Frame is tapered- currently running a Hope headset that enables a stepdown on the bottom cup to my std 1 1/8 forks.

New forks are tapered. Can I keep the same bottom cup and simply add a conversion (smaller race??)- or do I need to stump up for a different cup etc?

which lower cup do you have?

http://www.hopetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HOPEHEADSETS2011Web.pdf

Depends which way it’s been converted & headtube design. You can either use an internal cup to make it work with 1 1/8 or an external for 1 1/2 & an adaptor crown race.

Page 3 of the PDF above shows all the options.

Straight steerer in a tapered headtube will have an adaptor (HS:136) fitted to carry the larger crown race.

My lower cup is bottom cup D if this helps? 🙂

You need a different lower cup and crown race. The lower cup you have is zero stack, you can’t run a tapered fork without an external lower cup, the lower portion of the steerer is simply too fat to sit inside the headtube.

If you currently have cup D fitted then you’ll need cup F to run a tapered fork on your frame.

I don’t understand how you can have cup D if your headtube is tapered.

You should have cup E (or possibly G) and using HS136 to make your straight forks fit.

To use a tapered fork the process should be;
– remove straight fork along with HS136 adaptor and crown race
– take crown race off adaptor and put on tapered forks.
– shove tapered forks up your arse into tapered head tube.

So you must have a straight headtube then?

Currently have straight steerer.

Sure its a Cup D but the chart linked says it isnt?!!.

Rang hope and he said remove an adaptor and the race will work on tapered too. Thats confused me a wee bit.

Rang hope and he said remove an adaptor and the race will work on tapered too. Thats confused me a wee bit.

Sounds as though they are telling you to do exactly what I spelled out for you above.

No idea what is confusing you.

As above:

Is the frame headtube tapered, actually physical wider at one end compared to the other?

Or is it straight and able to fit a taper steerer fork?

Is the frame headtube tapered, actually physical wider at one end compared to the other?

Or is it straight and able to fit a taper steerer fork?

It might be better to ask what the bike is and work it out for ourselves in order to minimise any “user” errors.

It certainly could be a D, I’m running one on my tapered El Guapo to run a 1-1/8″ fork. If it is a D then you’ll need a new lower cup F.

Look at the lower cup from underneath, if you can see an adaptor then you just need to swap the crown race over to your new forks, as described above.

No adaptor then you need a new lower cup and crown race which will be supplied together.

Order the correct cup according to internal diameter of headtube, ideally as measured or taken from frame specifications/common knowledge.

Its a Santa Cruz Butcher

Yes you need a new lower cup and crown race.

Update: Yep Hope cup F. Ordered Thurs from Merlin and fitted last night.