DAWES SST Plastic headset ring

[chrislee130]

Hi everyone, Im new to this forum so i apologize if i'm posting in the wrong section. I know the dawes sst is a pretty cheap bike but it is actually hold up well for me however the plastic ring hold on the top of the headset is pretty weak and i would love to be able to replace this with a metal piece, does anyone know where i would get this? Do i need to buy a whole new headset? Thanks so much!

Chris

[tihsepa]

Just get a whole headset. You will be glad you did.
A good one can be had cheep and is 100000000000% better than the one your bike came with.
The bike is good. Headet, not so much.

[chrislee130]

Do you have a recommend for the headset? I was looking into the crankbrothers http://wwww.crankbrothers.com/directsets_cobaltsl.php I don't even know if this would fit.

Thanks!

[tihsepa]

Do you have a recommend for the headset? I was looking into the crankbrothers http://wwww.crankbrothers.com/directsets_cobaltsl.php I don't even know if this would fit.

Thanks!

That CB looks cool but is kind of junky.
Just a good old reliable Cane Creek S3 will do you fine.

[f3rg]

I second the Cane Creek S3.

[logbiter]

3rd the canecreek! the cobalts don't have a great reputation, though I've never used one. FSA & canecreek have worked out great for me.

[rx-79g]

It's a headset. It doesn't make your bike go faster. Put some good grease in it and replace it when it actually wears out, years from now.

The plastic spacer is probably no stronger than a carbon fiber one, so you could leave it. If not, bike stores always have carbon and aluminum spacers for just a few dollars.

[frdfandc]

Several manufacturers use the plastic retaining ring on their lower end headsets without issue. Just wait till the headset bearings are trashed and replace with the Cane Creek S3. Which is now IIRC the 40 series.

[chrislee130]

It looks like the crank brothers is a bit lighter not that I'll really notice a difference. Do I have to do anything special to install an internal bearing system? Thanks everyone.

[rx-79g]

It looks like the crank brothers is a bit lighter not that I'll really notice a difference. Do I have to do anything special to install an internal bearing system? Thanks everyone.

You'll need a different frame for internal bearings. Why put such an expensive and unnecessary part on an inexpensive bike?

[frdfandc]

Why put such an expensive and unnecessary part on an inexpensive bike?

It would be like putting 5k worth of wheels on a $300 car. People do it, but it doesn't make any sense.