90’s Trek frame question
 

I just picked up a 92 950 frame and looking at the bottom bracket it has 990 18 stamped on it, and it is an 18” frame. I just checked my 1991 990 and it has 990 22 stamped on it as it is a 22” frame. For some reason I thought there was a difference between 990 frames and lower models in the 9xx series.

I am to assume all 9xx series frames are the same, or did I just get lucky and pickup a 990 frame that was decked out in 950 trim from the factory?

The markings on my 18" 1992 930 read 930 18

I'm not at home so I can't check my '93 970 frame for a couple days...but I'm thinking I'm remembering that, at least for some years, 950 and up had the same frame.

You might go to Trek vintage spec manuals or brochures and check the frame descriptions.

Yes, many years there were several framesets that were identical. In '92, the Trek 950, 970, and 990 used the same exact frame, but used different forks. The 950 and 970 used the "Big Fork" while the 990 had a suspension fork. That same year, the lower-tier 930 had ALMOST the same frame, except that only the head tube and top tube were OD. Then the next year, 1993, they gave the 930 the same frame as the 1992 950/970/990. It worked that way for a while - identical framesets in the higher-end models differing only by the fork and (of course) the rest of the components, and the lower-end 930 usually got the higher-end frameset from the previous year. This isn't absolute in all years, but that was the general pattern.

No matter the model or the year, they're all full DB chromoly with great geometry and are fantastic frames. The specs are all available for comparison out on the Vintage Trek site. You can download the manuals.

thanks for the info.

im wondering if I will notice a difference in the front forks. My 91 990 has the super big fork where the 92 950 has triple butted big fork.