If you would have to pick one derailleur
10-14-22, 12:02 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
If you would have to pick one derailleur
If you would have to pick one rear derailleur model for the rest of your life what would you choose? Lets not think about the cost or how hard it would be source, just what would be your favourite if there would not be any real world limitations.
How about front derailleur?
How about front derailleur?
10-14-22, 12:23 PM
#2
Disraeli Gears
Well, I think that from a vintage point of view (friction) it's just about impossible to beat the Suntour Cyclone, 1st generation -- either the short or long cage version.
I'm no indexing expert, but the Shimano RD-M739 (Deore XT) was very classy looking, and functional, plus it will deal with a lot of teeth and big cogs.
There are a lot of front derailleurs that can work; it's a much simpler operation. So choose based on looks alone.
I'm no indexing expert, but the Shimano RD-M739 (Deore XT) was very classy looking, and functional, plus it will deal with a lot of teeth and big cogs.
There are a lot of front derailleurs that can work; it's a much simpler operation. So choose based on looks alone.
Likes For Charles Wahl:
10-14-22, 12:45 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,053
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,792 Times
in
1,406 Posts
Tullio's best innovation, the Gran Sport.
10-14-22, 12:47 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,153
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3807 Post(s)
Liked 6,676 Times
in
2,607 Posts
For friction, Shimano Deerhead (RD M700). For index, Shimano Dura Ace (RD7402)
Likes For nlerner:
10-14-22, 12:48 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North, Ga.
Posts: 2,401
Bikes: 3Rensho-Aerodynamics, Bernard Hinault Look - 1986 tour winner, Guerciotti, Various Klein's & Panasonic's
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 375 Times
in
162 Posts
Dura Ace 7700gs rear. 9 speed, shiny, down tube or STI compatible, can accommodate large cogs with an extender.
Not near as happy with the 7700 front, it can be a pain to get set correctly. Although, that could be mostly the shifters fault.
Not near as happy with the 7700 front, it can be a pain to get set correctly. Although, that could be mostly the shifters fault.
Likes For embankmentlb:
10-14-22, 01:06 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Well, I think that from a vintage point of view (friction) it's just about impossible to beat the Suntour Cyclone, 1st generation -- either the short or long cage version.
I'm no indexing expert, but the Shimano RD-M739 (Deore XT) was very classy looking, and functional, plus it will deal with a lot of teeth and big cogs.
There are a lot of front derailleurs that can work; it's a much simpler operation. So choose based on looks alone.
I'm no indexing expert, but the Shimano RD-M739 (Deore XT) was very classy looking, and functional, plus it will deal with a lot of teeth and big cogs.
There are a lot of front derailleurs that can work; it's a much simpler operation. So choose based on looks alone.
This, but all generations. I think the first gen was lighter than the Superbe. The FD will shift a triple as well. For FDs, I haven't tried a Suntour that wouldn't shift a triple.(haven't tried a Superbe, though) Suntour X-1 would be the choice for monster range, and can be found for cheap. Same for the Mountech. A Shimano FD-620whatever will shift a triple also.
Indexed:
Can't put DA7400 series RDs at the top because some of them only work with the corresponding shifters. Orphans from the rest of the Shimano components. If something breaks you are SOL until you locate a spare. Otherwise, plenty of good ones to chose from. Whatever you think looks best.
10-14-22, 01:10 PM
#7
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 3,661 Times
in
1,679 Posts
Friction is all I do but first gen cyclone is my fav. Vx is more common and darn near as good. Always want them in long cage.
Likes For Ross200:
10-14-22, 01:50 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,485
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1639 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 828 Times
in
537 Posts
Suntour Cyclone Mk Ii......
One of the best shifting derailleurs I ever used......
Looks really nice plus quite a weight weenie too!
One of the best shifting derailleurs I ever used......
Looks really nice plus quite a weight weenie too!
__________________
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
Likes For Chombi1:
10-14-22, 01:59 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,504
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 586 Post(s)
Liked 612 Times
in
447 Posts
For friction I'd have to side with Suntour Cyclone 1st generation. It is eye candy too with the black knuckles version. To me it is one of the prettiest ever.
For a front derailer, I don't really have a favorite. So let's just go with one that matches the rear derailer.
The last one I'd choose is the Suntour Spirt, because you have to spell it for folks to understand what you are saying.
For a front derailer, I don't really have a favorite. So let's just go with one that matches the rear derailer.
The last one I'd choose is the Suntour Spirt, because you have to spell it for folks to understand what you are saying.
Likes For TugaDude:
Likes For Moe Zhoost:
10-14-22, 02:03 PM
#12
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Sturmey-Archer FW 
Jokes aside, I'm a retrogrouch and would second iab's selection of the original Gran Sport. Bulletproof, well mannered (relatively speaking to its design) on corncobs, and beautiful. It is not a modern derailer, but life is too short for boring groupsets.
Plus, most of them had adjuster barrels, a feature unceremoniously dropped on the fabled Nuovo Record.
-Kurt
Jokes aside, I'm a retrogrouch and would second iab's selection of the original Gran Sport. Bulletproof, well mannered (relatively speaking to its design) on corncobs, and beautiful. It is not a modern derailer, but life is too short for boring groupsets.
Plus, most of them had adjuster barrels, a feature unceremoniously dropped on the fabled Nuovo Record.
-Kurt
__________________
Last edited by cudak888; 10-14-22 at 04:36 PM.
Likes For cudak888:
10-14-22, 02:16 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Shimano XTR M952, long cage.
For friction or indexed, it works great. Got a nice light action, so it works with Simplex levers. Can probably work with bigger than 34t cogs using one of those drop-down link things. Reasonably svelte at 210g or so. Sealed ball bearing pulleys - even the centeron pulley has ball bearings in it, which slide side to side. Brilliant mech.
I have one on my Trek (shifted by retrofriction barcon), on my Colin Laing tandem (shifted by Shimano indexed for 9), and on my Ron Cooper (shifted by Suntour levers).
For friction or indexed, it works great. Got a nice light action, so it works with Simplex levers. Can probably work with bigger than 34t cogs using one of those drop-down link things. Reasonably svelte at 210g or so. Sealed ball bearing pulleys - even the centeron pulley has ball bearings in it, which slide side to side. Brilliant mech.
I have one on my Trek (shifted by retrofriction barcon), on my Colin Laing tandem (shifted by Shimano indexed for 9), and on my Ron Cooper (shifted by Suntour levers).
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Likes For scarlson:
10-14-22, 02:20 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,702
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1947 Post(s)
Liked 2,009 Times
in
1,108 Posts
Huret Jubile for friction. I never pushed them far regarding a wide spread of cogs but on the three beat up Grand Jubile I've had, the derailleurs were lovely. For the front, I'd choose Shimano 600. It seems to require the least trimming.
If my only bike is a Peugeot, Simplex Criterium 1/2 step set up is perfection.
If my only bike is a Peugeot, Simplex Criterium 1/2 step set up is perfection.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
Last edited by Classtime; 10-14-22 at 02:24 PM.
10-14-22, 02:25 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,828 Times
in
1,995 Posts
Likes For repechage:
10-14-22, 02:34 PM
#16
Partially Sane.
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Sunny Sacramento.
Posts: 3,559
Bikes: Soma Saga, pre-disc
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 972 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 643 Times
in
468 Posts
I'm not sure which years had that, if others, might have to read up again. 🤔
10-14-22, 02:53 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,446
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 874 Post(s)
Liked 2,281 Times
in
1,278 Posts
Gosh, that’s a tough one . Hmmm… I’d have to say I have Camp. NR on almost all my bikes , a couple with SR. I also like the first generation Cyclone, they are (to me) the best performing RD. I have one with the black knuckles like TugaDude’s with a long cage that I have yet to mount on my Motobecane that presently has a NR . I guess I won’t be able to choose just one !
10-14-22, 03:09 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Oh, and for a front, since the OP asked that too:
Suntour Mountech. Nice straight cage, easy to take apart and put back together, huge chainring capacity.
Suntour Mountech. Nice straight cage, easy to take apart and put back together, huge chainring capacity.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
10-14-22, 03:20 PM
#20
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 6,796
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2436 Post(s)
Liked 3,119 Times
in
1,962 Posts
I’ll go cheap. Suntour ARX rear, ArX front and the same for shifters.
Never missed a shift and nearly bullet proof...
Dura Ace 7400 is sublime though...friction or click.
Never missed a shift and nearly bullet proof...
Dura Ace 7400 is sublime though...friction or click.
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
Likes For jdawginsc:
10-14-22, 05:05 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,779
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3502 Post(s)
Liked 2,919 Times
in
1,773 Posts
Dura Ace 7700 25th Anniversary version. Stainless pivots, titanium bolts. Polished to perfection.
Likes For smd4:
10-14-22, 05:09 PM
#22
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,325
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 989 Times
in
521 Posts
i chose a Shimano Dura-ace 7700gs. Second, but never tried one, would be a long cage Huret Jubilee.
__________________
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Likes For bwilli88:
10-14-22, 05:10 PM
#23
The Huffmeister
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: The Le Grande HQ
Posts: 2,735
Bikes: '79 Trek 938, '86 Jim Merz Allez SE, '90 Miyata 1000, '68 PX-10, '80 PXN-10, '73 Super Course, '87 Guerciotti, '83 Trek 600, '80 Huffy Le Grande
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1225 Post(s)
Liked 3,539 Times
in
1,407 Posts
My practical side says old school XT.
But my visionary side says Suntour Cyclone Mk II (especially if the tension spring was guaranteed to never break).
That derailleur is functionally awesome and with some modification will easily get to and possibly surpass Jubilee weight territory.
But my visionary side says Suntour Cyclone Mk II (especially if the tension spring was guaranteed to never break).
That derailleur is functionally awesome and with some modification will easily get to and possibly surpass Jubilee weight territory.
Last edited by AdventureManCO; 10-14-22 at 06:25 PM.
10-14-22, 05:53 PM
#24
spondylitis.org
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Fleetwood, PA, USA
Posts: 1,003
Bikes: '84 Colnago Super; '90 Bridgestone MB-1; '81 Trek 930; '01 Cinelli Supercorsa; '62 Ideor Asso; '87 Tommasini Super Prestige; '13 Lynskey R2300; '84 Serotta Nova Special; '94 Litespeed Catalyst; etc.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
63 Posts
Dura Ace 7700 GS, for all the reasons already stated.
Likes For kunsunoke:
10-14-22, 06:12 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
This is, without a doubt, the best working rear derailleur that I have ever used. For a bike that I like to ride and ride a lot, this would be my choice...
On the other hand, if function is put into second place and esthetics placed first, I would, without doubt, choose the Shimano 600 Arabesque (I would prefer the long cage version but don't have an easy to access picture of one)...
On the other hand, if function is put into second place and esthetics placed first, I would, without doubt, choose the Shimano 600 Arabesque (I would prefer the long cage version but don't have an easy to access picture of one)...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".