Bike steering system Black Friday on sale

When should you replace a headset?

It's the bearings that allow the fork to turn in the frame. You forget about them until they remind you: sticking steering while going straight, clicking when braking at the front, feeling of notches when turning the handlebars. The Black Friday is a good opportunity to plan for one when you change your fork or when yours has spent several winters in the rain. Often, just replacing the bearings is enough, as long as you find the same dimensions and contact angle.

The frame code, the only reliable reference

Manufacturers describe each part, top and bottom, with a code of a few characters. Both letters indicate the type of installation: EC for a cup that extends beyond the headset tube, ZS for a cup housed inside, IS for a bearing fixed directly in the frame. The number that follows gives the diameter of the housing, in millimetres, and the one placed after the slash concerns the fork. A common mountain bike might have ZS44/28.6 on top and EC44/40 on the bottom, indicating a tapered fork. For an integrated setup, the angle of the contact surface, 36 or 45 degrees, must also match the frame.

Complete set or half-set: how to read a discount

Both parts rarely wear at the same rate: the lower part, more exposed to splashes, often goes first. Many models are therefore sold as halves, which allows only necessary replacements, but complicates comparison: a complete set on sale is compared to another complete set, a bottom part to another bottom part, under the same code. On the product page, check if the bearings, fork crown and cap are included, as well as the height of this cap, which changes the height of the handlebars. Installing a press-fit cup requires a press; surfacing a frame requires a milling tool, found on this page, but reserved for workshops.

The nearby pages regarding the headset

Changing a headset often comes with a new stem during Black Friday or a new handlebar; all elements of the cockpit are gathered in the bike components in Black Friday. All year round, the page bike headsets details each standard; outside of promotions, check also the clearance and the new arrivals.

What brands of headsets during Black Friday?

Funn offers its Descend headset in most codes, from ZS44/28.6 to ZS56/40, and sells its lower part separately.

Black Bearing, a French bearing manufacturer, categorizes its sets based on the housing diameter, from 41 to 52 mm, and that of the steerer, from 1 inch 1/8 to 1.5 inches.

FSA, which stands for Full Speed Ahead, offers its Orbit range in integrated, semi-integrated, and external cup versions, with a cap of 8.7 or 15 mm.

Cane Creek, a manufacturer from North Carolina, offers its 40-Series in various codes and presents the Viscoset, a cushioned top part that dampens the steering oscillations.

Ritchey, an American brand founded by frame builder Tom Ritchey, sells its WCS sets in upper or lower parts, integrated or semi-integrated.

Enduro Bearings, a bearing manufacturer, offers the Maxhit Zero Stack in semi-integrated and the Drop-In IS 42/52 for frames with integrated bearings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out what headset my bike has?

Look for the code in the technical sheet of the frame or from its manufacturer. If not, disassemble the fork and measure the diameter of the housing, top and bottom, as well as the steerer, then note if the cups protrude from the frame.

Can I fit a tapered fork into a frame designed for a straight fork?

Sometimes, thanks to a lower part with an external cup that accommodates a steerer of 1.5 inches. This raises the front by a few millimetres and depends on the diameter of the headset tube: check compatibility before ordering.

Do promotions on headsets last more than a day?

Yes. The Black Friday extends Thanksgiving by a Friday in the US, but Vélo-Store spreads its discounts on headsets throughout November. Enough time to disassemble the fork, measure the housings and find your frame's code before ordering, then slightly grease the housings and fork crown during installation.

How do I adjust the tightness of a headset?

Loosen the stem, screw the cap until all play is removed without creating a hard spot, then tighten the stem to the specified torque. Brake at the front and rock the bike: there should be no clicking sound.

Are headsets on older bikes different?

Yes. Bikes with a quill stem use a threaded headset, typically screwed onto a steerer of 1 inch: it cannot be replaced with a headset for a smooth steerer. Measure the diameter and thread pitch before looking for a model.