Without multi-quoting a variety of previous posts I'll do my best to adress eveyone whos commented.

1. Filing down the fork race was a joke. I'd never do suck a thing to a bike of this quality.

2. Mid-range. The Merckx Century TSX was mid level in Merckx's 91/92 lineup positioned between the Corsa and Corsa Extra. With a 1994 frameset MSRP of $1225 it was more than the $925 Corsa but less than the $1421 MX Leader.

3. No vintage looking headsets. The 600EX, VO headset and the Tange Sekai would look out of place in my opinion.

4. Headset hell. Without a doubt, finding 1" threaded headsets isnt as easy as it seems. There are alot of sub $20 heasdsets but almost nothing in the $20-$75 range. While headsets like the Ritchey may be heavy, the overall functioning quality is at least as good as Shimano 105 and I see no reason the its not equal to a 600 Ultegra. At 140g its only 60g (2oz.) heavier than an $80 Dura-Ace. They just look goofy with a black top cap.

5. Stack height. Anything under 40mm should be good to go.

I prefer to have consistency of componentry on all of my bikes. At the moment its looking like one of the previously mentioned Ultegras (which I happened to have missed in my initial ebay search) will be used.

Ultegra headsets are very nice. I also like the Ritchie WCS, but the fact that the top nut has a slightly different finish than the rest of the parts has always bothered me. It's the first thing that catches my eye when I look at my Bridgestone, although nobody else seems to notice.

Ribble has a Campagnolo Record headset very reasonably priced -- $60.

I think it would be easy to remove the lettering.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/produc...ue=CAMPHSTR500

+ More. Cheapest would be a 105, but Tange Levin came to mind first. It replaced the 600 headset on some bikes when the model changed from 88 to 89, and was the "branded" headset on some bikes (Centurion, Specialized) that simply had their name put on the headset,too.

OFG beat me to it. Ribble that is. Total Cycling has them as well, little bit more though at $64. Nice headset. Unattractive lettering.

They also have Stronglight A9's cheap:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/produc...ue=STROHSTR455

http://pl20292.macbay.de/_pics/Velo2...ails/m__01.jpg

I want one of these on my future Ergo-based project. I suppose to get it at a decent price-point, you're looking at used though, which could be dicey...
...but they look like 60's robots!

VO Grand Cru
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C1XrRVl3W8....4+headset.jpg

There's also the IRD Techno-Glide that uses Tange sealed bearings (maybe they all do), and comes in quite a few colors; but it's out of miamijim's budget at $80
http://www.interlocracing.com/ird_thrded_hdset.jpg

Tange Vantage? I got mine used on ebay for about $35 shipped. It's sealed, has a short stack, is actually about 105g (advertised 90g) and looks perfectly normal.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PNgp5SyTu4...%83%8F+089.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PNgp5SyTu4...%83%8F+089.jpg

FSA either made or makes a black-anodized headset that has the C-Record appearance. I removed the anodizing on the lower cup, haven't had time to do the upper:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/FSA_headset.jpg

-Kurt

EDCO made some cool looking and working headsets too.
They're on ebay now and again.
TP

Time to re-open a thread that has been dead for a few days. I am facing the same dilemma as miamijim in that I need to replace a dead Shimano 600 tricolor headset on my new Cramerotti. Obviously I have perused the options presented here but I have a couple questions.
1. Crown Race: would my crown race be the same size as miamijims? Or did this headset come with different size races? I presume mine is ISO but I don't particularly want to go to the trouble of removing it to measure if I don't have to.
2. Stack height: as miamijim says it is ~38mm. I like the look of the Velo Orange Grand Cru but it is listed as 40mm stack height, this would rule it out no? Doesn't look like there are any spacers that could be removed to take it down a couple mm's.

The Shimano 600 headset has one of the lowest stack height spec's of any headset and if you're doing a direct exchange, your options will be very limited. If your fork is already cut anfd there's no spacer in there, I'd suggest you find a Dura Ace, DA AX, DA Track, 600 EX, 600 or 105 headset as the best replacement.

On the vO 40mm stack, 2mm is pretty small pickins and might just work.

Shimano STX headset for sale with the 26.4 crown race. $20. Not mine.

http://www.serotta.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64923

Stronglighte A9 is one of the best, very light with needle bearings, replaceable steel races, 38mm stack height. They used to be std issue on touring bikes. I fitted a used on to my commuter and it ran for years.

The A-9 is a beautiful and bulletproof piece. I have several variations in my bit box.

Here's another simple and exquisite one that occasionally shows up on Ebay. I have one
installed in my Peckham.

http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=22215

J

I haven't bought a headset yet but I'm considering several options.

1. A new style catridge bearing Ultegra. The few on Ebay sold before the seller got back me with the crown race size. I am considering a headset offered up by a C&V member.

2. The Stronglight A9 is a possibility if I cant find an Ultegra within a reasonable amount of time.

3. Stack height. I wouldnt get anything taller than a 38-ish. My Merckx has an extra spacer which gives me an extra 2mm.

4. While many of the previously mentioned headsets are of 600/Ultegra quality they would look odd on a more modern bike. Big bulky cups wouldnt look quite right to me.

5. After 2 pages of posts, oddly enough, the Ritchey is still towards the top of my list, it has the proper stack height, its reasonably light at 140g, and the overall quality (in my opinion) is on par with the 600/Ultegra. To bad it has that goofy black top cap.

I think this Ritchie Logic looks too cheap for my Trek 850. A Ritchie WCS is a different story. It has cartridge bearings and really is comparable to an Ultegra. I'd have recommended a Stronglight A9 if I thought you could find one for a decent price. The new ones on the Stronglight site do not have roller bearings.

http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/42...600x600Q85.jpg

The silver ring at the top is not part of the headset. It's a 1" to 1 1/8" adapter.

Get rid of the Merckx. Problem solved.

:P

-Kurt

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacyjc...55586/sizes/o/

The Tange Levin CDS doesn't look all that big IMO. I have had the black and chrome versions and they are great. The linked photo isn't mine btw.

I would wait out ebay, I'm sure you could find a 600 headset for $20-30, less if you're patient. Look for dirty headsets, with bad pictures, they always sell for less.

A while back I won this Dura Ace 7400 headset for $15, plus $5 for shipping, I was the only bidder: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

It cleaned up really nice too.

Regardless of 'how big it looks' is all chrome which makes it look like a $5.99 Wald. Thats whats killing me about the Ritchey, I know its a good headset, maybe not equal to a cartridge headset, but the overall looks remind me of what the little bird said when it flew by WalMart....cheap, chaep, cheap.