With Interbike kicking off next week, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to feature one of our favorite brands in our weekly Made in America spotlight. Since 1976, Chris King Precision Components of Portland, Oregon has been making what is arguably the best bicycle components available today.
What started off with bearings and a single headset design has evolved into a company that produces bearings, headsets, bottom brackets and hubs for every type of bike on the market. Chris King products are ridden by amateurs and professionals alike due to the high level of quality and craftsmanship that is put into every single product.
Chris King so strongly believes in the quality of their products that they stand behind their headsets with a 10-year warranty and their hubs and bottom brackets with a 5-year warranty – easily double of any other component manufacturer in the market.
These warranties are for manufacturer defects, not abuse or neglect of maintenance. The stainless steel bearing do need to be serviced, but do not fear as Chris King has thought of this need. Along with designing and manufacturing all these different components, Chris King also produces meticulously machined tools to service all of their bearings. The instructions are very detailed and if their grease is used in servicing, your Chris King components will feel as good as new once serviced.
Having personally owned and serviced numerous Chris King components, this reporter can attest to the quality and longevity of their products. In fact, one headset in my fleet of bikes is from 1996 and still feels as good as the day it was purchased. This quality does come with a price, Chris King components are also some of the most expensive on the market; but there is another way to look at the upfront cost. How long will the item last? Looking at that headset from 1996, it has only cost $4 a year and is only getting cheaper the longer it is used. How many headsets do you own that are 15 years old?