I have genuinely tried, but woah are headsets a bit confusing to the uninitiated!
I'm doing a bike build with the kid (you may have seen some of my other threads) and am now looking for a bit of advice on the headset.
The frame is a Brand-X HT-01 Hardtail MTB Frame (27.5") [ https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/brand-x-ht-01-hardtail-mtb-frame-27-5-2019/rp-prod130452 ].
I have a tapered 27.5 Rockshox Revalation fork to go with it. The only slight wrinkle is that the steerer is shorter than I realised at 15cm. I don't have a headset yet and I have an older Brand X stem kicking about but on trying that and holding it up to the frame, I think it is going to be a tight (but I think it will be ok with the right parts) fit.
From my research, I understand that I need a ZS44/28.6 top and ZS56/40 bottom (semi-intergrated/zs/whatever else it is called but non-integrated and non-traditional) headset. I'm read that Brand-X's own headset could work, but doesn't actually cover the headtube at the top well. I am looking for more budget friendly (in fact I'm already (£150 over budget - whoops), so would like to avoid going Hope and have seen FSA suggested - but it looks like it has a profile that is quite high and that concerns me given the steerer I have available.
Searching I think shows Cane Creek, Nukeproof and Superstars as options (the last two are less over my budget!).
Any suggestions for a recommended headset that has a narrow profile - I'm wondering if the Superstars one could be ok??
And what else might I need, do these come with crown races etc?
And if I need to get a shorter clamping stem - any ideas for budget friendly options?
Thanks for help in advance!
I'd just go superstar, £35, mine have all just worked, no problems, can get pretty colours too if that's your thing.
The cheaper fsa ones are probably for straight steerer and not zero stack.
Superstar are pretty good IME.
in terms of stems, it depends on what length you're looking for.
long, something like a second hand bontrager, they have the bolts more central to the clamp, so you can get away with a slightly short steerer more so than the wide clamp stems. that or a thomson.
short, something like the Wake Am stems on ebay?
Cheers, is superstar about as slim as I'm going to get then?
ZS headset all have pretty low stack height.
I've got a Nukeproof Neutron. According to the drawing on the CRC website the bottom cup is 3mm and top cup is 8mm
Ragley Stubbing has always been my go to stem for a low stack height
I asked similar recently but haven't actually progressed with anything so far, but might help.
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/low-stack-stems-current-options/
And what else might I need, do these come with crown races etc?
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/probably-a-stupid-headset-question/
.
Lots of useful information there
ZS headset all have pretty low stack height.
I’ve got a Nukeproof Neutron. According to the drawing on the CRC website the bottom cup is 3mm and top cup is 8mm
Ragley Stubbing has always been my go to stem for a low stack height
Superstar website says:
Top Cups: ZS44 - Stack Height 7.5mm – Insertion 9mm
Bottom Cups: ZS56 - Stack Height 5.5mm – Insertion 9mm
And...Note that some manufacturers list cup only to make them appear shorter than they are. so I don't know if I can compare those directly to the Nukeproof ones?? But I guess we are only talking a few mm in any case.
I asked similar recently but haven’t actually progressed with anything so far, but might help.
Thanks - that was helpful!