which Tange headset is the one to get?

[J Schwartz]

Question for the group:

I'm replacing 12 year old headset on my S.H....it has totally given up the ghost.

There are a lot of Tange 1" models ...which is the best performing ...I'm OK with ball bearings.

Also, I'd like to get a black one but not totally necessary 

thank you

[Garth]

I rather like steel headsets myself and on one bike have a 1" Tange Levin CDS headset. It comes in silver or black. It tends to go unnoticed because it "just works" and does it well.

https://m.tangeseiki.com/jm/products/headset/standard/standard-threaded/standard-threaded-1/levin-cds.html

[Ian A]

+1 to Garth's recommendation. I replaced at Shimano 105 with the Tange Levin CDS (26.4) beacause I needed a headset with low stack. The Tange is inexpensive, visually elegant and unassuming and it adjusts easily and works perfectly. The one I have has been on the bike for four years now and seems as good as new.

IanA Alberta Canada

[ascpgh]

I'll go a bit on a tangent to that thought and say that I rather like headsets that go unnoticed because they just work. For me that is the original 1" threaded, silver, alloy Ultegra cartridge bearing unit on my 2002 orange Rambouillet. I haven't held back on the surfaces of the bike's use and have ridden through rainstorms and snow and have yet to discern a time to start considering a replacement, although it is starting to look like I should. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[J Schwartz]

Thanks for the input 

I think I'll go with a black Tange Levin CDS

Curious what is the cost discrepancy and differences in the product about between the Tange Levin and the Tange Levin CDS?

Is it just the polishing on the cro-mo of the Tange Levin.  (that's the one with the engraving on it)

The cost is essentially double between the two .

[Garth]

The CDS version adds the nylon seals.

The other 2 Levins look very much like a mirror image of the Campy NR/SR headsets of the 80's. The CDS looks just  the Specialized headsets that come on Stumpjumpers of the early 80's, and they likely were.