1992 Litespeed build thread

[zepreeme]

Hey everyone,
This build thread originally started on Retrobike, but I thought I’d continue the project here instead. I've shared the build already on my Instagram, but I wanted to post a more in-depth walkthrough of the build process here..

It began with me buying a complete, truly amazing Litespeed from Second Spin — equipped with everything Litespeed originally offered, plus a full Shimano XTR M900 group with matching date codes across all components.. After finishing the build and trying the bike a couple of times, I realized it was simply too big for me — a real bummer, and the start of a bit of a rollercoaster.

I decided to sell the frame and reuse all the components, wheels, and fork on another smaller (blasted) ’92 Litespeed I had sitting around. The large frame went off to Italy, and through a trade with a fellow collector in Austria I swapped my fork with the long steerer for his with a shorter one (so he could get his Litespeed bike together). We then went a step further and exchanged my matte-blasted frame for his polished frame of the right size. Phew!

In the end, I’ve basically ended up with a similar frameset as I started with—but this time in a size that fits me better. I actually prefer the neon decals on this one too, so that’s a bonus. The trade also brought in a stem with the diamond logo decal, which I kind of like more than the previous Litespeed one.

A few differences on this frame compared to the first one:

• It’s from an earlier production run 4130 (!) vs 5xxx, with downtube routing for the rear derailleur cable.
• It has no separate seatpost collar but instead an integrated seatpost binder bolt.
• Earlier generation stem with the smaller diameter stem

Regards
Martin

 

[Jazzman1991]

Very nice!!

 

[Spaltinho]

Litespeeds with full spec are so much cooler than Merlins. Congrats on the set !

 

[Mathes66]

Wonderful bike.

 

[yo_felix]

It´s almost worse having your dream frame in the wrong size as not having it at all. But glad it worked out in your case!

 

[ArSt]

Hello Martin, that brings back memories.

It’s from an earlier production run 4130 (!) vs 5xxx, with downtube routing for the rear derailleur cable.

I am the first owner of a 1992 Litespeed in size 17", but my frame is 4 numbers newer than yours:

Originally, I had installed the exact same stem and fork, but over the years, these parts were replaced with slightly more comfortable ones:

I used the bike today, just like back then, for rides here in the Garmisch area:

Best regards, Armin.

 

[Marix]

4130 was once mine

 

[Jazzman1991]

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anze...-27-0-retro-1992-near-nos/3306429052-217-2096

 

[zepreeme]

Litespeeds with full spec are so much cooler than Merlins. Congrats on the set !

Yes agree, that’s one of the things I really like about Litespeed as well. They offered such a great range of accessories. Wouldn't say no to a 1989 Merlin though .

4130 was once mine

Wow no way, that's cool. You took good care of it, the frame is in very good condition and just needed some light polishing. It is in good hands now .

 

[zepreeme]

Hello Martin, that brings back memories.

I am the first owner of a 1992 Litespeed in size 17", but my frame is 4 numbers newer than yours:
Anhang anzeigen 2307794
Originally, I had installed the exact same stem and fork, but over the years, these parts were replaced with slightly more comfortable ones:

I used the bike today, just like back then, for rides here in the Garmisch area:

Best regards, Armin.

Hello!
That's awesome. Only 4 numbers!
I see you are enjoying the bike, it looks great and what a backdrop! Quite different from what I have in Gothenburg.

Kind regards, Martin

 

[zepreeme]

XTR M900 headset mounted. I hadn’t noticed before that the crown race actually has a retaining ring in a groove, nice detail!

The steerer is slightly too long, but I don’t want to cut it, so I’m using a few spacers for now.

These Litespeed stickers are awesome

To get a bit more room for the handlebar to slide in, I sometimes put a coin in the split and tighten the bolt slightly to open it up a bit more.

 

[ArSt]

These Litespeed stickers are awesome

I think so too:

If you ever need new decals, user @cbb designed some together with me.

 

[zepreeme]

I haven't been able to locate a 1992 Litespeed Catalog, if there is one even?
1991 catalog outtakes

The Beutiful fork


Ad from 1991 with earlier type fork


1993 the mountainbike frame seems to have gained the Ocoee designation

Somwhere in between 91-93 the bottom bracket and skewers seems to have changed to black anodizing, stem shaft was also increased.


Available finishes in 1993.



Ran into two small issues. First, this frame requires a smaller-diameter seatpost than the previous one. The bonded shim is 26.8 mm, so I couldn’t reuse my old post. Second, the previous frame had a different rear derailleur cable routing, which meant the existing gear cable housing was too short.



I really wanted to use an early Litespeed seatpost to match the rest of the build. Unfortunately, finding one in 26.8 would probably take ages, and when I was offered a 27.2 here in the forum, I decided to go for it. I therefore chose to ream the aluminum shim from 26.8 to 27.2. An easy job—taking 0.2 mm off in stages using a Cyclus reamer. The new seatpost fits perfectly.


Seatpost had been dulled in it's earlier life, but I wanted to try and get it in the same "brilliant polished" as the frame. Getting a true mirror finish on titanium is quite difficult, so I’m not fully satisfied yet. I’ll need to research titanium polishing a bit more, but it’s fine for now.

The seatpost is missing the original sticker, so I traced a Litespeed decal from the handlebar, and it’s at the printer.

 

[ArSt]

I haven't been able to locate a 1992 Litespeed Catalog, if there is one even?

There was no catalog in 1992, although the frames were redesigned during this period to accommodate suspension forks. This can be seen in the significantly shorter head tubes compared to the previous year.
My frame was already prepared for a seat post with a diameter of 27.2 mm.

 

[Jazzman1991]

That looks really great. Nice project, keep enjoying it.

 

[ArSt]

@zepreeme, have you seen: https://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Litespeed.html
Are those your pedals:

 

[zepreeme]

@zepreeme, have you seen: https://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Litespeed.html
Are those your pedals:

Yes I've seen that thanks

Yes that is the same pedals I have, but not as nice condition.
1992 Specialized directdrive titanium, catalog screen shot:

One of the pedals was missing a dust cap, but luckily a lower-spec version uses the same type. I found a used pair with decent caps — so the pedals are now complete.

 

[ArSt]

One of the pedals was missing a dust cap,

I've been missing both dust caps for a long time, but I haven't bothered to get replacements. Incidentally, the manufacturer of these pedals was MKS, which also had the same pedal with a steel spindle in its range under a different name. See here: https://web.archive.org/web/20240421141432/http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products/pedals/aspec.shtml

 

[zepreeme]

I've been missing both dust caps for a long time, but I haven't bothered to get replacements. Incidentally, the manufacturer of these pedals was MKS, which also had the same pedal with a steel spindle in its range under a different name. See here: https://web.archive.org/web/20240421141432/http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products/pedals/aspec.shtml

Yes it was from the lower tier steel version I found the replacement caps.

Litespeed bottom bracket weighing in at a whopping 163grams mounted.

As mentioned earlier the full XTR M900 group has matching date codes stamped.

SRP titanium chainring bolts and SRP titanium crank bolts completes the crankset