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I have an integrated headset 9n an alu adventure bike. It's been fine but it's not the most heavily used bike.
I've noticed more and more carbon mountain bike frames coming with integrated headset. Do this stand the test of time? Do they offer a decent seal if the headset manufacturer isn't providing the cups?
Those that I have are no worse than anything that went before them. The bearings are all decent sealed cartridge units, so pretty well sealed against the world. When they get tired you drop them out and pop in new ones and get on with life. A million miles better than the loose ball head sets of yesteryear.
I've had a few bikes with integrated headsets both alloy and carbon.
I was also slightly troubled by the thought of them to start with.(Visions of the bearing seats wearing)
After the first one I soon forgot about it and never had any trouble from any of them.
A lot of the stock ones on mid range and cheaper bikes only have metal "seals", so the bottom bearing will be toast after a couple of wet rides.
On the plus side, most of these level of headset you can pop the entire destroyed bearing out in 30 seconds and pop a decent sealed unit in for ~10 quid each end.
Internally routed cables make this far more complicated than it needs to be though, so it's the other bits of the bike that make headsets a pain, not the headset itself.
I've had a carbon framed bike go 'baggy' on the top headset.
Probably a combination of running a 140mm fork in a frame only warrantied to 120mm AND using it for trails far above it's intended use.
While an engineer pal said he could easily epoxy in quality bearing all the rear linkage bushings/bearings housing were also pretty shagged too - so I sold on the frame & shock (issues fully described) and bought something better for the job.
It's not stopped me since buying a bike with an integrated headset, incidentally from the same manufacturer.
I was also slightly troubled by the thought of them to start with.(Visions of the bearing seats wearing)
Kind of related to this is the fact that my carbon fork has an integrated crown race - the bearing cartridge sits directly on the carbon taper of the fork steerer. I'm a little concerned about wear but not heard any horror stories relating to wearing.
I also shared those concerns back in 2016 when I bought a carbon frame with integrated headset. The frame has had a tough life and is still fine to this day... still on the same set of bearings it started out with.
Keep on top of any creaking noises, cleaning the bearing beds and ensuring the assembly is torqued up correctly (not tight, but snug with no movement).
Do this stand the test of time? Do they offer a decent seal if the headset manufacturer isn’t providing the cups?
Yes they do. Yes, I've had no issues with sealing, any worse than trad cups, although choose your bearings wisely. Like anything to do with bearings, I've found their lifespan is directly related to the interval period of your routine maintenance.
Point to note, when fitting the bearings, or soon after purchasing the bike, write down the bearing serial number - saves a lot of headache searching for it some years down the line when the lettering has worn off. I tend to always have a lower bearing 'in stock'. Much less hassle than 'old' headsets - I've three bikes with the traditional threaded.
or soon after purchasing the bike, write down the bearing serial number
Alternatively, find whichever Chris King bearings fit, buy them, and wipe them down occasionally, shake your head every time at their smoothness despite not really looking after them, and put them back in.
I had the same worry in 2010 with my first carbon Enduro. Not had a problem with any and eventually all our bikes have them with the same top and bottom bearing sizes so only have to keep a couple of spare bearings for when they are needed
Use Trailvision for the replacements as they are the only ones we could find who use marine grease.
Thanks all. Seems like it's not that much of a concern. Although Chris King was suggesting it would burst into flames only a few years ago.
I wasn't worried about it, but then my Santa Cruz carbon "CC" frame developed an annoying creak. The upper headset bearing was moving in the frame. SC replaced with a new frame under their warranty scheme. Latest model too 👍
I keep seeing sausage.
Assuage, although I guessed the meaning I still looked it up, that's a new one on me, I think I'll start watching Countdown again and not just to look at Rachel Riley this time, and please no assuage the sausage jokes. 😂