Since this bike is from 1997, there is still a chance it is something other than 1 1/8" threadless. Before you buy a headset, MAKE SURE YOU BUY THE RIGHT ONE. You need to know whether it is 1" or 1 1/8". You also need to know whether it is threaded or threadless. See this: http://sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html

I would not worry about breaking a headset, unless you find some stupid lightweight piece. You will break your frame/fork/front wheel before you break a headset.