[Closed] Alternative headset to Specialised??

We have been running Blue Seal bearings in all our Specialized bikes for quite some time. In all conditions

They have been as good, if not better than the originals.

Have a read on how what grease they use

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-Fit-Headset-Bearings-1-1-8-1-5-Integrated-Tapered-Bearing-Kit/301804085047?hash=item4644ecdf37:g:KMAAAOSwHsRYDifu

Thanks Tracey I was hoping to be able to get away from the specialised options.

Im not sure you can fit an alternative headset to a 2016 Stumpjumper frame. Looking at the ones we have, both carbon an alloy, I think the head tube is designed to only accept a particular type of bearing. Either Specialized or aftermarket.
Someone may tell you different but I cant see how you can press another headset into it.

What did you have in mind OP? As Tracey suggests you can only really fit a Campy style drop in headset in there.

I’m just about to swap frames over from a large to medium and wondered if there was another option before I started that might need a little less maintenance.

Nah, that's pretty much the only thing that will fit really, the bottom and top of the headtube are the "cups", so there's nothing else you could press in there. I think there's a Hope IS52 drop in bearing that sits on a sealed (ish) crown race...1. dunno if it will fit, and 2. dunno if you can still get it though.

sorry, not much I know

You wont go far wrong with the Blue Seal bearings in the link above, mine have always arrived next day delivery. We don't tend to have to do much on the maintenance of them.

Thanks Tracey

You can use a hope lower bearing, the top one is a bit of a faff, as the campy setup is a bit shit, crayonengineering at its finest.

Campy is a variant of IS42, the bearing sits lower. Hope HSC8 bearings will fit, but the top cap has to be spaced up, from memory I spaced it up 3mm on my enduro.

There needs to be a cull of headset standards, there is no need for the myriad that we have!