Jesus they make it complicated don’t they….

So I have a 44mm internal diameter headtube, the manufacturer says it requires an inset headset, and I will be using a tapered fork.

A quick look at Chris Kings reveals quite a few options for inset headsets and I am struggling to see what the differences are?

For a 44mm headtube and tapered steerer you’ll need a ZS44/28.6 top and an EC44/40 lower. No idea what CK offer as I haven’t looked at their headsets for years. With Hope you’d need a number 2 top and an H lower.

Generally a 44mm head tube with a tapered steerer has an internal cup on top and external on the bottom to accommodate the taper…it’s often written as something like:

IS44 (top cup)
ES44 (bottom cup)

At least most of the Nukeproof ones I’ve bought over the last few years have been listed like that.

If the streerer was a traditional straight 1 1/8 you’d need:

IS44 (top)
IS44 (bottom)

…as the lack of taper means the bottom cup can sit inside the head tube too.

Check out the tech docs for headsets on Hope’s website

Should make it clear

This one, to be precise:
http://www.hopetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HOPEHEADSETS2011Web.pdf

Helped me loads when rebuilding my son’s bike

I have a 44 headtube with a tapered fork. It takes a inset 7 chris king.

what he said – Inset 7.

Thank you very much guys, much appreciated.