Following on from an earlier thread where I was getting confused about the EX44/40 designation of the lower headset cup, I emailed Ragley to see if it was the same as a EC44/40, expecting that I could use any ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40 headset, and got the following reply:-
The Trig has an integrated crown race with a 45/36 degree lower bearing. The only headset we can guarantee fitting is the FSA Orbit ITA No.9m.
https://shop.fullspeedahead.com/en/prodotti_1/headset-spares/orbit-ita
I assume that they mean that the fork has an integrated crown race, but I was surprised that they would only guarantee one headset working. I can't tell much from the FSA site, but Spa Cycles list the Orbit ITA as a ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40 headset.
I like FSA headsets and it's affordable, so I'd be happy to use it, but surely any ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40 arrangement would work.
What are you using and can I use any ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40 arrangement?
In Ragley/Nukeproof/Hotlines speak EX = EC
The important bit for you is that the fork has an integrated bearing race designed for bearings with a 36 degree seat angle. The bearing sits directly on the fork carbon race rather than fitting a seperate race.
Bit weird but hey ho.
Any EC44/40 lower cup will work as long as the bearing uses a 36 degree seat angle. Unfortunately you don't know the bearing angle from the headset descriptions, you need to find the bearing spec in the headset spec or spares spec and they are often not quoted as it's normal for the headset to use its own fork bearing race.
The headset at Spa cycles will fit OK
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m16b0s115p4072/FSA-Orbit-ITA-1-1-8-1-5-inch-Tapered-Headset
EDIT -
Cane Creek headsets for tapered forks use a 36 degree bottom bearing, so there's a fancier option
bottom cup:-
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/cane-creek-40-series-bottom-headset-assembly
top cup
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/cane-creek-40-series-zs44-28-6-top-headset-assembly
That's really useful, thank you for taking the time to reply.
I'm surprised it's not mentioned on Ragley's Trig page where it simply says ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40. A lot of folk (myself included) could have bought a ZS44/28.6 | EX44/40 headset that wouldn't work.
I assume that there are no durability concerns with a carbon race?
There does seem to be a mention of this on the page for the fork as a separate but I'm not sure you'd necessarily look here if you'd bought a frame/fork package and were speccing a headset.
