How to find the right headset for your bike.

Choosing your new headset can be a confusing thing, but this guide will provide you with all the information you will need when selecting your new headset, from which parts you need to measure, to identifying the different cup types available.

First we need to understand the system for identifying headset types which is called: S.H.I.S. This stands for Standard Headset Information System. We’ll explain how this system works and how it will lead you to choosing the correct headset.

There are 3 types of headsets: external cup, zero stack and integrated.

EC: External Cup is the traditional headset cup design where the wider part of the headset that holds the bearing sits outside of the head tube.

ZS: With Zero Stack headsets, the majority of the cup sits inside the head tube, with only a small collar visible from the outside. The advantage of these headsets is the low overall stack height, hence the name.

IS: With integrated headsets, the bearings sit directly in the head tube without the use of bearing cups. 

Headset abbreviations:

The first number found in the headset abbreviation is the outer diameter of the headset. This measurement is the part of the headset that presses into the frame on EC and ZS cups, and for IS headsets, it’s the bearing itself. You can also measure either the inner diameter of the head tube of your frame with the old headset removed, or the outer diameter of the old headset.

The second number is the inner diameter of the headset. This is the measurement of your fork steerer tube. Our headsets support  Tapered (1-⅛” to 1.5”) which measure 28.6 millimetres at the top and 40 millimetres at the crown race.

Headset Example

So, lets use the following headset as an example on how to put this information together to help you select your headset - ZS44/28.6 | EC44/40