Piff 

I know 1-1/8" threadless headsets aren't C&V in the strictest sense, but I also know that we have a good number of members here that love roller bearing headsets, specifically the A9 stronglight. I'm one of them, put an A9 on my '82 Miyata 1200.

Anyways, I figure this topic might be interesting for the forum. It's a 1-1/8" threadless headset with tapered roller bearings, made by SolidBikes in Sacramento, CA. Not the lightest headset, 5.5 ounces (nice 1-1/8" threadless external cup headsets are around 3 ounces), but it's cheap, only $35.00.

I'm also posting here about it because there's hardly any mention of this headset anywhere online, despite there being a good number of threads asking about headsets of this size/type.

I'm not sure where to push this conversation, if anywhere...just thought some members here might find the headset intriguing. I purchased one and it's on the way in the mail, I'll let you all know how it goes!

Headset For 1 1/8" Press Fit | Solid Bikes (bigcartel.com)

steelbikeguy

the roller bearing itself looks quite similar to what was used in the Stonglight Delta and A9 headsets. They used a conical washer to provide a hard surface for the bearings to run on. I'm still trying to understand whether the washers also move around a little to provide some self-alignment or not. The rest of the headset is made of aluminum, resulting in a very light headset.

a shot of the Delta headset...


...and the details of the Delta's lower bearing assembly....


Steve in Peoria

oneclick 

They don't.

Or if they do, it's not by design, and only successful by chance.

The races are cones. To provide alignment there must be a pair of (sections of) spherical surfaces.

RandolphCarter

The first AheadSet equipped bikes came out sometime in the early 90s. If 25 years is the cutoff for C&V, they definitely qualify.

MTBs and then BMX, with road bikes several years after.

Piff 

Then I'll charge ahead guilt-free!

Update: They arrived yesterday. Will be posting some pics and a quick writeup in a week probably, there's a fair amount to do first in order to get the bike running.

Piff 

For those interested...

The headset works great! Like most roller bearing headsets it has a bit more drag. Beneficial for the bike it went on, I wanted the front end to be a bit less twitchy and for it to ride with no hands easily. A little finicky to setup; the compression ring has to be tightened down on the steerer tube before tightening down the top cap. If you tighten the top cap first and then the compression ring the headset will bind, it's too tight. The directions sent with the headset do say to do this, but for some reason I second-guessed them.

Heavier than most headsets, but if you're looking for a cheaper 1-1/8 threadless roller bearing headset I can't think of another option.

Piff 

As an update, the headset is smooth as glass a year later. Zero issues with knocking or grit or indexing

Yeah it's no longer $35, now $50, but still a fine product that will probably last many decades of use.

abdon 

I love vintage but I'm a big fan of those and of sealed bearings on bottom brackets.

bwilli88 

I have a Surly steamroller in my que to build up. I have a handsome cycles disc fork and one of these would be sweet.
the potential build;
Surly steamroller
650b rims
Shimano deore disc front hub
SRAM automatic coaster brake rear
Brooks flyer saddle
4" riser bars
Bruce Gordon rock and road tires.
Not sure what crank

mpetry912 

this is an exceptionally good part. Works good and lasts a long time.

the two conical washers will adjust to compensate for any mis-alignment of the head tube faces

the contact on these is a line along the length of each of the rollers - rather than a point of contact as would be the case with a ball bearing unit.

/markp

Piff 

Yeah, the part works great, as I understand it at the start of BMX riding back in the day the standard ball bearing headsets weren't living up to the abuse so this company cottoned on to the idea of roller bearings, maybe they had a roadie friend with a stronglight. Anyways, they're tapered instead of perfectly cylindrical, a nice improvement over the original. Interesting company, they also sell frame tubing (assumedly for BMX bikes).