Bicycle Mechanics - Old Bianchi Headset

Good Morning Cyclists:

I have an 1997/98 Bianchi Campione Di Italia with Mirage gears by Campagnolo and a Miche headset
that needs replacing. The bikes been a work horse and I've been able to service it myself
over the years.

But now I am unable to locate a quality headset to replace for the old Miche headset. I'm looking for
a 1" threaded headset with a 27cm bottom race. The 27cm bottom race seems to be a rarity in new headsets.
I can't find one on the Miche website.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Phil

Post in The Bicycle Mechanics Forum.

Welcome to bikeforums!

I have moved your thread over from introductions to the experts over here at the mechanics section.

Would you fine ladies and gentlemen care to give this man a hand? :)

I'm looking for
a 1" threaded headset with a 27cm bottom race.

27cm is approximately two feet and an inch, I think you may mean 27mm....

It is possible to machine a fork built for a 27mm race to take a 26.4mm one, if you really get stuck looking. However, the 27mm lower race is part of the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard), which also prescribes a different size headtube. JIS headtubes are 30mm internal diameter, not 30.2mm like the ISO ones which are more common. If your frame and fork are both JIS, there are a number of compatible headsets, or you can have the headtube reamed out to ISO just like you can with the fork.

It does seem rather unusual that Bianchi, an italian manufacturer, would use JIS, but stranger things have happened.

It does seem rather unusual that Bianchi, an italian manufacturer, would use JIS, but stranger things have happened.
+1, particularly by 1997. Check again to be sure you really do have a JIS size headset. As Airburst noted, if you do, the crown race seat and the head tube can be reamed to fit the far more common ISO cups and crown race.

If you genuinely do have a JIS frameset, there are still headsets available to fit, for instance here (http://www.tracksupermarket.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=79&zenid=1fpscv8oorepjvvhiqkd6md4l4) (the ones sold as "NJS")

There are very affordable JIS headsets if you don't need the NJS stamp of approval, too. ;)

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=48119&category=4127
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=10536&category=4127