Chris King Dropset 5 Headset

The Chris King Dropset 5 headset was developed to meet the demands of modern bicycle frames, where headset bearings are often designed to sit directly inside the frame’s headtube. After years of producing press-in bearing headsets, Chris King recognized the need to adapt to these new frame designs. Integrated headsets, where bearings are not pressed securely into a cup, present a unique challenge—they can shift, lose preload, and are prone to creaking damage, and eventual failure. Chris King tackled this issue with their patented GripLock bearing cap, a solution designed to maintain consistent preload and prevent the issues commonly associated with integrated headsets.

The GripLock bearing cap sets the Dropset 5 apart by preloading the headset independently of the steerer clamp, ensuring it retains preload better than other headsets. This design minimizes the effects of load spikes from large impacts and heavy braking, resulting in smoother steering, eliminating creaks, and extending the headset’s lifespan. Additionally, the GripLock design simplifies the process of preloading a headset by making the bearing preload force independent of the clamping force, allowing for precise torque specification.

The Dropset 5 is engineered, manufactured, and assembled in Portland, Oregon, and comes with the renowned King Lifetime Warranty. It features legendary made-in-house bearings and a patented GripLock retention design for dependable headset adjustment. The Dropset 5 includes a 42mm 45x45 upper bearing and a 52mm 45x45 lower bearing, making it compatible with a wide range of modern frames.