Classic & Vintage - simplex I want info.

this chorida has simplex derailers can any one help me out

I searched shelton and classic to no avail.

who made them?
(from what ive been reading they were crap) all crap or only ones made in the 70's?


tks

kb

not all crap-- the alloy body Super LJ series are very highly thought of. The most common ones, the prestige, had a derlin (black plastic) body that was prone to breakage, tho. Thus the poor rep.

The entry level Chiorda model from the 1970s' boom used the Simplex Prestige derailleur system. The higher models tended to use various Campagnolo derailleurs. The Prestige's Delrin body made it light and inexpensive to produce. It also provided an excellent bearing surface and they shifted very smoothly, right out of the box. However, they also flexed a lot and they always felt like something was going to break on the shifts to larger cogs. They also tend to get brittle as they age. The telltale sign is usually brown or grey discoloration, starting as spots. Repeated treatments with Armor-All can rejuvenate the cosmetic appearance in many cases.

not all crap-- the alloy body Super LJ series are very highly thought of. The most common ones, the prestige, had a derlin (black plastic) body that was prone to breakage, tho. Thus the poor rep.

All the ones I've seen were made of plastic and broke very easily. Plastic (or Carbon Fiber) is just not built to last.

If you want to use an old Simplex derailleur, stock up on SunTour jockey wheels. The original Simplex ones will self-destruct due to age with even light usage.

All the ones I've seen were made of plastic and broke very easily. Plastic (or Carbon Fiber) is just not built to last.

Pogemahone is correct. The SLJ derailleurs used aluminum bodies and were very nice performing derailleurs. The matching retrofriction levers are arguably the best friction shift levers ever produced. Simplex used Delrin for roughly 20 years, starting in 1962. The aluminum body SLJ came out in the mid 1970s. By that point the amount of Delrin was pretty much indicative of the level in the line-up, with less Delrin equating to higher levels.

Simplex's reputation had unfortunately been tarnished by the boom era Delrin derailleurs. By the late 1970s, most of Simplex's former customers had switched to the better shifting and more reliable Japanese derailleurs. The sole, big name contract they manged to keep was Peugeot. The PY10 was the only common high end bicycle to use the SLJ, hence these derailleurs are harder to come by. The mid range derailleurs during this period often had aluminum pivot castings, with Delrin parallelogram arms reinforced with aluminum. The pivot housings were often anodized black and it is easy to assume they are Delrin. Simplex realized this and eventually went to the odd practice of having one housing un-anodized to show that it was not Delrin.

I can't recall the model of the Simplex derailleur that I had over 30 years ago (in the early 70s') but it was suppose to be the best they made and it was pure trash. The darn thing shifted crappy and constantly needed adjustment then kept breaking, finally the bike shop said to trash the derailleur and get a Suntour, I can't remember that model either, but it was a mid line unit that way out shifted and out lasted the best Simplex I threw away.

Even the French pro racers hated the Simplex and would replace them with either Campy or Suntour (Shimano back in those days was not sanctioned to be used in pro level racing).

Even the French pro racers hated the Simplex and would replace them with either Campy or Suntour (Shimano back in those days was not sanctioned to be used in pro level racing).

The first thing I did when I acquired my '73 Raleigh Super Course was to replace the Simplex derailleurs with Suntour. I did the same on my son's Puegeot, but with Shimano SIS.

I've been really happy with the way the SX610 on my Gitane shifts. It's a modern looking slant parallelogram design. The only problem I've had is that the badge fell off. It was rebadged as a Gipiemme and the badge was just a paper sticker. The arms are delrin disguised with metal that I believe is stainless steel, not aluminum. The shifters are Simplex retrofriction. They're simply the best friction downtube shifters ever made. I really wanted a Super LJ, but I decided to make do with this until I can find one. I'm holding out for the slant parallelogram version.

My only previous experience with Simplex derailers is with the Delrin Prestige and Competiton. I worked in a Peugeot shop in the '70s, so I have a lot of experience with them. I think they're crap. I feel the same way about MAFAC brakes.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/315574737/315660203Fxsfoq

i've had the all metal version with bullseye pulleys and campy friction shifters on my rivendell for years, with no problems or thought of replacement.

Not to hijack the thread, but in what way are the Simplex friction shifters superior? My only experience is with SunTour Power Shifters and they seem to work quite well. Am I missing out on something better?

Cheers!

Not to hijack the thread, but in what way are the Simplex friction shifters superior? My only experience is with SunTour Power Shifters and they seem to work quite well. Am I missing out on something better?

Cheers!

Their not superior, they are inferior to anything Suntour, Shimano or Campy makes.

What model would be Peugeot badged? All metal except arms which are covered with metal.

"Their not superior, they are inferior to anything Suntour, Shimano or Campy makes."

Actually, the Simplex retrofrictions are far superior to the friction offerings from these companies, to the point where many a 70's and 80's racer would ditch the relatively crappy stock campy shifters for a set of retrofrictions. Greg Lemond, for one, was a great believer in the Simplex retrofrictions. They are one of the best upgrades you can make to a friction shift system. I'm with T-mar on the quality. I think you are confusing the retrofrictions and the derlin-handled shifters on so many bikes during the 70's boom.

Why are they better? Ride with them. They are buttery smooth, hold their position, unlike anything else I've ridden with. I wind up sticking them on most of my friction equiped riders-- currently I have them on five bikes, mixed in with Suntour, Campy and Simplex mechs. I won't pretend to understand the design principles, but the difference is quite noticable.

The stock Simplex shifters sold as standard equipment on many bikes during the early seventies were nothing special, but the retrofrictions are in another league.

I like to tinker and one of the things I've been thinking about trying is mounting Simplex retrofriction levers on these:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/shifters_derailleurs/17068.html
It would replace the Suntour barcons I have on one of my bikes now. The Suntours are good, but I think that Simplex retrofriction barcons would be the ultimate in friction shifting. If Simplex ever made such a thing, I've never seen them.

Rivendell used to sell Simplex retrofriction shifters. When the supply dried up, they started selling the Suntour shifters. Now that they can't get the Suntour shifters they're having their own made.

Rivendell says they haven't tried the Simplex retrofriction shifters on their bar end mounts, but that I can return them if they don't work. I have a feeling that they will because the retrofrictions were made at the time that standard brazed on shifter bosses became popular. I live near the Rivendell shop, so I may take some shifters down there and try them just to save on shipping. The first time I saw downtube shifters mounted as bar ends I thought it looked odd, but there's no reason why bar ends need to be short and stubby that I can think of.

If you haven't tried Simplex retrofrictions, you don't know what you're missing. Once you do, I'll bet you'll never go back.

Hi, I just won a bid on Ebay for NOS Simplex alloy shifters for $41. Aren't familiar with these, wonder if they are the retrofriction model as you call them? Any chance you can post a photo of these shifters so I can identify them? _Gil

Sorry, but I forgot to add that the Simplex levers are the clamp-on type.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=86575&highlight=simplex+retrofriction+clamp

photos on this thread.