New headtube standards - is there a name?

[PPWTF]

 

It's far to say that those who know me will most likely call me a spotter (as in train spotter, only for me it would be bike spotter )

 

So I'm wondering, who can tell me what about the trend that is smaller top cup and larger bottom cup head tube designs that we're seeing on so many mountain bikes now.

 

There we go, question asked (please go easy on me and my quest for knowledge )

 

PPWTF2009-05-10 04:16:00

[Mudsimus]

I've only seen them on the Specialized bikes? Its called the "From now on you will only ride our forks" headset.

[PPWTF]

Trek also has..... they're calling the EZ head tube

 

Seem to remember reading it's about loads carried at top and bottom of headset being very different, making it possible to lighten the bike where stress is smallest etc blablabla

 

Cannondale have a lot a to answer for in my eyes. The current route Specialized is going down 'our product and only our product' is very similar to what started with Headshox, spawned BB30 (fair play they made it 'open source') and Lefty

 

[Mudsimus]

I think the Trek still uses a normal fork with different bearings. The specialized uses a custom fork.

[turtlek]

It has been around for quite a while in the Kuota bikes on the road bikes especially it adds stiffness and predictability in steering while also shedding weight in an unlikely place due to stresses that are available there

 

 

 

in short it saves weight helps with strength because of the bigger tube and also helps with rigidty and handling!!!

[Ghostface]

On the Giants it's called "Overdrive" and the forks are just called "1 1/8 inch - 1/14 inch tapered".

 

It's only a mattrer of time before some r&d guys all get together at a expo/trade show and come up with a cool name.