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pros and cons of an integrated headset

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lofnsjoke

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
hey all im new to these forums. i have a question to ask. im in the market for a new frame, however the one i really really want has an integrated headset. now i read the whole chris king essay on why integrated headsets suck, but i was hoping that i could get a few reviews and testimonials from riders that own one.

i will appreciate any helpful comments, nonhelpful comments will be read and enjoyed.
 
#2 ·
It probably has a zero stack...which still uses pressed in cups. True integrated is used on road bikes (Giant and Schwinn used it in the early 00's on MTB's) and the cups are machined into the headtube.

And for all of CK's ranting and raving about zero stack headsets...look what they are coming out with
Image


The main advantage to zero stack is more head tube material to weld the top and down tubes to. The main disadvantage is less headset options (though the list is quickly growing).

Both systems work fine
 
#3 ·
ive never had a problem with my integrated headset.. i never touch it or even think about it. it just works... theres really not a whole lot to go wrong with a headset, unless you like chris kings and scuffed up steer tubes.
 
#4 ·
+1 to what mtnbiker72 said. Since a zero stack headset still has pressed-in cups, the only real difference is how the headset is surrounded by a larger headtube instead of sitting outside of a smaller headtube.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a mountain bike that actually had a true integrated headset, as in the cups were part of the frame.

EDIT: I take back that last part. I just remembered that Felt makes their mountain bikes with integrated headsets, probably because they started with road bikes. Still, that is one reason for me to never buy a Felt
 
#7 ·
Interesting. I guess it really is relevant then.

King's rant is very high profile and does seem questionable from his position as the one selling the competition to integrated headsets; but I think his points are still valid about true integrated headsets. Maybe they do hold up pretty well; but from my position as a customer spending plenty of my money I just don't like the idea that headset problems are more likely to damage my frame and turn that money to dust. I guess that's nothing but an uninformed opinion, but there you have it
 
#8 ·
Well that then is a hidden set. Seems like a bad idea for a mountain frame (or any frame IMO), but Transition makes solid product and its a steel frame so it seems like it would work. The advantage would be the same as a zero stack...the disadvantage is even a more marginal headset selection (especially ones made for off-road beatings that a Transition would invite) and the inability to face the headtube. Its completely at the mercy of the welders to get everything aligned.
 
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mtnbiker72
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