miche roller bearing headset?
 

anyone use a miche primato 1" threaded roller bearing headset? recommended?

anyone have any pictures of this headset installed?

I had a roller bearing headset on my old Pinarello... can't remember the manufacturer, though. It was black plastic, except where the bearings rode, which was steel.
I didn't like it, but I can't remember why I didn't like it.

I'm not much help, am I?

I bought a Miche Primato headset last year when I found one cheap at an LBS and as I couldn't find myself a Stronglight A9 at the time.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...Picture042.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...Picture043.jpg
It almost looks like a copy of the Stronglight JDX headset on the right, but the JDX does not rely on a conventional top lock nut and washer, instead it has a nylon upper layer on the upper nut to act like a giant Nylock on the steering tube.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y44...Picture044.jpg.
The Miche has the same type needle bearing race and bearing parts as you would find on Stronlights though. I'm wondering if Miche had to pay royalties to Stronglight to use their basic design for needle bearing headsets.
Comparing the Miche to the Stronglight, the Miche is frankly on the cheap side, with less finished looking races that seems to translate to a bit less smooth bearing action. The quality of the parts of the Miche feels very second tier, certainly below that of needle bearing Stronglight headset of any model, but I think it does not neccessarily mean it won't be reliable enough for most, because of the rugged needle bearing design.

Chombi

I tried one on the Di Bernardi a few years back. Smooth to start out but the bottom seal never made it thru a winter. The plastic cap can be finicky. I also tried a Torelli but again the bearings were rusty and dirty in less than a year. I put in a record and don’t plan on buying another.

I'm using that Miche headset on one of my bikes. It is easy to adjust ... slip the plastic ring up and put two headset wrenches in there, where they are contained on the sides and don't sideways slip off like when you are wrenching with the more open design of traditional headsets.

The Miche is different than the Stronglight A9 in that the cones formed by the needle bearings point towards each other in the Miche and in the same direction in the Stronglight. I don't know if one design is better than another for centering or something.

As for quality of sealing, I do not know. I use Lizardskin neoprene headset seals on the lower headset race on all my bikes and donot rely on the seals in this Miche or any headset. The external seal of the Lizardskin neoprene headset seal stops the grit, and perhaps any headset seal will allow in some water and grit over time. I don't know and don't want to find out. Back in the day, I cut rings out of old inner tubes to do the same external sealing.

The Stronglight JDX headset I pictured next to the Miche has the same opposing cone design that is a later development after the A9s.
The Miche does have an O-ring around the top race edge to keep most of the crud out, but it does not have it at the bottom. Only a close fitting nylon "dust" ring around the lower race instead (the large black ring at the bottom of the parts pic).

Chombi

The Stronglight "Delta" headset introduced shortly after the A9 and B10 (and based on the same roller bearing design) has O-ring seals on the cones and locknut. I installed one on my tandem in 1984 and it's still going strong.