I found an advantage to a-head headsets!

[swee'pea99]

I've always thought they were a retrograde step, the old quill type being such a classic piece of elegant, simple, effective design, but having just tightened up the headset on my new bike, I have to admit that it was a massively easier and more definitive job than doing it with the old style.

 

[fossyant]

I agree, but most ahead sets (stems) are ugly.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I agree, but most ahead sets (stems) are ugly.

They looked ugly when they first came out, but time has actually made them look rather good. In fact I think quills, like fancy lugs on frames are now the things which look ugly.

 

[Hover Fly]

Just wait until you want to raise your 'bars slightly.

 

[fossyant]

They looked ugly when they first came out, but time has actually made them look rather good. In fact I think quills, like fancy lugs on frames are now the things which look ugly.

That's you sorted smokin joe !!!

I fitted Ritchey WCS/Pro kit to my commuter as it's nice, but it isn't as nice as a Cinelli XA stem. I'm not a fan of fancy curly lugs, but ugly welds are horrible - thank goodness some manfacturers are doing smooth welds - my commuter is a generic frame and it has smooth welds, as does Boardman - now they are nice.

 

[swee'pea99]

They looked ugly when they first came out, but time has actually made them look rather good. In fact I think quills, like fancy lugs on frames are now the things which look ugly.

Oh no, when it comes to looks, it's really no contest...

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Pace Research did it years ago, on their RC100

But, upside down, with, individually replaceable fork-blades

Plus
- Grease-nipples,
on the bottom-bracket & head-tube

- Bullseye cranks,
adopted from BMX) which pre-dated Shimano by many years

- Magura hydraulic brakes
still rim-brakes, I ended up splitting a rim on mine, due to embedded grit in a shoe
That said, pads were just push-in/pull-out (it had to have a deflated tyre to remove the wheel though)

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Oh no, when it comes to looks, it's really no contest...

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The A-Head wins hands down in my opinion.

It looks good because it's appearance displays it's functionality. Stiff, secure, and easy to maintain and adjust.

 

[TheDoctor]

I once tightened up a loose a-headset outside a pub, in under a minute, using a multitool. Try that with an old skool one!

 

[Dan B]

Agree with most of the preceding: ahead sets are much better engineered (unless you ever want to raise your bars but have already cut your steerer too short) but I've never seen one that wouldn't look out of place on a tractor

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Oh no, when it comes to looks, it's really no contest...

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You're right! The one on the left looks far better.

 

[winjim]

So the only advantage to them is that they're better?