My Message To Trek

I believe Trek has lifetime warranties on their frames, so I wouldn't worry about the life expectancy on the 1200 or 1500 frames.

Why do you want to upgrade to a Chris King headset?

No logical reason to upgrade your headset after less than a year. Why? A properly installed headset will be worry-free, be it a cane creek or chris king.

Lotsa debate on the Chris "Integrated Headsets Are Bad For Frames" King statement. I've put a ton of miles on a Klein Q-Pro Carbon with no problems. Also have put a Litespeed through some tough miles with no problems.

Personally the jump from 1200 to 1500 isn't too significant, you're buying almost the same bike you have now. Same frame, slightly better component group. I'd advise either jumping up to something that has at least a carbon rear or just riding what you have already.

the integrated headset is a new trend... y go chris king? they are the best. They have the best R&D and the best materials and craftsmanship and customer service. i wish my frames dident have integrated headsets.

You have nothing to worry about regarding the longevity of your headset or frame: Trek don't want to get sued. If you treat your bike well, it will last!!

This is Trek's response to my inquiry:

Thanks for writing
This has an integrated headset, but it has replaceable cups, so its
50/50.
"zero stack" is the proper term for this.
All trek frames are to last for life, this is why we have a lifetime
warranty.

Josh Vick
Gary Fisher/Trek Bicycle Tech Support
&msg=9D6CC7DC-7D40-4AB6-BDF1-4E4D4066F387&start=0&len=3103&src=&type=x"][email hidden]

badkarma said:

I believe Trek has lifetime warranties on their frames, so I wouldn't worry about the life expectancy on the 1200 or 1500 frames.

Why do you want to upgrade to a Chris King headset?

Well, according to Trek (see reply above), the Trek 1500 utilizes a Zero Stack (ZS) system. Cane Creek describes the Zero Stack system as this:
Zero Stack

The Zero Stack (ZS) design headset requires a relatively large head tube and utilizes bearing cups that are hidden or partially hidden inside the head tube. The Zero Stack headset offers a low stack height, a clean look and the security of bearing cups.

These headsets may be used only in frames specifically designed for their use. With the introduction of Zero Stack headsets by Cane Creek Cycling Components in 1999, an industry standard for head tube interface dimensions was set at 44.0 mm nominal for 1-1/8" headsets. This dimension has been widely adopted by other headset manufacturers and the bicycle industry over the last 3 years. Beware of headsets recently introduced to the market, such as the King Cycle Group's Perdido, with a 44.5 mm nominal diameter. This is not compatible with the adopted industry standard.
[img]canecreek.comclear.gifOpen ↗[/img][img]canecreek.comc3837fd494.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

As you can see by the picture, a Zero Stack headset is just like the Classic, only the head tube has been widened so that the bearings can hide inside the headtube.

IEatRice4Dinner said:

the integrated headset is a new trend... y go chris king? they are the best. They have the best R&D and the best materials and craftsmanship and customer service. i wish my frames dident have integrated headsets.

I guess I just don't see the logic behind upgrading to the best headset for a Trek1200 or 1500. If I wanted to dump money into a 1200 (or 1500), I'd start with the wheels. Just my 0.02

badkarma said:

I guess I just don't see the logic behind upgrading to the best headset for a Trek1200 or 1500. If I wanted to dump money into a 1200 (or 1500), I'd start with the wheels. Just my 0.02

+1 on the wheel upgrade vs. the headset. You won't notice any performance improvement with a better headset.

Giggity, giggity......

IEatRice4Dinner said:

the integrated headset is a new trend... y go chris king? they are the best. They have the best R&D and the best materials and craftsmanship and customer service. i wish my frames dident have integrated headsets.

PROBLEM SOLVERS should have a "shim" which you can use to convert your headtube to utilize "regular" headsets ... they are about $25US.

alfeng said:

PROBLEM SOLVERS should have a "shim" which you can use to convert your headtube to utilize "regular" headsets ... they are about $25US.

Lots of debate but no conclusive evidence that integrated headsets (properly installed and maintained) are bad for frames.

alfeng said:

PROBLEM SOLVERS should have a "shim" which you can use to convert your headtube to utilize "regular" headsets ... they are about $25US.

That's going to create a lot more problems than it might solve.

capwater said:

+1 on the wheel upgrade vs. the headset. You won't notice any performance improvement with a better headset.

Giggity, giggity......

Of course I am going to upgrade the wheels as well. I am upgrading the headset so that it requires less maintenance. My decision has nothing to do with performance.
And why would I deck out a Trek 1500 instead of buying the Madone? I am pleased with the performance I get from the aluminum frame and with the extra money I don't spend on a carbon fiber frame, I can upgrade things like the wheels, the headset, and the saddle.

Trek_Athlete said:

Of course I am going to upgrade the wheels as well. I am upgrading the headset so that it requires less maintenance. My decision has nothing to do with performance.
And why would I deck out a Trek 1500 instead of buying the Madone? I am pleased with the performance I get from the aluminum frame and with the extra money I don't spend on a carbon fiber frame, I can upgrade things like the wheels, the headset, and the saddle.

1) How much time are you really spending on headset maintenance? It shouldn't take more than twenty minutes a year.

2) If you like the frame so much, why buy another one just like it instead of upgrading around the one you already have now?

artmichalek said:

1) How much time are you really spending on headset maintenance? It shouldn't take more than twenty minutes a year.

2) If you like the frame so much, why buy another one just like it instead of upgrading around the one you already have now?

1) I don't mess with my headset, I leave it to the bike shop.

2) The frames are not the same. The Trek 1200 uses SL Aluminum while the Trek 1500 uses SLR Aluminum. According to Trek, "Superlight race frames feature thinnner, lighter Alpha Aluminum tubes", and are "combined with our proven race geometry".
I also like the paint scheme on the 1500, which resembles the Discovery Channel Team's frame colors.
Even more so, the 1500 comes with Shimano 105 S.T.I. levers and front derailleur, and a Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur, so the 1500 has better components.
And if I still havn't satisfied you, I like the idea of having a second/spare bike.

Trek_Athlete said:

Of course I am going to upgrade the wheels as well. I am upgrading the headset so that it requires less maintenance. My decision has nothing to do with performance.
And why would I deck out a Trek 1500 instead of buying the Madone? I am pleased with the performance I get from the aluminum frame and with the extra money I don't spend on a carbon fiber frame, I can upgrade things like the wheels, the headset, and the saddle.

I don't get upgrading the headset so it requires less maintenance. It takes me on the order of minutes per year to perform the required maintenance on my headset.

I would save my money for a new chain and tires when they wear out. Upgrading the headset doesn't make sense.

Trek_Athlete said:

1) I don't mess with my headset, I leave it to the bike shop.

2) The frames are not the same. The Trek 1200 uses SL Aluminum while the Trek 1500 uses SLR Aluminum. According to Trek, "Superlight race frames feature thinnner, lighter Alpha Aluminum tubes", and are "combined with our proven race geometry".
I also like the paint scheme on the 1500, which resembles the Discovery Channel Team's frame colors.
Even more so, the 1500 comes with Shimano 105 S.T.I. levers and front derailleur, and a Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur, so the 1500 has better components.
And if I still havn't satisfied you, I like the idea of having a second/spare bike.

Your choice to upgrade your headset is ill-founded. Many other parts of a bike will wear out long before the headset needs any service. I think you have an emotional attachment to the perceived quality, frankly, because you will gain no measureable benefit.

I've seen the literature and the theory that integrated headseats will wear out sooner. In my life (53) I've only seen headsets on department store bikes worn out. Even old steel bikes only need grease packing or maybe new bearings in things got rusty inside.

I'd worry about headset maintenance more on a MTB, not a road bike. I've ridden MTBs for years on harsh trails with no need for headset maintenance. Sure, I've had to true wheels, adjust shocks, drivetain, etc., but I've never had to worry about a headset. I consider my road bikes to be headset maintenance free, except for hitting a big pothole.

P.S. I built my last bike from the frame. Ironically, the headset was the one thing I had the local shop do since the tools are so expensive.

If you crash hard enough for an integrated headset to ruin a frame, then you would have MUCH bigger things to worry about (i.e. huge medical bills). Integrated headsets have been used on bmx bikes for a few years now with no problems, and there is a hell of a lot more force on them than on road bikes.