Headset story??

[Christoph]

Hi guys

 

I'm looking for the cheapest, reasonable-quality headset for a scott speedster s20 2006 model.

 

Will this one fit? Is it all I need or must I still get the compression part..

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=52983

 

I've got a carbon steerer so apperently a star nut won't work.. True?

 

Thanks

Christoph

[henk]

Quite correct, you cannot (should NOT) use a star nut in a carbon steerer tube.

 

Sorry, I cannot give you advice on the headset !

[AndreZA]

If the bike is already fitted with something that pre-loads the headset then just continue using that. It doe not matter what headset you use. But is it not recommended to use a star nut but rather an expander plug like this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2218

 

Re the headset, By the time you've imported that one from CRC you could have gotten one for the same if not less locally. See if a BBB or Giant (actually branded FSA) at your LBS.

[Johan Bornman]

Headsets are a quagmire.

 

First there is threaded vs threadless.

 

Then there is 1 inch, 1 1/8 inch and 1 1/4 inch and tapered which is a combo of the latter two.

 

Your bike is most likely a 1 1/8 inch.

 

However, it doesn't solve your problem. Is it integrated or not? In other words, are the cups part of the frame or can they be knocked out and replaced?

 

Once you've sorted all that out, you may be constrained by yet another factor - the angle of the bearing cartridge. If you already have a crown race on your fork, your bearing cartridge must match the angle of that race. These come in 36 or 45 degree options. Hopefully you have the former, since the latter costs much, much more.

 

If you can, and buy from scratch, buy Cane Creek or compatible. That way you'll allways have a good choice of cartridge bearings to choose from. Cane Creek's predecessor (A-Head) invented the threadless headset and have licensed the technology widely, hence the drop in price.

[Pappa Bear]

what is a threadless headset?

[Johan Bornman]

what is a threadless headset?

 

it is a headset designed for threadless steerers. In the old days, fork steerers used to be threaded and the headset was preloaded by screwing a large nut onto it. Today the steerers are not threaded and the preload is done by tightening a starnot or expander bolt that grips on the inside of the steerer.

 

Nowadays they are all of the threadless kind, which is infinitely better.

[Christoph]

Thanks guys..

 

I'll go ask my LBS and see what they can do