Headset bearing size I am going to be building a beach cruiser frame with 26" springer forks and 25" apehangers with a 1" headset. what is the difference between 5/32" x 16b and 3/16" x 15b, performance wise? Basically I would like to know if the size of the bearing makes any difference
My opinion is that the smaller balls could theoretically be smoother. The larger balls could be more durable. Seeing as how a typical low tech headset lasts a very long time if installed, adjusted and maintained correctly, I doubt it makes a huge difference. The exposed part of the race may be slightly more visible if appearance is a critical factor.