Veloh

The Velo-Orange review thread has sparse opinions of this particular product so I'd like to know a few more things about this item:

1. Does anyone have pictures of this headset installed? Especially the chrome plated one.
2. How does the split fork crown race work? Does it clip on and off or just on?
3. Are the cartridges standard ones that I can get at an online bearing store or must I buy it at Velo-Orange only?
4. What are your general opinions? Satisfied? Lacking? Good value?
5. If you're not satisfied, what are your recommendations for a cartridge headset in the same price range as the VO or cheaper?

I'm planning on installing a new headset on my De Rosa. Previous one was a Super Record but it's worn out. I'm a fan of ball bearing headsets but one of the pluses I see with the cartridge type is that the headset never wears out since the races are in the cartridge itself. I've also considered needle bearing headsets.

canopus 

I don't have the chrome one.


Velo Orange Grand Cru by canopus2, on Flickr


Cannondale ST400 by canopus2, on Flickr


Current form by canopus2, on Flickr

It just slides on like a normal race. The split just means you don't need a tool to put it on or take it off.

I would probably say Velo Orange only. They are square fit inside the cups but the inner race is tapered facing the lower and upper races. You might find someone that could order them but by that time you could probably order a new headset from VO just as cheaply.

I love mine, Just ordered another one for the Trek 620 I'm going to build up. Found a great deal on fleabay..but I was about to order it from VO when I found the ebay deal.

The only issue I have with it is the nut on top. I don't like the shape of it where the flats don't continue to the bottom of it. But really that could be remedied with a file, elbow grease and buffer.

Since I'm satisfied, this one is moot. The only other headset I run is a Stronglight A9, good luck finding one of those, although VO makes a tapered bearing headset also...
I admit I do have a Campy Super Record Headset in the wings for the Trek 760 build someday but that will probably never get ridden in the rain like my ST and 620 will. I've gotten older and hate doing headset re-greases.

Veloh

Thank you for your input. Beautiful bicycle too!

AZORCH

I'll chime in on the VO headset also: I've bought and installed two of the chrome Gran Cru headsets in the past couple of years. From an aesthetic perspective, I think they look great and are design-appropriate for my builds. Functionally, they are smooth, precise, and essentially do exactly what I expect a HS to do, without any unexpected tinks, clunks, or buzzes. I think I'm two years into the first one I purchased, with no complaints whatsoever. It was easy to install, i.e., no different from any other I've worked with. It gets my seal of approval, for whatever that is worth!

Wino Ryder

I think they look great too. With your experiences with it I may just get me one.

Puget Pounder

Best value on the market for a headset. Pretty tall stack, but it gives a good CV look. I can take a pic of mine if you want. I have a couple of Chris king headsets and these are just as good. Not to say I will always use these over a ck though...

Veloh

Yes please.

Puget Pounder

Here you go:

Veloh

^ Has your bike ever had a thread of its own? Amazing.

ColonelJLloyd 

+1 Where's the Rodriguez thread?

I have installed three (I think) on my own bikes and I also put one on the bike I built for my dad. The latest is on a Bottecchia Professional (no pics at the moment). I am a big fan of sealed bearing headsets, though the only ones I've used are VO and Shimano. They just make so much sense. A Record headset setup carefully is a beautiful thing, but sealed bearing headsets are so much easier and faster to adjust and they just feel better to me.









Note that this is shown without the washer between the top cup and nut, but it was added later. There is precious little real estate on that fork's steerer which is why I had to get creative on the cable hanger.

Grand Bois

The only headset I like better is the old roller bearing version of the Stronglight A-9, but these are better looking and available.

Commodus

I've been very happy with mine. I'm very picky about headsets, and put CKs on all my other bikes because I believe I can just feel the difference when riding the bike. My VO, I've been very happy with.

Their BBs on the other hand, stay away.

cod.peace

As an alternative, has anyone tried the Soma Double Row threaded headset? https://www.somafab.com/archives/prod...aded-headset-1

Veloh

Colonel, I think you persuaded me to get one for my De Rosa.

Puget Pounder

While I love these headsets, your de rosa deserves something nicer. Not out of function, but for style.

ColonelJLloyd 

Right. I thought DeRosas were incompatible with non-Campagnolo components.

gomango

Nope.

I have DA on one of mine and it has never spontaneously combusted.

Not even once.

Puget Pounder

Damn, tough crowd. Just stating my opinion. VO stuff has its place and its logo wouldn't make its way on my de rosa. For a bike like that, I think the extra $ is worth it to jump to a nice campy or CK headset.

Veloh

Well this is an interesting situation.

I have no doubts that CK is one of the best on the market but its huge logos and price are off putting.
I tried looking for a suitable Campagnolo replacement but the new Record looks like it's a ball bearing model.

Maybe a used A-9? I want to polish whatever headset is going on the De Rosa. No used ones on Ebay as of yet.
Just when I have a headset down....something tells me this might be a long term build.

Amesja

The bearing is a standard 1-1/8" type 30.2x41x6.5mm 36/45-degree bearing (as in Cane Creek/FSA) and can be found on Amazon for $9 each or any LBS (probably $15/20 each at which point just buy the whole darn headset new on Amazon for $38 shipped.

The only issue I have with this headset is that it has a very large stack height for what is essentially a retro-fit item on vintage framesets where you are wanting to re-use the vintage fork that was cut for standard headset stack height when it was made. The bottom nut is a good 2-3mm higher/thicker than it needs to be. Heck, I am sure it could be made nearly 4mm shorter and still work It doesn't NEED to be 11.2mm thick. The angular contact race is 3.7mm and that needs to be what it is to interface with the bearing, but the part above that does not need to be 7.5mm thick! It just needs to be thick enough to have wrench flats to accept a standard headset wrench (I measure my HCW-15 at 3.4mm) and have a few more threads above the threaded 3.7mm angular part.



the rest is all style points to get that "cone" look which is nice and all -but when the stack height is too much you are just SOL or buy a new/different fork with a longer steer tube and more threads...

The other thing I would love to see is for them to offer this headset in 26tpi. Really, all it would take is to spec the top two threaded pieces threaded in 26tpi rather than 24tpi and all the raleighphiles would flock to their door. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

One could always just jam the race nut onto the 26tpi head tube and then use the old 26tpi locking top nut from the original Raleigh headset on top of that.



You would still run into stack height issues although the old 26tpi headsets had a fairly large stack height and over-run of the threads quite a long way into the top nut. I bet it would work...