[Closed] Superstar components headset or stick with hope?

I've had a couple of SSC headsets and they've been fine.

Hope are really, really good though.

Pay your money and take your choice.

My girlfriends bike has done about 1.5 years and 2500 hard miles, including a trip to Madeira and one to Finale and her Hope headset is still super smooth with no play at all. I'm not into the fancy colours (or their brakes for that matter) but it does seem like they know how to make good spinny things.

Sick of hope or stick with hope?

I normally have hope headsets and bottom brackets but my scandal came with a headset that was about £10. I thought it will do just to get me going.

I smothered it in good quality headset grease and I've routinely stripped and serviced it and itsas been fine.

I've never touched a hope headset.

So it depends if you want fit and forest?

Yes usually hope headsets, cannot fault them but I have to buy another headset as none in the shed fit.

So £80 Vs £35.....

I've got a Hope seat clamp.
I broke the bolt last Saturday, my fault. I emailed them asking if I could buy a bolt separately and how to pay them direct.
Didn't hear a peep from them, but a new bolt dropped through the letter box this morning, no note, no invoice, nothing. They were the same when I broke my Vision1 light, no questions asked, repaired light appeared again a few days later.
They dont say much but cant fault the customer service. As a result I have many, many Hope bits spread across various bikes.
I'd stick with Hope. They are usually pretty robust but on the odd occasion they aren't they'll sort you out.

Yes usually hope headsets, cannot fault them but I have to buy another headset as none in the shed fit.

So £80 Vs £35…..

Second hand Hope?

Well, it's not for your bike, is it...

Well, it’s not for your bike, is it…

This+1

unless you need a colour why bother. Black nukeproof neutron one is cheap enough.

I broke the bolt last Saturday, my fault. I emailed them asking if I could buy a bolt separately and how to pay them direct

Bolts are £8 and come in different colours.

The Nukeproof headset on my clockwork has been reliable & you can buy individual cups to suit what you need.

I put a Superstar headset into the last frame I built back up - the quality and bearings seemed pretty good and it appears to have survived this winter with no issues. I'm just about to start building a new ti touring bike frame up and had looked at putting a Hope headset in, but due to colour/stock and current price I've ended up just getting another Superstar one - this is 1-1/8 external in both cases though.

I just figured I could get two Superstar ones for less than the price of the Hope, and rarely seem to have headset issues, so may as well spend less...

I did buy a second hand frame in 2015 with a Hope headset fitted. Sold the frame last year and had never touched the headset.
Only one previously I'd had last that long was a FSA Orbit, which cost about £18.
Puts the Cane Creek ones into perspective I suppose. They are shit.

I have a Hope headset in my best bike and it has been a trouble free fit and forget dream.  I also have two Superstar headsets in less favoured bikes and they actually appear to be just as good.  Well sealed and no bother.

POAH

unless you need a colour why bother. Black nukeproof neutron one is cheap enough.

Headsets for me are one or the other... Nukeproof/Brand-X or Hope ...

If you don't mind changing cheap bearings when you do a fork service then NP/Brand-X .. if you don't want to bother checking/replacing bearings Hope. I still wipe and re-grease anyway so wasted money for me and it takes all of a minute.

What I can't understand are the crap + expensive headsets ... like Superstar or FSA.

I've swapped out all the FSA Orbits for NP when the bearings needed changing. Never had to change a Hope one. 2 I put in to convert a straight steerer (at the time that was Hope or CC) - both outlasted our use of the bike and I know for one the second owner as well. (The Cannondale)

The other Hope came with my frame and has never needed new bearings either but like I say its a 1 minute job when servicing forks anyway but I suppose if people like to pressure wash their headsets the Hope might be worth it.

My FSA one seems OK, I couldn't tell you what model it was, just what the LBS fitted when I said 'something decent but not too expensive'.

I put a superstar headset on my Krampus when I first built it up in 2013.
Still going strong with original bearings.
It's not my only bike, but probably done at least 6000km on it in that time.

Went with superstar just to see what happens...all in the name of research

I'm running the zs44 upper on one bike and it's been faultless, I went Hope for zs56 bottom as superstar one has issues with overly tight bearing fit after installation in some frames, but their ec44 won't have that problem so should be decent, its sealed crown race is similar to Hopes.

I thought as soon as you stopped fitting it with rocks you'd be reet? Have they still got a bad rep after all these years?

Nothing wrong with Superstar headsets. Pretty standard simple design.

That said, I'd still go with whatever the cheapest cane creek with cartridge bearings is these days, that's never seen me wrong.

I’ve just fitted a Superstar to my new frame, and it seems really well made. It’s two bearing cups, split crown race, and some bearings. Simple, half the price of Hope - which I’ve used for years on other bikes.

I can't speak for either but as somebody who rides in all conditions I don't recall the last time I had a headset fail and I've never paid more than £25 for one. They get moved from bike, outliving most other components. In my experience the only thing that prematurely kills headsets is the jet wash.

I've had better experiences recently with Superstar headsets than Hope, I wouldn't buy Hope again given the price.

Nukeproof, superstar or Brand-X in that order are my go to.

Nothing wrong with Superstar components.

Nothing wrong with either, the only problem with Superstar is the silly name and how people view the company, they initially got their marketing very wrong and have never fully recovered. Lets be honest, there aren't many 'bad' brands in the industry these days.

A bearing is a bearing and headset a headset. You get varying qualities.

Yes the hope headset looks nice, so do the Chris King ones for that matter. But at the end of the day it's that bearing that they put in that's doing the work.

I for one have never had anything better than a Aerozine XH12 which was already in a frame that I bought second hand and never have replaced the bearings. Never replaced the bearings in any other bikes I've owned.

Each time the fork comes out, I just clean everything give it a smear of grease and put it all back together.

Cheers for all the comments based on “perceptions” from people who value marketing and branding over a quality U.K. made product which I presume they haven’t even used or seen from their description.

Makes me laugh when people slate our own brand products when we also make the other brand they recommend. We are making four figure numbers of headsets a month now in-house and I can’t remember a problem other than people fitting bearings upside down occasionally.

Anyway back to more important things than listening to people who aren’t our customer as we aren’t expensive enough for their ego.

I’ll focus on keeping up with demand on our U.K. made products and making all the medical stuff we do as well....

Neil SuperstarComponents

Every mention of your stuff on this thread is positive but you’ve still got a chip on your shoulder. Let it go mate.

I see you didn’t really get that...

Yup, lots of positive comments from actual users

Negative comments as well from people who clearly haven’t used.

Thing which grates is people saying should I “risk” SuperstarComponents parts. No need to think like that as we stand by our product and make quality parts in the U.K.

Funny thing the internet

Neil SuperstarComponents

We have long memories...

Oh look - it that famous Neil customer service.

Hi TJ. I know you can’t help but troll about products you haven’t actually bought.

If you was a customer you probably would have a different opinion.

Happy trolling

Neil SuperstarComponents

I buy superstar kit all the time and find the quality to be great.
I have had hit and miss experience with hope, two broken hubs, a headset that one bearing used to fail all the time and the wheel QR's were dreadful. (That being said I would not buy a QR unless it had shimano stamped on it, as no other comes close.)
The superstar brake pads were shit, but that was 10 years ago.

Had anyone actually said SSC headsets were crap on here?

Talk about chippy.

I'm gonna ignore Neil popping up in this thread but My superstar slack headset has been great. Good to support UK manufacturing and it doesn't eat bearings for breakfast like the Cane creek that came on the bike.

Cheap & durable & UK made & octopron

win win win!

Cha****ng yes. Just the one...

Sorry I was just so shook by SuperstarComponents being described as EXPENSIVE and crap. Blew my mind. My sarcasm at the love of marketing bull in the bike industry obviously didn’t come through clear enough.

As you can see plenty of happy customers. We wouldn’t be still in business a decade and a half on if they weren’t.

Suns out. Go ride your bikes and be happy. Vondally your headset will no doubt be going out today. Any probs just email rather than start a decade long troll war please. I’m sure you will love it

Neil SuperstarComponents

Have both fitted to some bikes. Last one I bought was Superstar. They have come a long way since rebranded catalogue items of many years back. I also liked that fact I could select different colour top and bottom cups....

Both brands will work just perfectly, but if purchase cost a consideration, get Superstar.

I haven't got a Superstar headset because my stupid Camber has the bearings fitted straight in the frame.

I do have a 30T 104bcd chainring (I'm old and unfit) and some 12 speed jockey wheels from Superstar which I'm very happy with.

I've also got a Hope bottom bracket to replace the PF41 rubbish that Specialized fitted.

Great to have choice of good quality UK made components.

I've had a similar experience to Butcher, although I am not a serial bike swapper so headsets generally stay in the same frame for a long time.
I've got a Cane Creek which is almost 20 years old & still on the original bearings. Every now & again I drop the fork to give it a clean up & re-grease. I give it a good smearing of lithium grease, but the old grease never seems particularly manky & there is always plenty in there.

I did have the bearings on my first road bike go very clunky after a wet ride & when I disassembled it, it had loose cage bearings & was completely dry. It had gone quite rusty. I cleaned it up, packed it out with new grease & it was fine after that until I stuck it on my turbo trainer. Had it not been destined for the turbo, I would have replaced that one.

I get the frustration from Neil @ Superstar when people are suggesting that trying their headsets is a risky proposition, but then I guess that comes down to marketing/reputation/history etc. I think there are better ways to deal with these types of negative posts, than popping up & making a snarky post.
I was a bit surprised to read his reaction, as virtually every post here was actually positive & supportive of the product. If he'd come on here, perhaps described the quality of the product & given some reassurance as to why his products are a good equivalent to some of the more 'premium' brands (whether premium is classed by genuine engineering merit, or branding, or customer service or just a higher price etc) it would be more productive than randomly popping up & making some snipey comments that don't actually achieve anything. All that does is reinforce the old stereotypes about the company, while Hope gets people popping up eulogising about their great customer service having been sent a small component for a part purchased many years prior.
If Neil had spent the same time as he did on that post, mentioning the high specification they manufacture to, the quality of their bearings, their customer service processes etc. it probably would have been a more productive use of time.

FWIW, I am a tight arse & tend to hang onto components for as long as possible. I am not constantly buying components left, right & centre but I have bought a few things from Superstar over the years (including quite a few sets of brake pads - all that functioned as well as the ones form the brake manufacturer), and would do so again.

I'm no fan of Neil's history of customer surface but it's only right that he pop in and defend his company's reputation;

OP:

do I risk a superstar components one

stextc:

What I can’t understand are the crap + expensive headsets … like Superstar or FSA.

that said, he also needs to stay professional, make his point then leave instead of sniping at other users. 😀

Isn't contempt for your customers a requirement to work in the bike industry? At the very least you need to be able to see them as an inconvenience.

Probably should add that is tongue in cheek but does stem from experience, of a couple of bike shop owners and some other industry professionals.

I actually quite like Superstar stuff. Seems pretty decent quality and nothing like as overpriced as Hope

Hello,
as OP I posted a request for information and review on a product; was that based on and informed by
a) past reviews and forum talk - yes
b) personal experience - yes. As a family we bought things back in the day and they were not great, other like a handlebar was fantastic.
c) I wanted other peoples experiences to make a informed and balanced decision. E.g the tolerance maybe tight so put it in the freezer - ok will do that good advice.

Risk - maybe I should have defined that but I would say I am not a serial parts buyer and I do consider buying parts that will not last 'x' period of time worthwhile if cost is 'y'.
So I will not buy shimano brakes as in my experience they cannot be repaired and prefer Hope for that reason.
I have only a £100 order with superstar but to me that is a lot of cash, going on something that will be used and enjoyed by someone else, so I have a fiscal and emotional investment in the purchase. another element of risk.

I want to support local shops and businesses and on this build where ever possible I have tried to do that.

Neal@superstar I really appreciate you have answered and taken the time to be on here, it is something I value about the mountain bike world that you can speak to business CEO- so thanks for the update on my order,

Vondally your headset will no doubt be going out today. Any probs just email rather than start a decade long troll war please. I’m sure you will love it

I agree with Stumpy01 re how you may wished to have approached the reply Neal, as I have said above i value the buying local and supporting uk manufacturing where I can, I would like to have heard the positives, I get the frustration as Stumpy points out but in the reply you ask me to email ( which I will do ) but refrain from a troll war. My intention was never to start a troll war nor to create a future one however I will comment and post on my experience - hopefully good and wonderful- but I have that prerogative without it being seen as a troll war or comment.

I look forward to the order arriving.

Cheers

I can't change the cups on the HB160 headset as they're bonded in, but I'd have a green SS one if it could be changed.

Also get excellent life out of SS chainrings (at least 2 times longer than the Hope original ring) and they're one of the few aftermarket fitments for Hope cranks.

I don't get it.. Why is using one headset over the other being risky?
Aside from supporting a bearing and looking good (some look better that others) what else is there? Other than a bearing becoming rough (I will become rough a lot longer before it completely fails) that else can go wrong? Just change the bearing..

I've got Superstar headsets on a couple of bikes, actually looking now at an angleset one for a new build later this year. I've always been happy with SS product from pads to bars to rotors to headsets and wheels. Only time I have ever had a problem was a freehub that died (this was reasonably well known about 8 years ago or thereabouts), but it was dealt with brilliantly with a FOC rebuild onto a different hub model as the one that failed had been superseded in the colour I wanted.

As others have said, I totally get Neil's frustration with resurfacing of very old issues after best part of a decade, especially as the products in question are long gone. And TBH the only thing I can say is that there's the example why companies employ a client facing customer service person, as with the best will in the world, the person with the skillset to design, develop, manufacture products and scale a business are not necessarily the same skills to deal with direct to consumer queries. But that's all a minor aside. You'll be fine with a Superstar headset or any of their other products too.

Even a "simple headset question" gets ****ing ridiculous on here lately. Must be the covid mentality affecting people. Certainly is tiresome.

Even a “simple headset question” gets **** ridiculous on here lately

OK, OK - keep your crown race on.

Two CX bikes my end, one with a hope headset in, one with a superstar.
Both raced and (jet) washed regularly, both still working after a few seasons. Based on this I've got got a few more superstar on other bikes, work for me and are my go to.

Vondally sorry I never meant that you were even contemplating a troll war, just a jest at the trolls here. Your part has almost certainly been shipped by now, I hope you like it.

While there’s a lot of sensitive snowflakes on here who are offended by everything I say and are straight in to call their mates to add reply’s to back them up. I find that 99% of people (our actual customers) like honesty like this rather than corporate schmoozy customer service reply’s with no action.

Make nice parts in the U.K. , sell them for half the price of everyone else, don’t waste money paying people/media to do good reviews, sort the tiny number of problems, lots of return customers. That’s what we do.

Neil SuperstarComponents

Just taken delivery of a superstar headset, both top and bottom for the same price as a hope top or bottom.

i can see no difference, in both quality or manufacturing. I expect it’ll be as faultless in use too.

i love hope, and I do buy it but usually if superstar makes it I find it very hard to ignore that.

raptor chainrings are another excellent example.

neil if you’re still reading this could you make a similar reference system to hope for headsets as most of my purchasing dithering was to make sure I’d deciphered the codes etc.

Amazing that some folks are STILL trotting out the same tired stuff years later. 🙄
Not surprised Neil gets a bit riled by it.

I got my superstar Isotope wheelset the other week.
It's a work of art. Lovely build and feels like great quality.
Had a lot of wheels over the years and no issues at all.
Superstar are great for mtb

weird double post

FSA MX pro I bought for £12.50 or something stupid from On-One 9 years ago hasn't been touched for 15K+ miles on the commuter/tourer/cross/gravel bike type thing.

Neil, if you're still on, any news on when you might be getting Shimano 2-pot brake pads in, please?

Neil, no worries and thanks for the reply.
Package arrived and on inspection really pleased with the quality of the headset, well machined and looks well sealed.
Bought a hub which looks brilliant and a chainring so all good.

Nedraiper. After years of everyone copying and jumping on the bandwagon of brake pads I decided to bow out the market. Why? Just became overcrowded and based around who got the biggest crew of paid influencers to bang on about their brand. It became a bloodbath of discounting and I was more interested in making U.K. stuff.

Now that’s all gone we are relaunching with a small restock in early summer. We get asked about 40 times a day so I’ve relented

Neil SuperstarComponents

Woohoo, Superstar brake pads are coming back! Just in time too as my current stock bought before you stopped selling them is about to run out.

Regarding the rest of what you sell, I've been buying stuff for the last 10 year and only have one thing go wrong which was quickly sorted with no fuss. I remember being told not to buy a Switch rear hub as the freehub would explode but bought it anyway. It has so far done over 10k miles on a singlespeed commuter in all weathers. Still on the original bearing and the freehub hasn't exploded yet.

Following that I haven't listened to any of the detractors and they are where I look first for parts.

Keep up the good work.

Headsets - well the best I have had giving years of service over a few different bikes is a FSA Orbit Extreme Pro. The worst is a Cane Creek 40. Everything else is somewhere in-between those 2 including Hope, Superstar, etc...and all absolutely fine. They all needed bearings at some point as expected apart from the FSA. The Cane Creek seemed to eat bearings for fun though.

asbrooks
Full Member

I don’t get it.. Why is using one headset over the other being risky?

Switching from something you know and like to something new is always a risk tbh, known quantities are safe even if not necessarily the best.

Neil - cheers! Yours were cheap, worked and were quiet. First bought organics after getting hacked off with Avid howl - and £17 stock replacement cost.

Not surprised you canned them - can't imagine you made much money from yours, especially as I used to load up when you had them on bulk offers and discounted further!

You probably get asked so often because the alternatives now on offer are expensive enough that people have to put some thought into what to get.

superstarcomponents

While there’s a lot of sensitive snowflakes on here

Christ.

I had some sympathies regarding your post last night to be honest. Then you post that. Has it occurred to you that you could also be defined as the "snowflake" in this thread?

Sorry guys, just not a fan of that term.