Hope 1.5 Step Down Headset
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
Hope has a lot of parts that they make and one that you might not know about is their 1.5″ Step Down Headset. It allows you to run a 1 1/8″ steerer tube fork in a frame with a 1.5″ headtube. Check out the details inside on this lightweight low stack reducing headset.
Hope’s 1.5″ Step Down was a piece that I hadn’t seen much information on and wanted to check out what it had to offer. The headset is very lightweight and reduces a 1.5″ headtube to accept a 1 1/8″ steerer. This headset offers one of the lowest stack heights for a 1.5″ headset that I’m aware of. With everyone trying to get their bike lower in front, using a setup like the Hope 1.5″ Step Down headset can greatly reduce your stack height.
(click to enlarge)
All of the pieces for the headset are included so you don’t have to source bearings or anything else. The bearings are easy to replace and the headset is pretty typical in setup except for their Head Doctor system. The Head Doctor system replaces the star nut system with an expansion plug you put in the fork steerer. The system weighs 31g.
Head Doctor detail (click to enlarge)
- 140g including all hardware
- Low Cup Stack height 2.3mm (e.13 is 3mm)
- Full stainless steel bearings (replaceable)
- Split crown race
- Common parts throughout the range
- All parts available as spares and fully rebuildable
- 6 color choices
- Steel Head Doctor bolt on the 1.5″ Step Down
The headset bearings slip easily in and out of the cups but so far they’ve not proven to cause any issues. A press fit for the bearings would be welcomed. The system is real easy to set up. If you have a fork with a star-nut you can still use that system and not use their Head Doctor setup.
headset assembly detail (click to enlarge)
The Step Down headset cups press into the headset area, then you slip in the rest of the pieces. The Step Down cup measured 12.55mm (10.25mm insertion into the frame). It offers a really low stack height to keep your bars down low if you desire. If you’re interested in getting one of these any good shop should be able to get them from Hope for you. Hit up Chad at RedBarnBikes for a great deal.
Previous Coverage
November 14th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Wow, a light weight alternative. Never seen this thing. I wonder about the durability of this set for higher travel fork’s tho. With only 10.25 mm of instertion there is something to worry about worping the headtube.
Would you rate this kit freeride-proof or all-mountain? I was going for a Syncross FBI set but that’s almost 120 gram’s heavier. I’ll use a lyric 2 step in a Wildcard frame if that help’s.
November 14th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I think i should be ok. Its not quite as deep as i’d like but i don’t envision having any issues with it.
If you want another light alternative, you can go with the e13 cups which the FSA -IS2 headset which have a deeper insertion and are about 15g heavier, and slightly higher stack height at 3mm.
The Hope headset is going on a dual crown bike. It is solid so far
November 14th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Do you know about prices ?
November 14th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I have this headset on my Blindside with a Fox 40 fork. Installed weeks ago and still no need for adjustment!! The stack height is insane lowest I have ever seen.
Another top quality product from Hope.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I think it looks great. Can you run the headset without the top cover like on the e13? And if you compare them back to back in that setup (including however many microspacers are required to allow the topcrown/stem to clear), which headset is lower?
One thing I noticed on the e13 is that the lower stack height is much higher than it needs to be thanks to the crown race insertion depth (or lack thereof), is the hope better in this regard?
Finally - are the bearings the same size as the e13 setup or are they bigger? Will be interesting to see how the slip fit goes in the long term, hopefully it’s fine. Like you said a light press fit might have been better.
November 14th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Udi:
1. Yea i don’t see why you couldn’t run it without the top cap. Just use a few micro spacers. I haven’t got an e13 one setup right now so i can’t measure it. The hope will be lower though.
2. The hope is recessed quite well once the crown race is in there. I’ll take picture of it tomorrow if you want to see.
3. Yes they’re the same size. Slip fit is ok for now, time will tell like you say though.
November 14th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Did Hope make a 2007 model, because I was looking for one and saw one that looked much taller than this one?
November 14th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
It probably was a differnt hope headset then. It’s the same for 2007 as far as I know.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Any idea if this will work with a Cannondale Prophet frame? No one from C’dale or Hope will get back to me. Thanks
January 10th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I would think it should work but we do not have any Cannondale prophets. Try giving them a phone call perhaps.