I've built bikes, and I've pressed headsets, but all have been conventional, 1 1/8 straight steerer with external cups. I've also managed to buy them as a single item for about £30 (my current bike has a FSA Orbit something or other that's been running smoothly for 6 years in all sorts of weathers).
My how things have changed.
When my new gravel frame arrives I shall need a ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40. It looks like the headtube is a straight 1.5" affair.
The ZS44/28.6 appears to refer to a semi-integrated top cup for the 1 1/8" top of a tapered steerer, whilst the EX44/40 is a 1.5" external cup and I appear to need to buy it in two halves, not necessarily from the same manufacturer, although it seems to make sense to have matching halves if they exist.
Presumably if I match the numbers to the parts I buy I'll be fine but what's out there? I don't really want the cost of Hope as I don't seem to be that hard on headsets (I've never actually worn out headset bearings) although a lot of manufacturers' prices seem to be encroaching on Hope territory.
What would be a good mid-range option (along the lines of the old Cane Creek S2/S3 or FSA Orbit II)? I want it in black and since it's a full carbon fork I assume I don't want to be tapping a crown race down the steerer, so a split crown race that can be fitted by hand seems the thing (I'm assuming that the bung will come with the fork).
I assume I don’t want to be tapping a crown race down the steerer, so a split crown race that can be fitted by hand seems the thing
Any "crown race" can be split with the help of a small hacksaw.
Superstar headsets will tick all your boxes and are very well sealed (good for the UK) for a reasonable price.
I've had good experiences with Superstar headsets, think they have a discount on them this month
Edit, Ben got there before me
Superstar headsets will tick all your boxes and are very well sealed (good for the UK) for a reasonable price.
+1 and they even make it easy for you to pick the correct top and bottom for your application.
I faced the same befuddlement. Just bought hope. But I believe FSA do one too.
I'd forgotten about Superstar, that's a good shout. However, although I can find a ZS44 top cup I can't find a EX44 lower cup (there is an EC44 in the rather long list).
Am I best just emailing Superstar with what I need and seeing what they recommend?
I’d assumed EZ was a typo and meant EC. ZS = Zero Stack, EC = External Cup and I can’t guess what EZ would be? What frame and fork spec it?
Edit: you originally put EX which I’d guess (only guess) is EXternal cup
It's a Ragley Trig - https://www.ragleybikes.com/products/trig-gravel-frame-and-fork-2023
-- Edit --
Yes, you're right, I meant to say I couldn't find a EX44 on the Superstar site, I've edited the post.
It looks like Nukeproof do EX44/40, perhaps EX & EC are interchangeable, the Trig is an external cup for a tapered steerer.
The 44 in the types refers to a 44mm ID head tube, so for a tapered fork you'd be looking for ZS44 upper, and EC44 lower.
I strongly suspect EX44 is an abbreviation of External 44mm cup and the same as EC44.
As with others, superstar headsets are very good value for money
I think this is what you're looking for? Internal top cup, external bottom cup. I used one to convert a bike with internal 44mm top & bottom to a tapered fork.
Chris King would be an Inset 7 headset. Tapered headset for 44mm ID straight headtubes and tapered 1.5>1.125 forks.
Yours for a small mortgage.
