Fahrenheit531 

I don't know why Suntour Sprint doesn't get more love. Excellent stuff. Just lesser-known perhaps?

...I love how the FD cage is barely even there, more like an elegantly curved blade than a bicycle component.

clubman 

Interesting, you've got the rarer 6 speed Sprint rear derailleur. I rode one of those for years and it never failed. Love Sprint.

ryansu

Infinity 5000 group from my 1987 Nishiki Cresta GT



As Found Shifters


As Found RD



FD after clean up

The Golden Boy 

Suntour messed around with their lineup/hierarchy so much- Cyclone was the top level group- but then Superbe or Superbe Pro were always the top level group... but after that, it changed- sometimes year to year. Most of the time Cyclone was 2nd from the top... but then when Sprint came along Cyclone was then 3rd from the top. Then Sprint was replaced by SL, and there wasn't a Sprint... If you really didn't know, there's no way to know if Sprint was any better, different or prestigious than Blaze or GPX or Edge or ...

Even though there was a great quality, and really nice looking group- they didn't let it generate a reputation.

I love the look of the Sprint stuff- that picture of @jamesdak's Sprint hubs is glorious.

The Golden Boy 

As far as Suntour pr0n...

Among my favorites are:

Command Shifters-



1985 Trek 620 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr



XC Pro and XC Comp:


1986 Trek 400 Elance by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


1985 Trek 620 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


1985 Trek 720 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


Suntour XC Pro Medium and Long Cage by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


Superbe Pro Brakes by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


Then there's Suntour XC- Before XC Pro was the top ATB/MTB group- it was XC (just plain ol' "XC" with nothing after it). This is one of the 1985/86ish XC derailleurs- the decals were gone and it was pretty beat up- I just polished it up- and it actually looked pretty nice. Amazingly- it's probably my best shifting Suntour friction derailleur- but it's also my heaviest.


Suntour XC by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


Probably the best all around front derailleur ever- the Mountech. (as opposed to the worst ever rear derailleur- the Mountech)


Suntour Mountech Front Derailleur by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr

The Mountech without the cable stop weighs less than the Superbe Pro or even Dura Ace 7700 or 7800 clamp-on FDs- it handles doubles, triples and half step and a granny with ease. This one has the 2nd generation markings.

To go along with that (and to compliment Nicolas' Mountech on the previous page)- one of the ultra long cage, ultra big jockey 2nd generation Mountechs:


2nd Generation Mountech by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


And just because it's "jewelry for your bike," Superbe Pro:


Superbe Pro RD by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr

RobbieTunes

The Golden Boy 

You're not going to wear it out for a long time. You've got a stable of dominant bikes- even if you ride THIS bike a majority of the time- it's going to take you a very very long time to wear this out. Besides that, it's XC Sport- it's not like it's XC or Cyclone MII something...

If you want to swap out parts because you want to try something out, or just to play around with... that's great... this stuff is NOT delicate or particularly breakable. Some of the older plastic parts are degrading- but the aluminum and steel parts on 30-40 year old bikes are hardy, durable, and will probably outlast you and your knees.

Ride this- enjoy it. Take pride in it. It's really cool. But it's not particularly valuable. It's not particularly rare or particularly desirable- but it's cool in it's own quirky cool Suntour sorta way.

I know you think these old bikes and their parts are frail and delicate and brittle and unable to be ridden in real life scenarios- but that's just not the case. These bikes and the majority of their parts will outlast you. Even if you ride the livin' snot out of them.

BFisher

Yes!
Lots of cool parts in this thread, but I was waiting for someone to post a jersey, cap, etc.

clubman 

The dork disk is the grace note. The font is cool too.

masi61

Superbe Pro 8 speed cassette hub with correct skewer.

BikeWonder

I was thinking more about preserving it and having it as a showpiece or something in my garage, haha. I know these bikes amd parts are built to last. After taking my 91 1000 on tour, I couldn't believe how well it still rode with 0 maintenance (I was careful though, but somethings you can't avoid).

I like quirky stuff like this triple RD and my Deerhead SuperPlate RD. Just weird feats of engineering that are a part of history that I like to preserve.

clubman 

I'd suggest making sure the gear is disassembled and lubed at least every couple of years. I let winter weather seep into the main band spring of my Cyclone triple and after a few years of oxidation, it snapped. It's a very tough part to find.

eom 

Hubs

pcb 

jbchybridrider 

1978-80 Paino by Kerryn, on Flickr

Unca_Sam

XCD 6000 drivetrain: XCD 6000 long cage rear derailleur; 13-28 cassette; XCD triple front derailleur; 175 crank arms and 48, 38*, 28* chainrings (*cycloid ovalized); KMC Z51rb chain.


Another view of the XCD 6000 roller cam power brakes and cam plate. XCD6000 pedal with generic cage and straps; chromed Suntour quick release binder bolt.


Full spread! Handlebar, stem, and seatpost came with the bike. Seatpost is an origin 8 pro fit, and adequate.

I'd been meaning to share these

uncleivan 

I've always been a big fan. I'm not at the hoarder stage, but I have a few extra parts tucked away.

BikeWonder

Is that a Miyata titanium?
I think I want one.

Wileyone 

I had a set of those Hubs. My God they were nice.

uncleivan 

Yes, it is. 1993 Team Titanium

uncleivan 

Mr. 66

Here's the mountain stuff I put on my Trek.