Some, but not all, of the new VO headsets and bottom brackets are here.
We now have the Grand Cru bottom bracket. It has oversize sealed bearings, a boron steel hollow axle. The cups are alloy. There has been a dearth of top-of-the-line square taper bottom brackets since Shimano reduced their offerings. These will fill that void.
The new Grand Cru 1-1/8" threadless sealed bearing headset is now available. It is polished silver and has the VO name laser engraved. If there is sufficient interest we may do a version without the logo and a gold version as well.We also have the basic ball bearing VO alloy and steel 1-inch headset. This is very good quality headset a nice price.
The Grand Cru 1" headset with the annular contact sealed bearings is still in production. I really can't wait to see those. We need a superb 1" headset at a reasonable price.Is there anything else we need?
What is the stack height of both headsets?
ReplyDeleteAre bottom brackets available in English and Italian threading?
ReplyDeleteHi Chris, great new stuff :^) I think you would sell quite a few of the nice threadless headset in 1". There are not many choices below Chris King in 1" threadless headsets, at least not ones that look nice.
ReplyDeleteDoug
I like the logo, and I'm one of those people who remove gaudy stickers and other silly junk from new parts. Very nice looking parts. Such a treasure trove of readily available parts was hard to imagine just a few years ago, not to mention the reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking new parts Chris! The bottom bracket is especially something I've been wanting to see. Shimano is fine, but it's hard to find something nicer without springing for a Phil Wood or White Industries.
ReplyDeleteThe headset stack heights are 41mm for the 1" and 28mm for the 1-1/8"
ReplyDeleteBB are English only for now, but French, Swiss, and Italian are not impossible in the future.
Nice, Chris! Just in time on the BB, too. Decent ones are getting scarce.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Karl
Are the bearings in the 1" threaded headset loose or in a clip? If in a clip, how many bearings?
ReplyDeleteJust occurred to me that the taper length of the BB's is not mentioned. Are these ISO or JIS?
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Karl
If you look at the bb's page at the vo store you'll see it's available in 110, 113, 116 & 122. No mention of taper style.
ReplyDeletebill
Will you be stocking 118mm Grand Cru BBs as recommended for the Pro-5-Vis crank?
ReplyDeleteWill we be able to buy extra fork crown races? For swapping forks, for example.
ReplyDelete"Is there anything else we need?"
ReplyDeleteThe thing I am most eaget to see is, of course, the stem. But I guess I have to wait like everyone else.
Other possible VO items could include: how bout a classically styled quick release that could work on any bike? Do others with a range of bikes find this a touchy subject like I do? Pedals are always needed, but I know you're working on that too along with the seatposts and other eagerly awaited items.
I would like it if someone put some thought into how to mount frame pumps. A nice looking metal clampon pump clip that wouldn't rust or do harm like the old ones might be very handy.
Can't think of much else right now.
best,
Michael White
The BB tapers are JIS.
ReplyDeleteThe HS ball bearings are in a clip and they are nice quality.
I'm not sure about the 118mm length. I'll try on the next order, but we must use axles that are already available, rather than have them custom turned if we are to keep cost down.
No extra races; sorry.
Still waiting for the VO luggage line!
ReplyDelete+1 on the luggage line...
ReplyDeleteI would like to see someone make a nice bottle cage that would mount to frames with no bosses.
ReplyDeleteJack in Eugene
"Is there anything else we need?"
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a Paul Thumbies-like product, but designed to work with a wider range of downtube shifters.
Thanks for all the nice, useful stuff. Can't wait to see the pedals and crank.
What about non-aero brake levers in a Campy/Mafac/Gran Compe form along with matching replacement
ReplyDeleterubber lever hoods?
Jack in Eugene has a great idea! I have some very nice old frames with no provisions for cages, or only one. What could they have been thinking? The Camelbak was at least a decade away. Anyway, there are very few non-kludgey ways of mounting a cage on those bikes.
ReplyDelete"Is there anything else we need?"
ReplyDelete2 things:
a remake of the mafac RAID brakes
a 94mm double
Are the cups on the BBs removable? I've used Phil Wood rings on the old Shimano cartridge BBs that had removable cups. This allowed me to put an affordable BB into my Swiss threaded bike (Swiss threaded Phil cups plus the Shimano BB).
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteThe new goods look great! Any idea when we might see a VO platform/city pedal?
The MKS Touring pedals look nice, last forever and the price is right but they don't have enough bite. I even sharpened the "teeth" on the pedal cages with a file and while this helped, it isn't enough. I'd like an elegant looking, inexpensive platform with real bite. BMX pedals work but I have yet to meet one that's not ugly.
Thanks,
nv
Any chance you could manufacture the bottom bracket with removable cups like the old Shimano UN72? This would help the hapless French bike owner who could buy Phil cups and an affordable BB.
ReplyDeleteAnthing else we need?
ReplyDeleteBrake hangar with quick-release. I think Dia-compe used to make them, but they are really helpful if your levers and calipers don't have Q/R.
Anodized black...with the logo (to rep out west). Actually, please post when and if the gold hits.
ReplyDeleteThe new Grand Cru 1-1/8" threadless headset has very high quality sealed bearings and alloy cups. The VO name is laser engraved on. The finish is high polish silver.
ReplyDeleteWe feel that these headsets are equal in quality to headsets costing two times, perhaps even three times, as much. The sealed bearings are of top quality and the finish is simply stellar. In short, you can pay more for a headset, but we're not convinced you'll get more.
Stack height 28mm; weight 112gm.