2 degree Angle headset

[rowdyflat]

Anyone used one of these ?
I find my Specialised ebike is too slack in the front ,the wheel base is too long and would like to raise the bb .
It came with a 1 degree eccentric top race but would like another degree .
If I ride Falls or Thredbo the current situation would be OK .
Anyone used the Wolf Tooth one, I think it off sets the top and bottom races ?

 

[PJO]

Which Specialised do you have? If it already has a drop-in angle adjusting top cup then it is unlikely that you will be able to use an aftermarket top cup.

But....(entering speculative territory)

It might be possible to use the aftermarket bottom cup depending on whether that cup does some of the angle shifting.
Pretty sure the bearing in the bottom cup for latest model Spesh bikes is centered. Some of the aftermarket angleset headsets have a bottom cup where the bearing is off centre (towards the rear of the bike for steepening).
You might be able to use the bottom cup to get a bit less slackness. Probably won't get another degree but might get another half.
This is purely my speculation based on the Works components anglesets. I don't know if other brands have an offset bottom bearing...

Another possibility and a better one by the sounds of your desire is an offset bushing for the shock but not sure whether there is room in your frame or on the linkage. Make contact with:

Offsetbushings.com | The Finest MTB Shock Bushings

Offset and Standard Shock Bushings made for your bike. Recommended by MBR / MBUK / Pinkbike. Easy ordering, shipped worldwide. Produced for Fox, RockShox, Cane Creek & many more.

www.offsetbushings.com

This will steepen (or slacken if reveresed) the head and seat angle as well as lifting (or lowering) the BB.

 

[rowdyflat]

Offsetting the bottom race as well would be good , the frame has 2 positions for the linkage but an off set bearing as well would be good.

 

[PJO]

I really think the offset bushings are a better and less costly option. Just make contact with the guys I have bought from them and they are good to deal with.

 

[Isaakk]

I've used and am currently using +/- 2deg headsets (both Works and Wolftooth), no issues with either and do what they say they do. Currently using a 2deg Works to steepen the Marino from 61deg to 63deg.

Offset bushings are only really reliably good for shortening the shock length aka dropping BB. If you use them to lengthen, they tend to spin around over time (if not immediately). From memory, offsetbushings.com recommend against using them in that configuration.

Also consider shorter cranks, this would probably have the biggest impact if it's pedal strikes you're concerned about.

 

[rowdyflat]

I've used and am currently using +/- 2deg headsets (both Works and Wolftooth), no issues with either and do what they say they do. Currently using a 2deg Works to steepen the Marino from 61deg to 63deg.

Offset bushings are only really reliably good for shortening the shock length aka dropping BB. If you use them to lengthen, they tend to spin around over time (if not immediately). From memory, offsetbushings.com recommend against using them in that configuration.

Also consider shorter cranks, this would probably have the biggest impact if it's pedal strikes you're concerned about.

Thanks Isaac its good to speak to someone who has used this stuff.
I did wonder about offset bushings and what was there to stop them rotating ?
Do both Works and Wolf come with both upper and lower offset bearings or can you just buy the lower ?
Which do you recommend?

 

[Isaakk]

Thanks Isaac its good to speak to someone who has used this stuff.
I did wonder about offset bushings and what was there to stop them rotating ?
Do both Works and Wolf come with both upper and lower offset bearings or can you just buy the lower ?
Which do you recommend?

No prob. You will need to buy both Wolftooth or Works complete - can't just use the lower or upper cups on their own. Both headsets come complete with lower/upper cups, bearings, race, and preload cap. It's the cups that are offset/angled, not the actual bearings.

An important note though - you will need to make sure that the headset in your bike is actually replaceable. I don't know whether the headsets in the Specialized ebikes are EC/ZS or IS/integrated. If the frame is integrated (as in the seat/cups for the bearings are moulded or integrated into the frame), you will not be able to use either the Works or WolfTooth anglesets. If that is the case you could possibly use a 9point8 Slack-R headset instead.

See "What do all those numbers mean" section on this CaneCreek page

 

[PJO]

Did a bit more reading. If the bottom cup of the angleset is a ZS cup there won't be any additional offset compared to a normal ZS cup. There is no room to shift bearings because in a ZS cup they are inside the headtube.
Looking at the 56mm bottom cups, neither Works nor Wolftooth make an external version. So, all the angle adjustment is happening in the top cup.
If your e-Specialised is like my Stumpy evo it already has an adjustable top cup, but it is one that just takes a bearing not another cup. This is what my top cup looks like (two different cups for three possible angle settings):

So, neither Works nor Wolftooth are going to give you what you want.

 

[PJO]

9point8 make an external bottom cup EC56. This looks like it will do what you want in conjunction with the Specialised upper cup.
Not sure if you can only buy a lower cup on its own...

Slack-R Angle Headset EC44/EC56

The 9point8™ Slack-R™ headset angle kit changes the head tube angle on bikes with ZS/EC headsets. (ZS44 and EC44 upper bearing and EC49, EC56, and ZS56 lower bearing only.)

9point8.ca

 

[Isaakk]

Did a bit more reading. If the bottom cup of the angleset is a ZS cup there won't be any additional offset compared to a normal ZS cup. There is no room to shift bearings because in a ZS cup they are inside the headtube.
Looking at the 56mm bottom cups, neither Works nor Wolftooth make an external version. So, all the angle adjustment is happening in the top cup.
If your e-Specialised is like my Stumpy evo it already has an adjustable top cup, but it is one that just takes a bearing not another cup. This is what my top cup looks like (two different cups for three possible angle settings):
View attachment 406137

So, neither Works nor Wolftooth are going to give you what you want.

Don't forget that with offset of the top cup comes a change to the angle of the forker steerer relative to the headtube, resulting in an angle change in the bottom cup too. Aka, you need to replace both the top and bottom cups, or the bottom bearing won't be perpendicular to steerer or flush with race it sits on.

 

[PJO]

Don't forget that with offset of the top cup comes a change to the angle of the forker steerer relative to the headtube, resulting in an angle change in the bottom cup too. Aka, you need to replace both the top and bottom cups, or the bottom bearing won't be perpendicular to steerer or flush with race it sits on.

The adjustment on the Specialised bikes only changes the top cup. Bottom cup remains the same for all three settings. Wonder if there is a shorter bearing life for the bottom bearing?

 

[Isaakk]

The adjustment on the Specialised bikes only changes the top cup. Bottom cup remains the same for all three settings. Wonder if there is a shorter bearing life for the bottom bearing?

Huh. Possibly then?