We just got a new Hope headset into the shop last week. It is different from the original UK Hope threadless headset. Gone are the multiple o-ring seals of the “Pre-2007” headset. This one has simple cups, angular contact bearings and dual colletted races. The bearings are not press-fit into the aluminum cups – instead, they just drop in. Hope is relying on the conical inner surfaces to keep the bearings tight when end-loaded. Both the crown race and upper bearing steerer collar are aluminum split-collets. This is good from the centering/freeplay/end-loading aspect. It would be nice if the crown race was stainless steel though, since it will take a lot of impact and shear loads – not sure how long aluminum will last in this application. The colletted crown race will make installation extremely easy – only a cup press will be required.
The top cover is aluminum with an o-ring around the steerer and a flexible lip seal around its perimeter. Thin shims are provided to go between the upper bearing steerer collar and the underside of the top cover. Without a shim, the top cover drags against the top cup. The shim may also act to decouple the collar from the cover. This is a kludge – a raised section approximating the shim should have been machined into the top cover. The only reason I can imagine they went the shim route is to accommodate massively undersized steerers. The smaller the steerer, the smaller the collet gets, and the deeper it goes into the beaing. Therefore, the shims provide for the proper top spacing for the cap. I guess I can forgive them.
A star-nut-less adjuster cap and expander device are included. All parts except for a pair of wire clips are aluminum – including the bolt! It is a single-acting device – no separate expander setting screw. I’m guessing you set the expander with the cap removed, then reassemble.
Made in the UK with Swiss INA stainless steel bearings.
About $120 MSRP
Not field tested. I forsee an issue with the bearing-to-cup interface (eventual concentric play), and crown race longevity.
I’ve got the star nut not a star nut thing on the Yeti. Don’t like it. Doesn’t seem to hold very well. From what I rememeber, there’s an o-ring that holds it together and it didn’t like being stuff into the steerer tube.