Velo Orange Grand Cru 1-1/8" Sealed Bearing Headset

The Velo Orange Grand Cru is a top-of-the-line external cup headset for standard 1-1/8" straight head tubes, featuring oversized sealed cartridge bearings that eliminate the need for periodic repacking or regreasing. Precisely made, cleanly finished, and built to the standard that a headset on a well-built steel bike deserves. This is the correct headset for the Passage and Seymour frames.

Oversized Sealed Cartridge Bearings. No Maintenance Required.
Sealed cartridge bearings eliminate the repacking and regreasing schedule that open caged bearings require. The oversized bearing size increases the contact area for smoother, longer-lasting rotation under steering load. Sealed against water and dirt ingress, the bearings perform consistently through wet Vancouver winters without the degradation that open bearings accumulate over time. When they eventually wear out they are replaced as a complete cartridge unit rather than requiring repacking.

External Cup. Straight 1-1/8" Head Tube.
The Grand Cru uses EC34 upper and lower cups, correct for straight 1-1/8" head tubes. External cup headsets press into the head tube from the outside, which is the correct configuration for straight head tubes including the Passage and Seymour frames. Not compatible with tapered head tubes. For tapered head tube frames see the Velo Orange Tapered Sealed Bearing Headset.

28mm Stack Height. Clean Installation.
The 28mm stack height is appropriate for modern frame geometries that account for external cup headset dimensions in their design. The crown race is included.

Three Finishes. Silver, Mirror, and Noir.
Available in polished silver, high-polish mirror, and noir black. The silver finish pairs directly with the polished UNO stems, Velo Orange Grand Cru seatpost, and the silver cockpit specification across the Passage lineup. The mirror finish is for riders who want the headset to be a visible detail on an open-framed build. The noir version suits darker builds cleanly.