Took my old steel frame to the LBS to be stripped and re-painted. They told me I should change the old headset as the one on it was a touring headset and replace it with a new roadhead set.
What is the difference between the two???? I would ask my LBS but I am in Japan and don`t speak to much Japanese. Thank you

The only thing I can think of is that they are trying to sell you a lighter headset. If nothing is wrong with the headset you have in now, I wouldn't change it.

Now is the perfect time to change headsets, you're already halfway there. but if the cups are in good shape and you like the look and weight of the headset that's there, then there's no reason to change it.... unless you're planning to change forks from threaded to threadless.....Allan

Nonsense. No such difference, unless the headset being removed has aluminum raceways.

-Kurt

My Japanese isn't very good at all, but I think this translates to either 1) "I want to sell you something" or 2) "Your headset would look good on one of my bikes".

Reminds me of the story relayed to me by the former owner of my chrome Paramount. Said the LBS tried every conceivable way to con him out of the entire bike, or at the least, the components for "better, new stuff." It didn't work

-Kurt

I think your translation is spot on.

My guess is that if you had taken a touring bike in you would have needed to change your roadie headset.