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Best Simplex derailleurs ever?

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Old 03-27-24, 07:39 AM
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tiger1964 
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Best Simplex derailleurs ever?

Not finding the Simplex “Trompe L’oeil” series front and rear derailleurs in Velobase, but...
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Old 03-27-24, 08:47 AM
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Shouldn't that be "Sunplex?"
Brent
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Old 03-27-24, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by obrentharris
Shouldn't that be "Sunplex?"
Brent
"Simplerbe" rolls off the tongue much easier after a scotch or three.
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Old 03-27-24, 03:52 PM
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Ahem. Best Simplex derailleurs ever:




Photo credits: Velobase

However, he Simtour ones are rather nice.
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Old 03-27-24, 04:28 PM
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Okay, I can't tell if OP slapped some decals on some Superbe derailleurs or if these were actually sold at some point.

Someone wanna fill me in on some important history here?
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Old 03-27-24, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by bertinjim
Ahem. Best Simplex derailleurs ever:




Photo credits: Velobase

However, he Simtour ones are rather nice.
That SLJ 5500 RD was pretty good but the SLJ 6600 was better......
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Old 03-27-24, 04:59 PM
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Ah yes, the old Simplex Superbe.

You can at least swap pulleys between the two, as both brands use the 6mm screws. I think the similarities end there. Although Simplex did make one or two models with a slant parallelogram in the brief window after Suntour's exclusive patent ran out and before Simplex went belly up.

Anyone remember the old Simplex Vallée?

Anyone?

Didn't think so.

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Old 03-27-24, 05:36 PM
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There is nothing like a slant plano rear derailleur.
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Old 03-27-24, 06:02 PM
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I was thinking that this rare Simplex prototype was the best ever. I think it was a possible cross made item that would be sold by Campy as part of a group. Smiles, MH

I was able to procure this rare Simplex made prototype thanks to @jdawginsc.
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Old 03-27-24, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Chombi1
That SLJ 5500 RD was pretty good but the SLJ 6600 was better......
Make it a long cage, add a Red Clover Triplizer and Retrofriction shifters, and you're ready to pull stumps in smooth style!
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Old 03-27-24, 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by bertinjim
Ahem. Best Simplex derailleurs ever:
However, he Simtour ones are rather nice.
A bit late now, but I like the vertical orientation of the FD decal on the photo you showed.

Originally Posted by jPrichard10
Okay, I can't tell if OP slapped some decals on some Superbe derailleurs or if these were actually sold at some point. Someone wanna fill me in on some important history here?
Sorry! Hence the “Trompe L’oeil” label. In another topic, I am 'restoring' a friend's Peugeot and and some point, someone swapped the factory Simplex'es for SunTour -- which are in fine shape and I am sure work great, but I found it galling (Gaulling?) to show that on a French bike. So, some polishing and a few decals later...

Hopefully, won't actually show up on Velobase and drive some future restorer nuts.
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Old 03-27-24, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ascherer
Make it a long cage, add a Red Clover Triplizer and Retrofriction shifters, and you're ready to pull stumps in smooth style!
Removed a 14-21 5-speed freewheel and going to 13-26 6-speed. By comparison, it will feel like stump-pulling gears.
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Old 03-27-24, 09:20 PM
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I'll go with "Sunplex" only because it's been used by other media:
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Old 03-28-24, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by tiger1964
Not finding the Simplex “Trompe L’oeil” series front and rear derailleurs in Velobase, but...
The colloquial idiom of 'manger du corbeau'.
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