VP Angle Adjustable Headset - Taipei Cycle Show 2011
Angle adjustable headsets have been one of the most talked about products in recent times, but how about one that allows you to make adjustments nearly on the fly? Inside you can check out the VP Components version that does just that, letting you make up to 1.5° of non-indexed adjustment.![photo]()
Adjusting your bike's head angle is all the rage right now, and for good reason. When a bike's angles are chosen, the engineer has to decide on geometry numbers that make the most sense for the majority of places that the bike is intended to be used. That method does make a lot of sense. After all, the designers know how the bike is intended to be ridden, and they are obviously much better versed in the physics behind the numbers than the majority of riders. Here's the thing though: sometimes a rider could actually be going faster or be in more control if the bike's steering angle is adjusted to be slacker or steeper. This is especially true when it comes to the emerging all-mountain and trail bikes who's suspension action is so well sorted that they can tackle some serious terrain with some serious speed - sometimes it is just the angles that hold the bike back. All of this talk begs the question: should we really be mucking about with how a bike handles? Might not the designers of the bike know better than us? The answer, of course, is that they probably do, but that hasn't stopped anyone in the past. Riders have been adjusting the geometry of their mountain bikes for nearly as long as there have been mountain bikes; from tuning the suspension's ride height to alter the geometry for the terrain, to offset shock bushings and taller crown races. Cane Creek's AngleSet adjustable headset opened the floodgates, but it's all been happening for a long time.
While the AngleSet is no doubt very effective and works quite well, what if you could adjust your bike's steering angle faster and easier? No cup removal and no hammer needed, just a set of hex keys. Would you be more likely to tinker with the handling until you found a number that you liked? Is being able to adjust a bike's head angle within just a few minutes a bit over the top? Have a look at VP Components new adjustable angle headset, shown here on Pinkbike for the first time, and decide for yourself.
![photo]()
The new VP Components adjustable headset, which has the rather dry official name of 'VP-ADJ01', works in much the same way as you would expect, but it's how you change the head angle that is rather clever. Starting at the bottom, the lower bearing sits directly into the headset cup, sans gimbal, and is allowed to pivot freely in the lower cup while adjustments are being made. This is possible because of the bearing's outer race, which has a conical shape that lets it find the proper alignment when making adjustments - picture a cupped bearing or how your shoulder fits into its socket. VP Components actually manufacture the special conically shaped sealed bearings that are used in the lower cup (the top is fitted with a standard bearing) and are very confident that their design does not require a gimbal to function. Inserting the bearing into the cup by hand and pivoting it around as it would when you are making adjustments revealed an exacting fit that moved freely, but has zero room for it to shift wrongly within the cup. I would be interested to see if the same could be said after a few months of hard use, although they are adamant that the models being tested in the field are performing well.
The clever bits, what allows the on-the-fly adjustments to be made, are all hidden within the upper assembly. The top headset cup features a conical depression into which fits the offset gimbal. The gimbal itself is allowed to rotate on a sort of sliding plate that is captured within the upper cup. You adjust the headset by rotating the gimbal within the headset's top cup, and because it is offset, it changes the head angle of the bike. The fork's center line stays in line with the rest of the bike because the sliding plate can only move side to side, thus it only changes the head angle as you make adjustments. This is only possible because the gimbal sits within a sliding plate that is allowed to move freely, sliding slightly side to side, as you make adjustments. There are two small pinching clamps on either side of the sliding plate that tighten down to keep adjustments in check. Still a bit fuzzy on how it works? Watch the video below to see what's going on.
The VP Angle Adjustable Headset In Action:
VP-ADJ01 details:
• Angle adjustable headset that can be adjusted quickly
• +/- 1.5° of adjustment (based on 100mm head tube length)
• Adjustment is non-indexed, allowing you to choose any angle between stock and 1.5° of difference
• Prototype shown fits full length 1.5" head tubes (other sizes are a possibility)
• Fits 1.125" (standard non-over sized and non-tapered) steerer tubes
• Sealed cartridge bearings
• Stack height: 15.7mm (upper), 6.8mm (lower)
• Weight: 186 grams
• Still in testing stage, price TBD
![photo]()
There is no doubting that VP's new adjustable headset is a cool piece of kit, but there are certainly a few questions that come to mind at this point. The beta version that I got to photograph and tinker with worked smoothly in my hands, only requiring light finger pressure to turn the upper gimbal, but I'd like to see how easy it is to make adjustments after it has been in the field for a few months. The tolerances to have the system work must be very high, especially the upper gimbal and sliding assembly - how well will it take to the elements or accidentally riding with it loose? At this point in time there are only beta versions to fit full length 1.5" head tubes, but that could change when it hits production. I doubt that it would be that far fetched for the design to work in a tapered head tube, especially considering that the upper bearing and assembly are all external already. Although, the prospective frame would need to accept a standard press-in external upper cup for the system to work, not the semi-integrated design that many currently use.
![photo]()
Does VP's adjustable headset make sense? I would say yes, given that it will allow riders to adjust their bike's handling quicker and without having to remove any headset cups. I see this being ideal not only for racers who adjust their bikes for each course, but more so for average riders and garage mechanics who want to find out what angles work best for them, but are intimidated by the idea of having to remove a headset cup to do it. In the same vein, I'm sure frame manufacturers would love to get their paws on this headset to make geometry choices during testing much easier. For it to be successful VP will have to release a model for tapered head tubes - I don't see many frame manufacturers going back to using full length 1.5" head tubes just so this clever unit can be used. Once that happens, and once the unit has been proven to stand up over time, I can certainly see a place for it.
Check out the VP website to see their entire component lineup.
I like the idea and I like the execution, now I just need some trail time to see if the design really works. Keeping in mind that the unit shown here is still in the prototype stage - it may get slimmer and less obtrusive once it hits production - what do you make of VP's angle adjustable headset?
VP Components' angle adjustable headset allows riders to quickly and easily adjust the steering angle of their bike by up to 1.5 degrees - without needing to remove any headset cups. All that's required is a set of hex keys and a few minutes. The complete upper assembly (right) looks a bit unwieldy in this photo, but keep in mind that it is still in the testing stages and will likely be trimmed down before reaching production.
Adjusting your bike's head angle is all the rage right now, and for good reason. When a bike's angles are chosen, the engineer has to decide on geometry numbers that make the most sense for the majority of places that the bike is intended to be used. That method does make a lot of sense. After all, the designers know how the bike is intended to be ridden, and they are obviously much better versed in the physics behind the numbers than the majority of riders. Here's the thing though: sometimes a rider could actually be going faster or be in more control if the bike's steering angle is adjusted to be slacker or steeper. This is especially true when it comes to the emerging all-mountain and trail bikes who's suspension action is so well sorted that they can tackle some serious terrain with some serious speed - sometimes it is just the angles that hold the bike back. All of this talk begs the question: should we really be mucking about with how a bike handles? Might not the designers of the bike know better than us? The answer, of course, is that they probably do, but that hasn't stopped anyone in the past. Riders have been adjusting the geometry of their mountain bikes for nearly as long as there have been mountain bikes; from tuning the suspension's ride height to alter the geometry for the terrain, to offset shock bushings and taller crown races. Cane Creek's AngleSet adjustable headset opened the floodgates, but it's all been happening for a long time.
While the AngleSet is no doubt very effective and works quite well, what if you could adjust your bike's steering angle faster and easier? No cup removal and no hammer needed, just a set of hex keys. Would you be more likely to tinker with the handling until you found a number that you liked? Is being able to adjust a bike's head angle within just a few minutes a bit over the top? Have a look at VP Components new adjustable angle headset, shown here on Pinkbike for the first time, and decide for yourself.
The complete upper assembly. Angle adjustments are made by turning the tab on the bottom right hand corner, which turns the offset gimbal and alters the bike's steering angle. Once adjustments have been made, you lock them in place by tightening down the two clamps on either side of the sliding plate. These, combined with the pre-load from tightening your headset, keep the unit from shifting.
The new VP Components adjustable headset, which has the rather dry official name of 'VP-ADJ01', works in much the same way as you would expect, but it's how you change the head angle that is rather clever. Starting at the bottom, the lower bearing sits directly into the headset cup, sans gimbal, and is allowed to pivot freely in the lower cup while adjustments are being made. This is possible because of the bearing's outer race, which has a conical shape that lets it find the proper alignment when making adjustments - picture a cupped bearing or how your shoulder fits into its socket. VP Components actually manufacture the special conically shaped sealed bearings that are used in the lower cup (the top is fitted with a standard bearing) and are very confident that their design does not require a gimbal to function. Inserting the bearing into the cup by hand and pivoting it around as it would when you are making adjustments revealed an exacting fit that moved freely, but has zero room for it to shift wrongly within the cup. I would be interested to see if the same could be said after a few months of hard use, although they are adamant that the models being tested in the field are performing well.
The clever bits, what allows the on-the-fly adjustments to be made, are all hidden within the upper assembly. The top headset cup features a conical depression into which fits the offset gimbal. The gimbal itself is allowed to rotate on a sort of sliding plate that is captured within the upper cup. You adjust the headset by rotating the gimbal within the headset's top cup, and because it is offset, it changes the head angle of the bike. The fork's center line stays in line with the rest of the bike because the sliding plate can only move side to side, thus it only changes the head angle as you make adjustments. This is only possible because the gimbal sits within a sliding plate that is allowed to move freely, sliding slightly side to side, as you make adjustments. There are two small pinching clamps on either side of the sliding plate that tighten down to keep adjustments in check. Still a bit fuzzy on how it works? Watch the video below to see what's going on.
• Angle adjustable headset that can be adjusted quickly
• +/- 1.5° of adjustment (based on 100mm head tube length)
• Adjustment is non-indexed, allowing you to choose any angle between stock and 1.5° of difference
• Prototype shown fits full length 1.5" head tubes (other sizes are a possibility)
• Fits 1.125" (standard non-over sized and non-tapered) steerer tubes
• Sealed cartridge bearings
• Stack height: 15.7mm (upper), 6.8mm (lower)
• Weight: 186 grams
• Still in testing stage, price TBD
Take note of how the upper gimbal is offset. This is what allows you to adjust the head angle as you rotate the assembly.
There is no doubting that VP's new adjustable headset is a cool piece of kit, but there are certainly a few questions that come to mind at this point. The beta version that I got to photograph and tinker with worked smoothly in my hands, only requiring light finger pressure to turn the upper gimbal, but I'd like to see how easy it is to make adjustments after it has been in the field for a few months. The tolerances to have the system work must be very high, especially the upper gimbal and sliding assembly - how well will it take to the elements or accidentally riding with it loose? At this point in time there are only beta versions to fit full length 1.5" head tubes, but that could change when it hits production. I doubt that it would be that far fetched for the design to work in a tapered head tube, especially considering that the upper bearing and assembly are all external already. Although, the prospective frame would need to accept a standard press-in external upper cup for the system to work, not the semi-integrated design that many currently use.
The upper assembly will obviously have more stack height to it than a standard headset, but at 15.7mm, it isn't as much higher than many other non-adjustable models.
Does VP's adjustable headset make sense? I would say yes, given that it will allow riders to adjust their bike's handling quicker and without having to remove any headset cups. I see this being ideal not only for racers who adjust their bikes for each course, but more so for average riders and garage mechanics who want to find out what angles work best for them, but are intimidated by the idea of having to remove a headset cup to do it. In the same vein, I'm sure frame manufacturers would love to get their paws on this headset to make geometry choices during testing much easier. For it to be successful VP will have to release a model for tapered head tubes - I don't see many frame manufacturers going back to using full length 1.5" head tubes just so this clever unit can be used. Once that happens, and once the unit has been proven to stand up over time, I can certainly see a place for it.
Check out the VP website to see their entire component lineup.
I like the idea and I like the execution, now I just need some trail time to see if the design really works. Keeping in mind that the unit shown here is still in the prototype stage - it may get slimmer and less obtrusive once it hits production - what do you make of VP's angle adjustable headset?
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1. who gives a f*ck what it looks like. get over yourself./
2. Sure this isnt the most useful on say dh bikes.....what most of you bitch about the headangles of, but think of the other kinds of bikes out there- more versatile bikes. these may just need on the fly adjust before heading back down the mountain or seshing up the jumps
3. you can use it on 1 1/8 headtubes.....come on, give em some props!
nice job VP, you guys are killing it. i can see myself buying one (but to expand your buyers, maybe make it look prettier?)
And for those complaining about it being ugly: you don't think your bike would look cleaner without a seat post collar and rear cassette? Of course it would, but sometimes function trumps form.
I thought adjustable seatposts were a gimmick until I rode one and realized how useful they are. Moral of the story: don't be so ignorant/naive that you dismiss new products before giving them a try.
many people I know share the same feeling about that place: shopping there is a relief, a pure relief
from ever present, constant need to choose...
There is an excellent idea going with angle headsets: BEING A COOK OR A CHEF. You can follow someone's recipe and advice or you can try to do it your way with pieces of knowledge you have and following your "creative instinct". In the second option you have a good chance of cooking something that tastes pretty bad despite of many attempts...
Cheers!
Personally I wouldn't run it, but if it works for racers who're looking for that split and have the same bike for the season it may make the difference!
In my opinion this little nugget of a product is the missing link for a one bike quiver that could actually do everything. Take a bike like the Voltage FR for example. This is a bike that was intended to have a morphing personality. Set it up with a DH fork and you have a bike that is capable of tackling the steep and gnarly, put a 130mm single crown on it and you have an all mountain, trail bike that can compete it a world class slopestyle contest. In concept its great, but up until now the real limiting factor on designing a bike like this has been the ability to achieve the desired head angle while adjusting the travel to up to two or three inches. Without this product there will always be a compromise. With a fixed head angle, fork height and bottom bracket height are the only two factors contributing two the overall head angle. You can limit how much bottom bracket drop you will get when putting in a shorter rear shock by using different length shock mounts, however dropping your fork two inches will always lower the front of your bike approximately two inches ( 2/3 of 2"s with a fixed rear shock length). Lowering the front of the bike is what you want on a shorter travel bike, but it becomes very limiting when seeking the right geometry.
So back to the Voltage FR. Set up with a 180 mm talas and this headset, you can have two bike with perfectly dialed geometry in one. At 180mm of travel in the front and rear the bike sits with a bb height in the high 13s and a head angle of 65 degrees. Dialed. Put on a shorter rear shock with longer shock mounts, lower your fork to 140mm and you have a bike with a 67 degree head angle and a 13ish" bb height. Almost dialed. Rotate your gimbal and bam, dialed! 68 degree head angle just like you dreamed of.
Just remember who told U that: Bikes are overdeveloped, way better than we need. Until some moment I that can't specify, it was fun, but now most of techbological progress is just separating us from nature. Better suspension, lighter stuff, bigger wheels all to go faster and easier over rocks and roots & through mud - aren't they the essence of why we ride a mountain bike?
Care for the nature, care for the trails, every stone and every root on it deserves respect.
All the best
Cheers...
"1.5, remotely adjustable seatpost, angled headset, widebars: all of these are true inventions making a true change to your riding."
I don't see how its a better solution than Cane Creeks angle set or even the simple yet effective frame specific Scott High Octane/Gambler adjustable steerer or Commencals equivalent.
Heres a fail for small companies bringing us innovation!
I support anglesets or any HA adjustment systems (like on my wifes Meta 4x) on only one basis: as a lesser evil. As a more user and environment friendly item that might make someone think twice before selling his bicycle and buying a new one. Just because he watched few podcasts from Trek or whoever where Steve Peat or Gee Atherton said: this allows me for better accelerating out of the corner or makes my ride more stabil. I was doing it myself, catching up every their word on what to do to be faster, what tyre to use in which conditions. All the possible crap that will make you think twice whether the thing you have is fast enough
Go to any used buy&sell bike site and what kind of bikes you find there most often? Road bikes and DH bikes, then XC bikes, in general bikes and components that are used in some kind of racing. All round bikes and components going well with them such as forks and wheels are there, no doubts about it, but they are very little. yet these are the best selling high class bikes! These are the bikes that truly are most versatile, you can do anything in the worst terrain with a 6" bike, and go anywhere effectively with 5" bike. Because people believe that by buying certain stuff you can gain some advantage. This is ridiculous. As if 1 degree of head angle would make an edge between winning and loosing especially in a sport with so many variables. So as soon as Fabien lowers his HA to 62 people go bananas and ebay is full with DH bikes.
If such product as head angle is going to stop someone from sellig his bike and buy a new one, putting another piece of metal to the environment then, let it be, GO!
ONE BIKE!
However though, i think if you are gonna ride a freeride/DH bike then your not gonna be climbing and the bike is already set up for what you you want and i think should not be changed. And heck if you wanna climb get an XC bike
Surely by the look of it... if it is set anywhere between stock and 1.5* then the fork will also be offset left or right? Because the gimbal is offset so as you turn it it moves either left or right.
Someone please explain if i'm wrong...
Can we see a vid looking down the steerer tube to show how this works?
Gary.
The idea is good theorectically but in reality this looks like it would only be effective in two positions... Straight slacken or steepen, as anywhere in between you fork would not be straight up and down (perpendicular)... Total face palm for the engineer that designed this!
edit: please explain how this magically keeps the steerer perpendicular to the ground at all times. thanks
a little bit bigger and wider and it wouldn't even fit between a dc-fork
thumbs down !
c'mon nobody is seriously thinking about this .. ? i thought it was april fools..