Vitale headset help please

[porkupine]

Hi All,

relatively new to the bike scene and am extremely interested in the mechanics / engineer behind the bicycle itself - so... long story short = purchased a bike frame which didn't have a fork, and on the "specs" of the normal bike site, it states it requires an AHEADSET 1 1/8" headset.

Not knowing there is MORE to headsets than there should really be, it's not a straightforward 1 1/8" aheadset that i could purchase because it seems there are different diameters for both UPPER/TOP CUP & LOWER / BOTTOM CUP

am wondering if anyone knows much re this because i am / have purchased the folowing:

1) Hope Pick n Mix Headsets - Bottom Cup Black, 1.1/8", IS41/30 - Type C - https://www.this link is broken/au/ ... -prod70727" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2) Nukeproof Warhead Headset Top Cup Black, 1.1/8", EX34-28.6 - T1 - https://www.this link is broken/au/ ... prod124571" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

which in itself is already costing me a BOMB $100 for this particular part!..

Questions as follows:

a) should i / could i get a cheaper part e.g. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CANE-CREEK-S ... 4abe98bcbc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cane-Creek-1 ... 1e8b2f61c2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - now i 'm wondering re the cane creak bottom - do i still need a crown race for this?

b) so after purchasing the above 2 (hope & nukeproof), i'm wondering if i need anything else or that would be ready to go - the fork looks like this : (orange) http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/attachm ... 1429823700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/attachm ... 1429823700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Calvin27]

Not sure what exactly you are trying to ask, but try this first.

1. Measure the inner and outer diameters of your head tube. The top and bottom. Write these numbers down.

2. Read this and make sure you understand this 100%. http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... -standards" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3. Go to the table at the bottom of the page and find your correct headset.

I'm not sure why you are buying the cane creek headset - especially when you have just bought another 2 that you are not sure about! If you don't know what the hell is going on, go back to step 1. I wouldn't be buying anything until you understand the minefield that is headsets. Yes you will need a crown race but they usually come with the headset as they are specific to the bottom bearing. You will also need a star nut/compression plug and spacers.

Again, you didn't explain why you want to buy the cane creek headset? Do the others not fit?

[Duck!]

Afetr reading the Park guide to identify what type of headset you need, work your way through the Cane Creek headset finder to work out what headset you actually need.

[porkupine]

For people searching / thrawling the net for info re this frame - yes it definitely is a "head" f*ck.


After all that time consumed in researching / studying headsets and how it works - final conclusion is that my combination works.

The headset you need is as follows:

TOP CUP = PRESS FIT (yeap it will seem as if it were about 1-2 mm thicker than required but if standard international headsets say EX/EC31/28.6 is all there is? it's not your fault - you just don't have the press-fit tool required to push this top cup into the frame

BOTTOM CUP - standard bearing integrated 1/18" IC41/30 fits like a charm.

ended up going back to Ray Larkin's crew - Terry is the man all up was about $40 as opposed to $100 if purchased from online ( but then again i ordered Nukeproof & Hope bearings which cost heaps)


Good luck to myself moving forward with the bike - will post pics once it's all done up!