Headtube adaptor?

Richard.S
Richard.S Posts: 55
edited April 2019 in MTB beginners
Hi,
My front suspension fork has a 1 1/8” straight steerer tube, but the frame I would like to purchase has a tapered headtube, 1 1/8” at the top and 1 1/2” at the bottom.

Is it possible to buy some kind of adaptor somewhere, that allows a straight steerer tube to fit in a tapered head tube?

I have looked on eBay, but I keep getting results for the opposite (a tapered steerer tube in a straight headtube).

I’m not even quite sure what I should be looking for. Do I need a crown race expander, or is it the actual headset which needs adapting?

Any help appreciated.

Thank you all in advance.

Comments

  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • Richard.S
    Richard.S Posts: 55
    I have no idea, hence why I asked on here, as I’m not sure which component needs to be adapted.

    The frame comes with the headset 1 1/8” top parts and 1 1/2” bottom parts, if that helps?

    That link also says I need the accompanying Hope headset? So do I need both?

    Update, I just noticed the headtube is 44-56mm, so I presume that is 1.1/8” to 2.13” crown race adaptor I need?

    Can’t even find any for 56mm :x
    Thanks.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    I *think* it's what you need - as I understand it, it allows for a straight steerer to have a "tapered" crown race installed by using this product slid down the steerer first.

    That's what the customer reviews seem to indicate - though better technicians that me will no doubt have better experience. I don't think it really needs pairing with a hope headset, definitely some of the reviews talk about using it with other branded headset lowers etc.
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    Are you measuring correctly? 44mm would 1.73in (nearly 1 3/4in), sounds like you're measuring externally rather than internally?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • JBA
    JBA Posts: 2,852
    44mm and 56mm are the headset external sizes. They match the head tube internal diameters.
    “Life has been unfaithful
    And it all promised so so much”

    Giant Trance 2 27.5 2016 ¦ Sonder Broken Road 2021¦ Giant Revolt Advanced 2 2019 ¦ Giant Toughtroad SLR 1 2019 ¦ Giant Anthem 3 2015 ¦ Specialized Myka Comp FSR 2009
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,474
    @richard - you seem to have a lot of projects on the go, and relatively little experience of building up or maintaining bikes. Is it worth setting up a thread on the overall project too?

    @jda - doh, I was picking up on the straight conversion of 56mm to 2.13inch which looked odd particularly as Richard had converted the 44mm to be 1 1/8 which clearly is mathematically wrong!

    The steerer dimensions will be 1 1/8" top 1.5" lower, and then the presumably the frame needs a ZS44/ZS56 headset combination.

    https://blue.canecreek.com/headset-fit-finder is always useful!
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • Richard.S
    Richard.S Posts: 55
    This is an example of what I was talking about.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JESSICA-17in ... YVLPeupeGA

    As you can see, it simply says 44-56mm tapered head tube with included headset.
    This seems to me to be an odd size, so I am therefore unsure what size crown race reducer I need.
    Presumably from the above post, I need a 1.1/8 to 1.1/5 adaptor?

    Hope this makes more sense.
  • JBA
    JBA Posts: 2,852
    It’s a standard tapered headset: 44mm upper, 56mm lower.
    The description in that eBay ad is not good.
    The head tube is NOT 1 ⅛ upper and 1 ½ lower. It has a 44mm upper internal diameter and 56mm lower internal diameter. It is designed to take a headset that has a 1 ⅛ upper internal diameter and 1 ½ lower diameter.
    “Life has been unfaithful
    And it all promised so so much”

    Giant Trance 2 27.5 2016 ¦ Sonder Broken Road 2021¦ Giant Revolt Advanced 2 2019 ¦ Giant Toughtroad SLR 1 2019 ¦ Giant Anthem 3 2015 ¦ Specialized Myka Comp FSR 2009
  • Richard.S
    Richard.S Posts: 55
    Ok, all seems to be sorted now.

    Thank you everyone for your input - it was much appreciated.