Headsets for road, gravel, cyclocross and MTB frames

A bike is only as good as its steering. The S.H.I.S. Headset Standard helps you find the right model for every bike.

S.H.I.S. Headset Standard

The Standardized Headset Identification System, or S.H.I.S. for short, brings order to the multitude of headsets available on the market. A headset consists of an upper part between the stem and the head tube and a lower part between the head tube and the fork crown. The S.H.I.S. code provides three parameters for each of these parts:

for example, EC44/40: EC type, 44 outer diameter and 28.6 inner diameter.

EC / External Cup headsets:

Headset sets designated EC / External Cup are pressed into the frame. For this, the internal diameter of the head tube and the external diameter of the headset must match exactly. The head tube must be precisely machined flat, which requires special tools. The bearing cups sit outside the frame

ZS / Zero Stack, semi-integrated headsets:

ZS / Zero Stack headsets are pressed in; depending on how well the frame is prepared, special tools may be required. The bearing cups sit inside the head tube. This is why ZS headsets are also referred to as semi-integrated.

IS / Integrated Standard, fully integrated headsets:

IS / Integrated Standard headsets require a head tube with a bearing race. The bearings, without bearing cups, are inserted into the bearing seat in the head tube. No special tools are required. IS headsets are also referred to as fully integrated.