Headtube Debate: Frank from Crank Brothers weighs in

I stopped by Crank Brothers to ask questions about trends in headsets and other products that might affect the second gen EVO. Frank, the head of engineering at Crank Bros. said that he believes a tapered headtube (1 1/8" to 1 1/2") could be the best option because riders could use a standard steerer tube without running 2 sets of spacers (on a 1.5") - a potential weight-savings.  He also pointed out that the forces from the wheel would likely be transferred directly to the lower headset area first - making a larger diameter headset area more durable in the long run.  He explained that forces would be magnified at the lower headset area, and eventually partially dissipate making for less force loads traveling to the upper headset area.

I am beginning to embrace the idea that a tapered headtube with a reducer cup could be a great option - however, I am also still very fond of the 1 1/8" for it's simplicity - and long-term durability when used on CHUMBA frames.  We've also had extremely good results with the 1 1/8" inner diameter and 1 1/2" outer diameter headtubes on our F5s.  We still have some time to make the final decision - so we'll see!