Integrated Headset Bearing Seals (2 vs 1)

Manc33 · Post by **Manc33** » 26 Sep 2020, 9:55pm

Some integrated headset bearings have a metal side where it fits into the head tube, like this:

Others have a seal on both sides:

Assuming everything else is equal, is there any difference between having one seal on one side, or two seals?

This is the bearing where, in a climate like the UK, it doesn't take long to end up with grit in it.

I suppose I should just get Chris King "Dropset" bearings (they have a lifetime guarantee which surprised me on bearings for this application!) but I'm not paying three times more (£120) for a headset.

I think the price of these things is absurd (all of them, for example FSA) because the outer surface of the lower bearing gets rust on it in about 1,000 miles of use. I suppose if there's a plastic seal there, it can't rust :lol:

Incidentally the Chris King ones have 2 seals...