the classic external cups option made it more possible for more builders.
We asked last year what happened to number one, and were told to be patient.
Well, now it’s here, and three options are on offer – with steel or ceramic bearings…
Tech details
What’s new is though really, is just that you can actually get an integrated routing headset for your bike now. Both of these new options are made for modern 1.5″ tapered steerer bikes with IS (Integrated System) headsets – IS52/IS52. Those are the ones where you drop the 1.5″ headset bearings directly into the frame.
The new AeroSet 1 is for 45°x45° bearing-to-race interface top and bottom. AeroSet 2 uses the same upper bearing and hardware, but a 36°x45° degree interface for the lower bearing. That’s it. That’s the difference for the model we had been missing.
Both new versions of the Chris King AeroSet share King’s unique GripLock isolated wedge tech. That guards your fork’s carbon steerer and the bearings themselves from excessive loads. Welcome protection whether you ride an ultralight bike or send your burly mountain bike off big hits.
And of course, designed and manufactured in Portland, Oregon and backed by Chris King’s lifetime warranty
Chris King AeroSet – Pricing, options & availability
The new Chris King AeroSet 1 & 2 headsets are gradually rolling out now in the full rainbow array for King’s anodized color palette. Additionally, they are available with standard steel bearings for $295, or for $415 with an upgrade to ceramic bearings. They feature the same upper headset bearing cap and internal routing guides as the AeroSet 3. Built to seamlessly pair with ENVE In Route and FSA ACR integrated internal cable routing systems.
Made in USA, the new AeroSet 1 & 2 already fit bikes from Argonaut, Baum, ENVE, Time, and likely quite a few more.
