eric01

I have a trek 2004 5500 with a 1 1/8 Cane Creek S6 headset. A buddy of mine said that the bottom half is non standard. Something about a 1 1/4 bearing race that's bonded, not pressed, into the frame? Anyone know if this is true? If I'd like to replace the headset, with say a Chris King, am I out of luck?

On a somewhat related topic -- if the headset is non standard, is the fork non-standard too?

Pete Hamer

They did make a frame like that. I don't remember the model year. The fork was non-standard too.

fore

if you've currently got a S6 in there odds are it's a standard 1 1/8" headset and can be replaced with any other.

Pete Hamer

rollover image to view, click to enlarge


ITEM # 838
Crown Race Setting Ring

Used in conjunction with the CRS-1 Crown Race Setting System to install the special crown race used on 1-1/8" and 1-1/16" Klein Aeros and Trek Superlight Composite Forks.

This was from the Park Tool website. The frames with the Trek Superlight design use a "standard" headset cup for the top bearing so it might say Cane Creek 1 1/8" but the lower cup is oversized and bonded in. You will be able to figure out if the bike in question has this Trek Superlight "non-standard" headset system by removing the fork and comparing the system to another system that you know is a 1 1/8" "standard" design.

Pete Hamer

I asked my Trek rep about this today. From what he could figure out the only frames made with the Superlight fork were 2003 model 5900 OCLv frames. He thought it was a Klein Airhead lower bearing.

eric01

Thanks for the responses! I did a little digging myself -- apparently the 2001-2003 5900's have the Klein headset & fork. In 2004 the 5900 switched over to a regular 1 1/8. All of the other OCLV frames have a 1" (pre 2001) or 1 1/8" standard headset.

Here's the link i found that has all the Trek OCLV info you ever wanted to know...

https://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/oclvhistory.htm

Pete Hamer

Thanks for the link. That website was more informative about the headset design than the Trek website, my Trek rep., and my Trek dealer only websites combined.