Only 8g difference from the all steel cheap passage and the alloy Levin. Odd.

FYI, it is most definitely aluminum. The lightest, most plasticky aluminum I've ever known in my life.

They work not bad at all, but they're less-than-confidence inspiring to install. They look fantastic though; I'm pretty sure oneclick's Claud Butler is wearing one.

-Kurt

I really think you ought to try out the FSA model I mentioned.

Here on ebay for $35 with free shipping. The sizing says '22.4mm', but I think that's a typo and they meant to write 22.2. Good to double check, though. https://www.ebay.com/itm/20290007499...3ABFBMpOa-uadi

The Delrin version was the B-10. It used the same rollers and floating steel races as the A-9, but Delrin instead of aluminum for the crown race, head tube pressed pieces, and threaded cup. It was a few grams lighter than the already quite light A-9 model, but the plastic pieces weren't as solid-feeling as the aluminum pieces in the A-9; to me, it always felt like the headset was a little loose. But if every gram counts, you need the B-10.

FWIW, Tange made a hybrid roller/ball headset for IRD:
https://www.rivbike.com/cdn/shop/pro...ea96_1100x.jpg
https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/297...gory=788#attr=

The rollers were in the lower race, which handles all the load, while the balls in the upper race keep things in alignment.

I referenced this thread again yesterday as I was trying to find a headset for the late '80s Falcon I bought. Yours and other posts in this thread were most helpful after an annoying experience looking through a bucket of used headsets at Recycled Cycles waaay too long...

After my rummaging, I found two greasy, used Shimano sets among all those not labeled. I then asked the price of the two: $20 each. :wtf: $20 each for unlabeled headsets that may or may not work after I had to dig my way down to find them in a overfilled box that likely no customer in his right mind has looked through in weeks?

I wiped the grease off my hands, rode home and bought a new Tange Passage on eBay for $15. It has a low stack height for this frame that needs one (it originally came with a low stack Santé set), so I know it will both work and look appropriate. :thumb:

At the price point of the new Tanges, it is a bargain. They never look out of place.

glad I saw this thread. I am considering replacing a perfectly functioning headset in my RB-2 because the chrome is flaking off bad.

Not cheap, but very nice is the IRD Techno-Glide which is made by Tange. Aluminum headset with cartridge bearings. 1" threaded is 93 grams.

The best part is the stack height is only 35.3mm.

John

I bought a Tange Falcon in silver with sealed cartridge bearings from a UK seller on eBay the other day, I think it was $40. Arrived quickly and looks great. Would absolutely recommend.

Alloy? If so, that's great!