How interchangeable is Giant stuff with normal?
Would be looking at sticking straight steerer forks on it and using my stem ,bars and tapered frame headset.
Any secret problems I should be aware of?
Standard steerer and head tube upto 2010.2011-2013 tapered, 2013 and on overdrive 2.
Would have thought you just need a reducer to suit.
Yeah, they use overdrive 2 headset (different taper to standard) and so you need to use suitable stem, headset etc. No problem with bars I guess...
Not sure if other manufacturers make compatible kit; I think i've heard that but haven't looked into it (just got one a couple of weeks ago).
Standard stem if using straight steerer.Special stem only required on overdrive 2 forks.
I was just about to buy a 2013 Giant frame but you have worried me now! Can I use my standard tapered Rebas in an Overdrive headset or does it need something with a different steerer? Why do you need a different stem?
What reducer would be necessary?
As I understand it Overdrive is the normal tapered set up and Overdrive 2 is 1"1/4 top bearings instead of the normal 1"1/8. Both sizes use the same headtube so if you want to run normal tapered forks in an Overdrive 2 frame you need to change the top headset cup I think?
The base model anthems come with standard taper in them. So it is possible to fit a normal fork just need to get the right headset. I bought a 2013 anthem x4, which has been great as I didn't want to be tied into stems from giant only.
