When I was last hunting for a Stronglight Competition or V4 headset on e-bay, it was the French threaded ones that came up the most and were going for less money than English. It actually took about a year or more to track down the NOS English one I eventually found, but the French ones were coming up regularly. And unfortunately since there are four points of contact on the V shaped races top and bottom, you can't put the balls into a retainer to change the contact points. Even a used one may be fine since it's a pretty long wearing headset. I never did wear a V-4 out, but the Campy's only lasted about a year or so before brinneling.
Good luck in the hunt.
Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA
Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/
My V4 Stronglight headset looks ok, but the wear notches prohibit it's use even with new grade 25 bearings.
I would like to buy a replacement. Anyone on CR have one to sell?
Or, I wonder about having a machine shop turn the bearing surfaces since the French threads are extinct and becoming ever more difficult to find. Thanks,
Jon M. Crate
Marietta, Georgia 30066