Originally Posted by
jimmuller
If you had to acquire and install a headset on a high-end vintage bike what would you consider acceptable? One can buy a new, seemingly very good headset from Harris or VO for under $50. Vintage Campy sets on ebay are going for two to three times that. Let us put aside for now any question of restoration; for now I'm interested in performance, not appearance.
VO has a model with needle bearings, seems like a good idea. They also have a model with a split fork crown race to make it easier to install. I can see how the bearing pressure would force the split joint closed, but I do wonder how that joint would survive long-term use.
Any thoughts or experiences?
TIA,
Jim
First thoughts are that there are mechanical considerations that trump style. Your bike has requirements: crown race ID, thread (French, Italian, or BSA), and stack height (your fork might be too short for a new headset that you buy, even though it was just fine with the old one). If you're actually building a bike to ride, these precede style points.
That said, I like modern and vintage Campagnolo, Tange M-60 and some kinds of Levin, and Stronglight A9 with needle bearings. But you can't make one work that has the wrong dimensions. Nor can you make one work if the head tube and crown race seat are not in shape.