Grease: Always apply grease to the bearing seats in the frame to prevent creaking and corrosion. Crown Race: The bottom ring must sit firmly on the fork. Split Races (with a slit) are easiest to install as they don't require a hammer tool. Orientation: Bearings have an angle (usually 45°). The angled side always faces into the frame seat.

BMX Race Headsets | kunstform BMX Shop & Mailorder

Q: What is a BMX Race Headset?

The Headset is the bearing set inside the frame's head tube that allows the fork to rotate. In BMX Racing, low friction and high stiffness are key. Almost all modern race bikes use Integrated Headsets (IS), where sealed industrial bearings drop directly into the frame without pressed-in cups.

BMX Race Headsets FAQ

What is a BMX Race Headset?

The Headset is the bearing set inside the frame's head tube that allows the fork to rotate. In BMX Racing, low friction and high stiffness are key. Almost all modern race bikes use Integrated Headsets (IS), where sealed industrial bearings drop directly into the frame without pressed-in cups.

The Main Standards: 1-1/8" vs. Tapered

The choice depends 100% on your frame and fork combination:

1-1/8" Standard (IS42/IS42): The classic Pro size. The head tube is straight (same width top and bottom). Uses 41.8mm bearings on both ends. Fits standard CrMo and Alloy forks.
Tapered (IS42/IS52): The modern high-performance standard (Carbon/High-End Alloy). The head tube gets wider at the bottom (1.5") for maximum stiffness. Requires a smaller bearing top (41.8mm) and a large bearing bottom (52mm).
1" (Mini/Junior): For smaller bikes. Uses smaller bearings to save weight. Requires 1" forks.

Compatibility Guide: Which Headset for which Fork?

Many riders have a Tapered Frame but want to use a standard 1-1/8" Fork. This works with a special race!

Frame Head Tube	Fork Steerer	Required Headset
Straight 1-1/8"	Straight 1-1/8"	Standard IS42
Tapered (1-1/8" - 1.5")	Tapered (1.5" Bottom)	Tapered IS42/52
Tapered (1-1/8" - 1.5")	Straight 1-1/8"	Tapered IS42/52 with Reducer Race (Adapter)

Installation Tips

Grease: Always apply grease to the bearing seats in the frame to prevent creaking and corrosion.
Crown Race: The bottom ring must sit firmly on the fork. Split Races (with a slit) are easiest to install as they don't require a hammer tool.
Orientation: Bearings have an angle (usually 45°). The angled side always faces into the frame seat.

What do the specifications mean?

Specification	Explanation	Examples/Available
Type	Construction standard.	Integrated (IS), Semi-Integrated (ZS - older)
Size (Inch)	Steerer diameter.	1", 1-1/8", Tapered (1.5")
S.H.I.S.	Standardized technical name.	IS42/28.6 \| IS52/40 (Tapered)
Bearing Angle	Chamfer angle.	45° x 45° (Campy Spec - BMX Standard)