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Integrated Headsets Explained (continued)
March 2002
Let's talk propaganda. Here's some of what we've seen in
catalogs and magazines about "integrated" headsets:
"We chose internal bearings for the head tube, a
conscious choice, because they make the bike steer more precisely"
This
is simply false. A system that has the same 2 dynamic surfaces
as a normal headset, plus 2 larger ones, cannot be more precise.
Adding extra slop to a system doesn't make it more precise.
This marketing statement is saying that 1+1 = 2, and that
2+2 = 1.5.
Take a look at the appendix
page for some good pictures illustrating this point.
"Simplified bearing installation and bearing replacement
through the use of an integrated head tube design"
Yup,
it will be easier to replace your headset bearings now. You
won't need to knock the cups out of the frame. But why should
you need to replace your bearings at all? A properly designed
headset should last the life of the frame. Imagine a car with
"integrated" style engine bearings. Sure quick change
engine bearings would be easier to service, but your car's
engine bearings should go hundred's of thousands of miles
before replacement. Just as in the car engine example, "integrated"
headsets provide a feature that is not really needed. Manufacturer's
are claiming convenience and user serviceability, but the
real cost of this convenience is the durability of the system
and the lifetime of the frame.
"Integrated headset build lighter, stronger bikes"
How
can this be? Litespeed's lightest frame doesn't use an integrated
headset, it is the only one in their road line without it.
Why is that? Look at the Weight
Comparison Table on the next page.
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