Chris King NoThreadSet Headset 1-1/8" - Two Tone Black Gold

Chris King NoThreadSet 1 1/8" is a classic external headset for frames with a 34 mm head tube and a straight 1 1/8" fork. The standard is EC34/28.6 at the top and EC34/30 at the bottom, with external bearing cups both above and below the head tube. It's the right Chris King headset for bikes using the traditional 1 1/8" standard—not for tapered forks or frames with integrated or semi-integrated headset.

NoThreadSet has been around since the early 1990s and is one of the components Chris King built its reputation on. The bearings are manufactured by Chris King themselves in Portland, with heat-treated bearings and matched steel races. The design is fully serviceable, so when the bearings need attention after many miles, they can be opened, cleaned, and lubricated instead of replacing the entire headset.

The 1 1/8" version uses Chris King's GripLock system, which separates bearing adjustment from clamping around the steerer tube. This helps the headset maintain the correct preload even when the bike is ridden hard over rough terrain. The stack height is 17.7 mm at the top and 13.7 mm at the bottom, which is worth checking on builds where steerer tube length is already limited.

Two Tone Black Gold is the more expressive version of the NoThreadSet. The matte black bearing cups are paired with prominent gold-colored KING markings instead of the more understated tone-on-tone logos of the Sotto Voce versions. Technically, it is the same classic NoThreadSet, but the look is entirely different - especially on a custom build where the headset can be a visible part of the whole.

The most important thing to check before buying is the full headset standard. The frame must be designed for EC34 both top and bottom, and the fork must have a straight 1 1/8" steerer tube with a 30 mm crown race seat. If you have that combination, the NoThreadSet is a serviceable 1 1/8" headset for anyone who would rather buy a component for many years of use than treat a headset as a consumable.

Quick Specs

• Model: Chris King NoThreadSet 1 1/8"
• Type: External threadless headset
• S.H.I.S. upper: EC34/28.6
• S.H.I.S. lower: EC34/30
• Steerer tube: Straight 1 1/8"
• Crown race seat: 30 mm
• Head tube: For EC34, approximately 34 mm inner diameter
• Construction: External Cup top and bottom
• Upper stack height: 17.7 mm
• Lower stack height: 13.7 mm
• Total stack height: 31.4 mm
• System: Chris King GripLock
• Bearings: Serviceable Chris King bearings
• Weight: Approximately 98 g
• Color: Two Tone Black Gold
• Finish: Matte black with gold-colored markings
• Included: Chris King star nut
• Does not fit: Tapered forks or frames with a headset standard other than EC34/28.6 | EC34/30
• Warranty: Chris King Lifetime Warranty
• Developed, manufactured, and assembled in: Portland, Oregon, USA