Attention 2006/2007 Giant XTC Owners!

2Thumbs
2Thumbs Posts: 15
edited January 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Do you know what type headset the above frames use?

The Giant archive says Integrated (which is bad) but searching google comes up with people saying they're semi-integrated/internal and that Giant got it wrong.

So to clarify, WTF actually is it!? :lol:

Thank you kindly. :D

Comments

  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    The problem here is that no one has actually standardised the terminology.

    A standard headset is pretty much the conventional type, with cups that are larger than the headtube, and press into it. The bearings sit inside the cups.

    Giant makes use of a larger headset, where the cups actually fit inside of the headtube - they are still there, it's just that they are hidden. The larger bearings allow for a better wear rate, and the other advantage is a low stack height. This is the type fitted to the XTC.

    The third type of headset doesn't use cups at all - cartridge bearings are pressed directly into the headtube.

    The confusion arises in that no one has actually decided (officially at least) which of the second two is "integral", "integrated", "semi-integral" or "semi-integrated". Some manufacturers call them one thing, and others call them another.

    Giant don't use the third type. These are best suited to road bikes and some very high-end XC race bikes as the need to press the bearings directly into the headtube calls for some highly accurate machining to be done, which is expensive.
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  • 2Thumbs
    2Thumbs Posts: 15
    Thanks for clearing that up, Dave. A good man you are! :wink:

    IMO it's quite bad that frame makers cant decide on a "standard" calling of the 3 types of headsets. It's just one more thing to make a possibly customer confused/decide to go for something else.

    Thanks again.
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    No worries.

    TBH, if it was me I'd call the three types "standard", "internal" and "direct fit".

    But then I am a genius. It's just that no one can see it!
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