I bought the FSA Pig headset (unsealed) at least 6 months ago from a local bike shop after negotiating the price down to $20.00 (USD) Using the hammer/wood method I installed the cups, greased it up, and rode for the day. I was very happy with how smooth it felt, and was overall very happy with the headset. The headset has a smaller bearing for the top, and a more heavy duty (but not heavy duty enough) bigger bearing on the bottom, and I thought that was good. All went smoothly for a while, the headset performed great in everything I rode, street, dirt, and park, and I was happy. One day, a week or two ago, I set up this slanted up box in my driveway and was bunnyhop barspinning off of it, and all of a sudden the headset got loose, and I was like "wtf??" Well, I got out my tools, disassembled it, and found that the bottom bearing broke. Yeah, it just decided to snap. I have always kept it loose enough to spin freely, but tight enough so their was no movement in the front end, and kept it well greased and clean.
It just broke, barspinning off of something about a foot high. It kind of made me mad. I put it back in, broken, so I could ride untill I could see how I could get it fixed.. But, I looked up the FSA warranty and read...
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Originally Posted by FSA Warranty
Headsets: Orbit Xtreme and Orbit Xtreme Pro headsets are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship or bearing failure for ten years from date of purchase. All other FSA brand headsets are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for two years from date of purchase.
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...then decided to send them an email. Any reputable company should warranty this. So I sent them an email, and they replied in reasonable time -
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Originally Posted by FSA Warranty
Cabot,
What is your shipping address? Normally for a warranty we would ask that the defective piece be sent in for inspection and so forth. However in this case I can just drop one in the mail for you. Mail has been picked up for the day but it will go out tomorrow.
Liana
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So, a few days later my new bearing came in the mail.
Pics
New -
Installed-
After installing the new bearing, it spins just as good, and it makes me happy again. I don't know if it is just bad luck that my bottom bearing broke or if it is just bad design, but I will give FSA the benefit of the doubt.
Overall, It rides great, but I don't know about the bearing. I would suggest this headset to someone who does not have much money like I did, but if you have the cash, I would suggest investing in a sealed headset.
I'll give it a 7.5/10. it would have got a 9.9/10 if the bearing did not break.
