integrated headset question

Quoted message said:

I've never used one of these before, so I have a question. Does the
fork you use have to be a special integrated headset type fork, or
will any fork work.

Any 1 1/8" steerer-tube fork will work. You just have to use the headset
that comes with the bike. These are nice, because the crown race (not
really a race at all) is cut, making it really easy to take on and off the
fork. Replacement headsets are $40, but if you replace just the bearings,
the cost is lower. I've never had a problem with mine on 3 of my Giants,
except that if lots of water gets in the bearings themselves, the cartridge
bearing body got rusty. The bearings still turned relatively smoothly. So
make sure you have lots of grease in there.

Phil

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I recently got a Giant MTB frame that uses an integrated headset. I've
never used one of these before, so I have a question. Does the fork you
use have to be a special integrated headset type fork, or will any fork
work. I'm not concerned with cosmetics, just function. TIA
--------------
Alex

It's more likely an "internal" headset. Giant uses the word integrated but
it's not really. True integrated have no bearing cups and AFAIK, Giants
use a cup.

See:

<http://www.chrisking.com/tech/int_headsets_explained/int_hds_explain_2.html>

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently got a Giant MTB frame that uses an integrated headset. I've
never used one of these before, so I have a question. Does the fork you
use have to be a special integrated headset type fork, or will any fork
work. I'm not concerned with cosmetics, just function. TIA
--------------
Alex

It's more likely an "internal" headset. Giant uses the word integrated but
it's not really. True integrated have no bearing cups and AFAIK, Giants
use a cup.

Does this mean I need a special Giant headset or would something like
a Cane Creek IS work? I'm trying to put a bike together for a friend and
I am also trying to keep the cost down.
-------------
Alex

Alex Rodriguez said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently got a Giant MTB frame that uses an integrated headset.
I've never used one of these before, so I have a question. Does
the fork you use have to be a special integrated headset type fork,
or will any fork work. I'm not concerned with cosmetics, just
function. TIA --------------
Alex

It's more likely an "internal" headset. Giant uses the word
integrated but it's not really. True integrated have no bearing cups
and AFAIK, Giants use a cup.

Does this mean I need a special Giant headset or would something like
a Cane Creek IS work? I'm trying to put a bike together for a friend
and I am also trying to keep the cost down.
-------------
Alex

If the cups are already in the frame, then you only need the cartridge
bearings, the crown race, and the compression ring. My higher-end Giant
headset was branded a Cane Creek, so it's likely there's inter-brand
bearings that will work just fine.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training