I'm fixing up a bike--a 1982 Trek 720--that needs a new one inch headset. The easiest would be to get a tange levin 26.4 headset as this is what came on the bike originally.

anything else in silver that people like? I was a huge fan of the stronglight A9 headsets; they were cheap and worked great. Those roller bearings just didn't get brinelled the way that ball bearing headsets are prone to do.

A bit pricey but the IRD has needle bearings in the lower assembly:

IRD RollerDrive Headset (1" threaded)

That's $80 for a headset.

The Velo orange grand cru looks good at $52:

Grand Cru 1" Sealed Bearing Headset - Headsets - Components

I've seen different prices for tange levins but they seem to run around $30 plus. I also have not had great luck with them.

Suggestions? Stack height shouldn't be an issue; crown race is 26.4.

I picked up 2 new Campagnolo record headsets for around $60 each recently

I have Grand Cru, it is real nice. However quality of rubber seals is just OK. I had it on my sunny Sunday ride for about 2-3 years and top seal is already apart. Everyhting else - no complaints, smooth as on day one.

The Tange Levin is still a fine choice.

Also had good luck with Tange Levins.

Tange Levin is your basic, quality headset. I have a Grand Cru, no problems with the seals.

+1 for Tange Levin.

Tange Falcon FL250 is an alloy headset with cartridge bearings. Very nice looking, and I think the same stack as the taller Levin (I think there are a couple versions of the Levin). I don't know if it's still in production, but several mail order shops stock it -- Ben's, Harris, etc.

I have that Gran Cru and it needs a new home. PM me if your interested.

I'd like you to test the VO headset for me and report back before I have to overhaul my town bike this summer.
Cost (for you) is no object.

-Bandera

I just installed a Tioga Beartrap II for twenty bucks. Fit and finish adequate. Any way, a twenty dollar bike doesn't need much more than a twenty dollar headset.

I don't have experience with the Grand Cru, but the step down from that, the lesser VO Alloy Headset felt noticeably cheap. It just didn't roll smooth in comparison to the Tange Levin that replaced it.

Nuovo/Super Record headset. Otherwise a Levin/Passage would probably work just fine. I bought one recently for $12.

This may be tangential, but whenever I install a new traditional-style headset, I don't even bother using the 16-ball retainers that come with them. I put in loose balls, full complement minus one.

Despite my best efforts at using plenty of grease and adjusting the top nut just right, I had a couple wear into that "brinnelled" pattern within a couple of years, using the retainer'd bearings.

Yep, they do that. The roller bearing headsets don't do that or don't do that very easily. I have a lot of miles on an A9 and that was not a problem; plus the roller bearings ran on metal sleeves that were independent of the cups and could readily be replaced. It was a brilliant design and very light weight and no longer made.

I just installed a Woodman Axis SL Comp on my '86 Vitus 979. It's lightweight, well-built, silver, and retails for $35 to $45.

Stack height may be of consideration, so check that.

I think you should go with the IRD. Classic look + needle bearings? It's not like you're going to be replacing this thing often, so it would be worth the expense, imo.

Stronglight A9 headsets on Amazon for all the reasons you stated.

I just sent the vendor a message about the headset on Amazon. There is no info there about stack height, crown race, ISO dimension, or crown race. I guess the vendor has NOS parts because I don't believe these headsets have been made for a while.

The A9 was, IMHO, the best headset dollar for dollar ever made. Most other really great headsets cost a bomb. I grew up in a city--new orleans--that has terrible roads. Working in a shop, I saw a bunch of bikes with high quality headsets come back with issues as the bumpy roads would damage the headsets. We'd install an A9 and the problem was solved.

That one might be perfectly fine, but note that it's cartridge bearing, not the needle bearing design of the original A9.

+ 1, good catch.

The ones on Amazon appear to be the new version, with cartridge bearings instead of rollers. Probably a nice headset, but not the same as the original A9 and unknown longevity.

The IRD is probably the closest you can get to the original A9.

I just ordered a new campagnolo record threaded headset from Velomine for about $65 bucks. Not yet installed, but it looks great.

Point taken on the A9 bearings, I think the bullet proof needles went out in '09 or '10. Right after that I replaced my son-in-laws headset with the cartridge A9 and just this winter due to him being all thumbs went through his bike carefully. He does a ton of miles every year, centuries, Seattle to Portland, etc. To my surprise it was as smooth as silk. Only one data point I know but I hope it is high standards of QA/QC.