Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

It's decided: the Suntour Vx is the finest friction front derailleur.

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

It's decided: the Suntour Vx is the finest friction front derailleur.

Old 08-30-21, 11:00 AM
  #1  
tendency 
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.
tendency is offline  
Likes For tendency:
Old 08-30-21, 11:23 AM
  #2  
cb400bill
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
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!
__________________












cb400bill is offline  
Likes For cb400bill:
Old 08-30-21, 11:47 AM
  #3  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
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)
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 08-30-21, 12:05 PM
  #4  
tendency 
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
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
I'm talking performance - not looks I've run the 80s Nuovo Record FD and while it looks great in terms of pure performance I'd take the Vx over it. Just my .02 cents of course.
tendency is offline  
Likes For tendency:
Old 08-30-21, 12:09 PM
  #5  
jeirvine 
Senior Member
 
jeirvine's Avatar
 
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
jeirvine is offline  
Likes For jeirvine:
Old 08-30-21, 12:10 PM
  #6  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by tendency
I'm talking performance.
If it didn't work great, I wouldn't use it.
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 06:14 AM
  #7  
top506
Death fork? Naaaah!!
 
top506's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The other Maine, north of RT 2
Posts: 5,313

Bikes: Seriously downsizing.

Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 555 Post(s)
Liked 615 Times in 275 Posts
Is that reverse action like the Compe V?

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.)
top506 is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 07:05 AM
  #8  
repechage
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.


repechage is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 09:20 AM
  #9  
52telecaster
ambulatory senior
 
52telecaster's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by jeirvine
Ditto for Vx-S rear. The best kept secret in your local co-op RD drawer.
the rear is an awesome touring setup.
52telecaster is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 10:48 AM
  #10  
Bianchi84
Senior Member
 
Bianchi84's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 693

Bikes: 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa, 1985 Cannondale SM600 (24/26)

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 233 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times in 187 Posts
I vote for Suntour XC Reverse Pull (for C&V MTB).
Bianchi84 is offline  
Likes For Bianchi84:
Old 08-31-21, 11:05 AM
  #11  
gravelinmygears 
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 292

Bikes: 64 Cinelli, 81 Merz, Haral

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 127 Post(s)
Liked 144 Times in 69 Posts
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.

gravelinmygears is offline  
Likes For gravelinmygears:
Old 08-31-21, 05:53 PM
  #12  
oneclick 
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
Originally Posted by repechage
...does require a loop of housing.
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.
oneclick is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 06:41 PM
  #13  
jjhabbs 
Senior Member
 
jjhabbs's Avatar
 
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
__________________
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
jjhabbs is offline  
Likes For jjhabbs:
Old 08-31-21, 07:01 PM
  #14  
TiHabanero
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,435
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1726 Post(s)
Liked 1,350 Times in 705 Posts
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.
TiHabanero is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 11:38 PM
  #15  
jPrichard10 
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)
jPrichard10 is offline  
Old 08-31-21, 11:45 PM
  #16  
Darth Lefty 
Disco Infiltrator
 
Darth Lefty's Avatar
 
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
Darth Lefty is offline  
Old 09-01-21, 12:05 AM
  #17  
gaucho777 
Senior Member
 
gaucho777's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by repechage
I needed to check, it is a “normal” actuation, does require a loop of housing.

might be a good candidate for a Simplex replacement.


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?!
gaucho777 is offline  
Likes For gaucho777:
Old 09-01-21, 12:20 AM
  #18  
gaucho777 
Senior Member
 
gaucho777's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by tendency
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.
I agree the Suntour Vx is a fine front derailleur, but I'm going to respectfully disagree that it destroys the DA 7400 FD. I find the DA 7400 (no experience with the 7700 line) to be quick, precise, and reliable. In terms of weight, since you mention DA as heavy, the Suntour Vx FD is a respectable 114 grams, but still about 20% heavier than the DA7400 or Campagnolo NR FD at 94 and 95 grams respectively. The Mavic SSC front derailleurs, now those were delicate in my experience (tweaked cages and cracked clamps).
gaucho777 is offline  
Old 09-01-21, 01:14 AM
  #19  
Dfrost 
Senior Member
 
Dfrost's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by onyerleft
What's the best FD for triples?
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.

Last edited by Dfrost; 09-01-21 at 01:21 AM.
Dfrost is offline  
Likes For Dfrost:
Old 09-01-21, 06:06 AM
  #20  
big chainring 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wilmette, IL
Posts: 7,318
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 746 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times in 347 Posts
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.
big chainring is online now  
Old 09-01-21, 08:07 AM
  #21  
Narhay
Senior Member
 
Narhay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 3,731
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 956 Post(s)
Liked 568 Times in 314 Posts
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.
Narhay is offline  
Old 09-01-21, 08:35 AM
  #22  
Mr. 66
Senior Member
 
Mr. 66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,440
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1124 Post(s)
Liked 1,704 Times in 941 Posts
Back in the day I liked the the Suntour "7" in both the front and rear. I still like the Seven front derailleur the rear not so much.
Mr. 66 is offline  
Old 09-01-21, 08:45 AM
  #23  
thinktubes 
weapons-grade bolognium
 
thinktubes's Avatar
 
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.

thinktubes is offline  
Likes For thinktubes:
Old 09-01-21, 09:30 AM
  #24  
repechage
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
Originally Posted by gaucho777
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?!
I have posted others, you have not been keeping watch.
repechage is offline  
Old 09-01-21, 09:32 AM
  #25  
repechage
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
Originally Posted by oneclick
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.
Cut off the element then, otherwise just extra friction in the system.
repechage is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.