MTB Headset Black Friday: reduced prices

Mountain bike headset: three measurements before taking advantage of an offer

A headset must match exactly with the frame and fork. Before buying, note:

• the frame code, top and bottom, which gives the type of mounting and the diameter of the bearing (MTB technical sheet or caliper);
• the steerer of the fork, straight or tapered like on most current suspension forks;
• the angle of the bearings of an integrated headset, 36 or 45 degrees, to be read on the old bearing.

Every standard is explained, along with maintenance, on the mountain bike headset page.

Headsets on sale: comparing the crossed-out price for the same version

A discount on a headset only applies to the same version. The Orbit I from FSA comes here with a cap of 8 or 15 mm, height that adds to the spacers under the stem. The Orbit Xtreme Pro 1.5 is sold alone or with a reducer, to keep a straight steerer in a 1.5 inch head tube: the crossed-out price of the version with reducer doesn’t inform about the standalone version. Once the versions are aligned, check the contents, bearings, cups, fork crown, cap, then the difference between the crossed-out price and the displayed price.

What else the page brings together

The threaded XLC headsets are suitable for older mountain bikes with a quill stem, where the steerer is threaded. A FSA model carries the cyclocross mention and an expander Elvedes is used for carbon steerers: the designation specifies the use. To complete the cockpit, check the mountain bike stem in Black Friday, the forks on offer and all mountain bike components from Black Friday; outside the sale, the clearance sale and the new arrivals.

FSA, Cane Creek, Dartmoor: who makes these headsets?

FSA (Full Speed Ahead) covers the three mount types with its Orbit range: integrated with the Orbit I, semi-integrated with the Orbit 1.5E ZS, external with the Orbit Xtreme Pro.

Cane Creek, an American manufacturer of headsets and suspensions, offers its 40-Series in ZS44 and EC44 for tapered forks, in EC34 and in integrated 41/52.

Dartmoor, which designs dirt, freeride, and enduro mountain bikes and their cockpit parts in Poland, is present with the Flash headset.

XLC, a range of parts launched by the Accell group and managed from Sennfeld, in Franconia, offers A-Head headsets without threads and threaded headsets.

Enduro Bearings, a specialist in bearings for industry and cycling, sells a Zero Stack headset and an external cup headset in SS-Red version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What day does Black Friday fall on?

It's the day after Thanksgiving, a public holiday in the United States, so a Friday as the holidays approach. At Vélo-Store, the Black Friday promotions on headsets and the rest of the cockpit extend throughout November.

Is a complete headset deal better than replacing the bearings?

If only the bearings are worn and the cups and seats are healthy, new bearings with the right dimensions are enough. A complete headset is justified when a cup is damaged or when you change standards.

Does changing the fork require a new headset?

With an identical steerer, no: only the ring fitted on the old fork needs to be transferred or replaced. To switch from a straight steerer to a tapered steerer, the lower part changes if the frame accommodates a 1.5 inch housing.

What grease should be used to reinstall a headset?

A waterproof bike grease, in a thin film on the seats and fork ring, against oxidation and creaking. A new sealed cartridge is already lubricated.

Does a carbon steerer require special mounting?

Yes: the clamped nut for aluminum steerers would damage the carbon. The cap rests on an expander locked in the steerer, and the torque settings for the fork and stem must be followed.