All-City Gorilla Monsoon steel "monster cross” bike w/ clearance for 27.5 x 2.4"

[Erik_A]

Great new All-City Gorilla Monsoon steel "monster cross” bike with clearance for 27.5 x 2.4″ tires:

https://www.allcitycycles.com/bikes/gorilla_monsoon

https://allcitycycles.com/blog/today_we_introduce_the_gorilla_monsoon

https://www.bikerumor.com/2018/02/17/city-gorilla-monsoon-storms-27-5-drop-bar-monster-gravel-build/

I love these specs and geometry.  The big head scratcher is why the straight 1-1/8" headtube.  QBP announced another new steel bike, the  Surly Midnight Special "all-road" bike with a 44mm headtube.  The ability to run a tapered fork in the future would have been nice.

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/midnight_special/bike_info

[vermont]

I'm looking at this one with a 44 head tube.  http://shop.vassagocycles.com/Fisticuff-Frame_p_248.html
The price is spectacular but I have not heard of the 44 head tube.  Does this mean depending on the headset that I could run a strait 1 1/8 or a tapered fork?  I'd rather not use the fork they give due to my wheels being QR.
The "monster cross" appears to be gaining a little bit of traction.  For "bikepacking" but for the road side of the dirt/trail ratio.  Stick some road wheels in for pavement and stick some wide tires for whatever your heart desires.
Sorry to hijack, but has anyone heard of the Vassago as well?  The price is making me seriously drool.

[Pirahna]

A late reply, with a 44mm head tube you can run a tapered fork or put an insert in the bottom to run a straight 1 1/8. I had a Hope headset which had a spacer available separately, I'm sure other manufacturers do the same.