It's decided: the Suntour Vx is the finest friction front derailleur.
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 469
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 170 Times
in
104 Posts
It's decided: the Suntour Vx is the finest friction front derailleur.
Man, I had forgotten how perfect the Suntour Vx front derailleurs are: buttery smooth, light yet precise shifting. Completely bomb proof. Absolutely destroys the Dura Ace 74XX and 7700 models I've been using. Heavy clunky and I have to say surprisingly delicate build quality (talking about the Dura Ace). Not a fan. Wow. Suntour Superbe Pro is a close second but in my blind taste testing I prefer the Vx even over the Superbe Pro. Impressive stuff.
Just had to get that off my chest.
Just had to get that off my chest.
Likes For tendency:
#2
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,324
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3059 Post(s)
Liked 6,379 Times
in
3,692 Posts
Shhhhh!
__________________
Likes For cb400bill:
#3
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,284
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3846 Post(s)
Liked 6,437 Times
in
3,183 Posts
For me, it's the 3-hole NR.
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 0104007 (1982 - 1987, 3-hole standard band)
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 0104007 (1982 - 1987, 3-hole standard band)
#4
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 469
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 170 Times
in
104 Posts
For me, it's the 3-hole NR.
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 0104007 (1982 - 1987, 3-hole standard band)
VeloBase.com - Component: Campagnolo Nuovo Record 0104007 (1982 - 1987, 3-hole standard band)
Likes For tendency:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,972
Bikes: '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '72 Gitane tandem, '72 Raleigh Super Course, '73 Raleigh Gran Sport, '73 Colnago Super, '76 Fiorelli Coppi, '78 Raleigh SBDU Team Pro, '78 Trek 930, '81 Holdsworth Special 650B, '86 Masi GC, ’94 Bridgestone RB-T
Mentioned: 67 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 784 Post(s)
Liked 515 Times
in
279 Posts
Ditto for Vx-S rear. The best kept secret in your local co-op RD drawer.
__________________
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
Likes For jeirvine:
#6
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,284
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3846 Post(s)
Liked 6,437 Times
in
3,183 Posts
#7
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Is that reverse action like the Compe V?
Top
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,323
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
I needed to check, it is a “normal” actuation, does require a loop of housing.
might be a good candidate for a Simplex replacement.
might be a good candidate for a Simplex replacement.
#9
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 6,347
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1953 Post(s)
Liked 3,633 Times
in
1,670 Posts
Likes For Bianchi84:
#11
Full Member
Idk
Between the two NRs and a Suntour XC Sport, I can’t really say which performs better. The XC Sport is even working with a weird 3 pulley rear derailleur and all is smooth.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,890
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1104 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,311 Times
in
775 Posts
Not necessarily - if the cable can be run under the BB shell it often will come up lined up well enough to go right through the slot/hole in the housing stop. It might even work with a clamp-on guide, if tweaked.
Those loops - any loop with a U - are water-traps, best avoided.
Those loops - any loop with a U - are water-traps, best avoided.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 1,891
Bikes: to many to list
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 294 Post(s)
Liked 1,028 Times
in
255 Posts
I ran a shop in the 80s and its amazing how many people had those on their bicycles. Many took off the campy rear derailleur and put one VX on. Especially if they had a long cage. The VXGT was the best.
JJ
JJ
__________________
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
From Illinois. Collector of many fine bicycles from all over the world. Subscribe to my Youtube channel. Just search John's vintage road bike garage
Likes For jjhabbs:
#14
Senior Member
All this time I was under the impression that the NR front der was the best I have used. Hmmmmm. Never cared for reverse action front or rear derailleurs. Have 10's of thousands of miles on NR front der and it has always performed perfectly without trouble. I have also had the Cyclone MkII front der on a bike I used for about 10K miles and it performed well much like the NR. In general ft der rarely underperform for me.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Portland, Cascadia
Posts: 518
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 219 Post(s)
Liked 244 Times
in
106 Posts
I haven't really had problems with front derailleurs, so I usually just use a Cyclone FD to match the Cyclone RD (the greatest of vintage rear derailleurs IMO)
#16
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,775
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,102 Times
in
1,366 Posts
Let us all now praise the least bad FD
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,445
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 826 Post(s)
Liked 2,048 Times
in
545 Posts
That may be the first time I have ever seen you post a photo. After all these years of dying to see your collection, I finally get a photo...of a Suntour FD?!
Likes For gaucho777:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 7,445
Bikes: '72 Cilo Pacer, '72 Gitane Gran Tourisme, '72 Peugeot PX10, '73 Speedwell Ti, '74 Peugeot UE-8, '75 Peugeot PR-10L, '80 Colnago Super, '85 De Rosa Pro, '86 Look Equipe 753, '86 Look KG86, '89 Parkpre Team, '90 Parkpre Team MTB, '90 Merlin
Mentioned: 87 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 826 Post(s)
Liked 2,048 Times
in
545 Posts
Man, I had forgotten how perfect the Suntour Vx front derailleurs are: buttery smooth, light yet precise shifting. Completely bomb proof. Absolutely destroys the Dura Ace 74XX and 7700 models I've been using. Heavy clunky and I have to say surprisingly delicate build quality (talking about the Dura Ace). Not a fan. Wow. Suntour Superbe Pro is a close second but in my blind taste testing I prefer the Vx even over the Superbe Pro. Impressive stuff.
Just had to get that off my chest.
Just had to get that off my chest.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,988
Bikes: ‘87 Marinoni SLX Sports Tourer, ‘79 Miyata 912 by Gugificazione
Mentioned: 166 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 500 Post(s)
Liked 464 Times
in
255 Posts
I really like Campy Racing T FD’s, and only ride triples. I tried a Suntour XC Pro that also shifted very nicely, but the Racing T’s were less likely to need trimming across on 8-speed cassette from the middle ring.
FWIW, I’m shifting with Ergo brifters on my own bikes, but just added a Tripilizer ring to a DA 7400 crank on my daughter’s ’85 Miyata 312 (needs an increasingly rare 28.6mm clamp) with Shimano bar-end shifters, so pretty straightforward, you'd think. Tried a bunch of FD’s thanks to the plentiful choices where I volunteer. Quite a variety of subtle but irritating problems! Clamp arm hits the rear fender. Deep inner cage plate interferes with the middle ring teeth. Thick outer plate contours cause crank arm contact when on the big ring. One of my spare Racing T’s was the answer, although it required very subtle and precise adjustments for FD body rotation and the high limit screw to preclude crank arm-cage contact.
I just found a nice XC Sport in the proper clamp size and might give it a try some day, just to know. It’s outer plate has thinner contours, so it might be better with narrow Q-factor cranks like that DA 7400, but that could also affect its middle-to-granny shifts. And I’ll watch for one of those Suntour Vx fronts, too.
My rings, 46-36-24, and my daughter’s new Tripilizer setup, 48-40-28, are atypical among the fast bike crowd. YMMV.
FWIW, I’m shifting with Ergo brifters on my own bikes, but just added a Tripilizer ring to a DA 7400 crank on my daughter’s ’85 Miyata 312 (needs an increasingly rare 28.6mm clamp) with Shimano bar-end shifters, so pretty straightforward, you'd think. Tried a bunch of FD’s thanks to the plentiful choices where I volunteer. Quite a variety of subtle but irritating problems! Clamp arm hits the rear fender. Deep inner cage plate interferes with the middle ring teeth. Thick outer plate contours cause crank arm contact when on the big ring. One of my spare Racing T’s was the answer, although it required very subtle and precise adjustments for FD body rotation and the high limit screw to preclude crank arm-cage contact.
I just found a nice XC Sport in the proper clamp size and might give it a try some day, just to know. It’s outer plate has thinner contours, so it might be better with narrow Q-factor cranks like that DA 7400, but that could also affect its middle-to-granny shifts. And I’ll watch for one of those Suntour Vx fronts, too.
My rings, 46-36-24, and my daughter’s new Tripilizer setup, 48-40-28, are atypical among the fast bike crowd. YMMV.
Last edited by Dfrost; 09-01-21 at 01:21 AM.
Likes For Dfrost:
#20
Senior Member
How much different are front derailleurs? I get my push rod Simplex FD's to operate quite well. 40-50 year old FD cages get wonky. A couple bends and precise alignment and they start operating better than new.
Not a fan of reverse pull fronts. I gotta have the feel of pulling the lever down and a big thwonk as the chain engages the big chainring. Thats one of the best feelings in cycling right there.
Back in the day it was common to see Huret FD's on otherwise full Campy bikes because they worked just as well as the Campy NR and cost maybe $5.00.
Not a fan of reverse pull fronts. I gotta have the feel of pulling the lever down and a big thwonk as the chain engages the big chainring. Thats one of the best feelings in cycling right there.
Back in the day it was common to see Huret FD's on otherwise full Campy bikes because they worked just as well as the Campy NR and cost maybe $5.00.
#21
Senior Member
I like the NR front. Haven't dropped a chain in years and precise adjustment. Especially for FDs it is almost all in the setup and fine adjustment.
#23
weapons-grade bolognium
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Across the street from Chicago
Posts: 6,335
Bikes: Battaglin Cromor, Ciocc Designer 84, Schwinn Superior 1981
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 984 Post(s)
Liked 2,353 Times
in
882 Posts
I've been running a Suntour GPX this year. I was going to swap it since it's a bit chunky, but it works really well. Fast, positive shifts. Don't think it was designed for 8-speed setups, but I have plenty of clearance.
Likes For thinktubes:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,323
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,323
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times
in
1,974 Posts
Not necessarily - if the cable can be run under the BB shell it often will come up lined up well enough to go right through the slot/hole in the housing stop. It might even work with a clamp-on guide, if tweaked.
Those loops - any loop with a U - are water-traps, best avoided.
Those loops - any loop with a U - are water-traps, best avoided.