Headset for 2008 Giant Omnium

Hi

I'm trying to find out what headset goes with this frame. Its 1 1/8 and integrated, but where the integrated bearings would sit, at either end of the headtube, is what looks like a track for bearings to sit. The bearings I've tried thus far (41mm ish diameter) therefore would make it into the headtube but not into this track. I have done a lot of Googling but can't seem to get what I need. I emailed Giantbikespares.com but have not had a response.

Any one got any ideas of the headset that goes into this, or even better has one.

Cheers

Tom

Do you not have the old ones to measure?

Came without a headset sadly.

Hi Tom, I know this frame very well as I owned two identical Omniums for a year or so but once I started riding further I realised they were hideously undersized.
Anyway, what I can tell you is that although I don't recall exactly what headset you need, it's nothing rare or odd!
However, the reason you're struggling is that there are two proprietary bearing 'cups' that fit in either end of the head tube (and the bearings sit in these cups). They're barely thicker than shim steel and I think they're split like a crown race. I always thought this was a good design as in theory it should prevent a buggered or neglected bearing binding itself to the head tube.
On the downside, whoever removed the fork from your frame probably just assumed they were part of the headset assembly and now they're gone forever!
As these cups are really components of the 'frame' rather than the headset I think your chances of finding any are slim at best.
You may have better luck looking for spares for similar bikes from the same era. For example, you know there's a rubber insert that fits in the seat tube to stop the seat post from sliding? Well that was missing from one of my frames but I ordered a couple for a giant defy of the same age and they were exactly the same parts.
If I can find any more info on them I'll let you know.

@aniki I really appreciate the lengthy response and the good info.

I've had a look at similar era headsets. Both of the following look to have "cups" but it's difficult to make out from the 1 picture of each. Do either look useful?

https://www.giantbikespares.com/Giant-Anthem-X-2009-Non-Overdrive-Headset--1-1_8--Black--1310-TH9CC0-901/product_detail/3-42601

https://www.giantbikespares.com/Giant-TCR--TCR-Advanced-%28Pre-2009%29--TCR-Alliance--Trinity-Headset--1310-NO26GA-902/product_detail/3-41306

No worries; the anthem X is definitely a no go; the cups in that pic look a lot more substantial than the omnium cups; more like actual external headset cups.
The TCR link definitely has potential; maybe you could get them to send you some photos of the cups from the side or at least form a slightly different angle...
I don't want to say yes that's definitely it as I'm working from quite an old memory but it looks likely; the cups sit entirely inside the head tube; there's nothing visible on the outside so when assembled it all just looks like a regular integrated headset.

Done a bit more digging; these are two different TCR frames from the same era; you'll see that one has no cups and hopefully looks as yours does now. The other still has its cups in place....

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Get the frame number and nicely ask a Giant dealer to check the service parts - it's a bit hit and miss for spares for bikes that old but sometimes they'll have something in the warehouse

This is interesting. My headtube does not look like the top photo actually. On close inspection of my headtube it looks as though there is some wafer thin metal at either end of the headtube. It doesn't overlap at top like your second photo though. I'll take a photo of this later to show you what I mean. Thanks for doing some further digging.

Might be worth a shot. I've contacted one parts dealer a couple of times without response. I'll cast a wider net. Thanks for the suggestion.

Cool; in that case it sounds like you may already still have the cups in place; can confirm with a photo; in which case getting just the headset parts should be a doddle.

Here we go. Excuse its haggard appearance.

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Blimey! What’s happened to the end of that tube??
It’s hard to tell with all that dirt but it looks to me like that is indeed the cup still in the tube. If you cleaned all the grime out you’d probably find that you could pull that cup out.
If the same is present both ends, the standard headset should drop right in.

Tell me about it... It was found in a basement and I'm trying to give it some life.

Do you by chance know what headset to drop in? I'm not sure what would fit the cups.

No sorry; it was too long ago for me to remember. The original headset was an FSA though.
I bought new bearings for one of mine and they were very standard and easy to find; the crown race was split too.
Best bet would probably be go straight to Giant HQ.

If your searching skill doesn’t works we’re here to help

You need this

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Bumping this for advancing the collective internet knowledge as an ITM MTB 1 1/8 semi integrated headset works here