Classic & Vintage - New or old derailuer for my Raleigh?

Posted similar question in the mechanics forum but thought I might get more/different insight here (ie: I'm not TRYING to be annoying, lol). The Simplex derailluers on my Raleigh GP are shot. The price of old Suntour or Huret running gear on eBay about equals the price of some low end new Shimano stuff from my LBS (talking front rear, plus new shifters). Though the guy is into vintage bikes, he doesn't recommend old derailluers, says new ones have improved yada yada.

Is the new stuff better? Any reason to go with old stuff asside from looks? Might affect value, I suppose, but I think I'll be upside down no matter what when this nightmare *ahem* project is over.

Oh, and either way I'll do a new freewheel.

I'd go with the Suntour Cyclone GT then you can ride wide range freewheels. Another great candidate is the older Shimano Deore. They have a really heavy weight quality to them and with a little polish make a gorgeous finishing touch.

2 cents here. It sounds like your mechanic is trying to sell you some unsuitable parts. New low end stuff from Shimano? Fugly garbage even if it works well for awhile and looks certainly do count. If you want to keep a ride classic, get some used/not abused Suntour stuff and keep your costs down. Look for a doner bike maybe? I sure wouldn't pile tons of money into a Grand Prix because resale value isn't really an issue. It's a rider.

I think it is true that the new Shimano derailleurs are better than the old ones, but that's partly because they utilize some of Suntour's design features. Another advantage of the new ones is that they index with the shifters; but this is not an advantage to you. The better new derailleurs are made to mount to a derailleur hanger that's part of the dropout; you don't have that on your Grand Prix, so you'll have to go with a new cheap model. So, bottom line... is the new cheap model better than an old Suntour or something on ebay? I rather doubt it. I'd go with an old Suntour.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/724379-Simplex-RD-woes.....?highlight=

What are you being quoted on the huret mech ?

I may be able to help you out here as I have an old huret alvit mech in good nick if you fancy.

Ah yes, my budget would help. Based on my eBay searches, it seems like I could get a front and rear derailluer plus shifters for roughly $50, which is about the same as I'd pay for the low-end Shimano stuff at REI. Maybe closer to $60. Definitely don't want to pay more, would love to spend less.

That said I probably want something slightly higher end than an Allvit, rpf, but thanks much for the offer.

At the risk of deraillueriing (get it?!) my own thread, when did Raleigh switch from Simplex to Huret? My dad's old GP is the spitting image of the one I bought, only it has nice looking Huret stuff that shined up like a new penny. The Simplex stuff, beyond not working, looks like crap. Even the shifters are black plastic.

No worries man, yeah the huret stuff isn't much good to be fair i'd hold out for something better myself :) although if nothing comes your way shout me , i'm not really looking for anything for it happy to just accept postage costs.

I would imagine Raliegh Nottingham changed to Huret somewhere about the mid 70's although I could be out by a few years.

Keep an eye out for suntour stuff, sometimes you get a bargain on it..or you could strip your dad's GP and hope he doesnt notice :)

Do you have a co-op nearby? If so I'd try there for some Suntour V-gt derailleurs and ratcheting downtube shifters. Of course you can also find them on Ebay, but you'll wind up spending more. For the price I don't believe you'll find more reliable mechanicals. They also look period-correct.

+1 I replaced the Simplex with a SunTour on a Grand Prix and it shifts great.

when did Raleigh switch from Simplex to Huret? . In '72 you could find GP's with either group. I bought a 10 speed Glider (Raleigh rebrand) from Eatons department store with Huret , had problems with it, returned it and the replacement was Simplex.

I would go with any long cage Suntour derailleur. My son's Super Course has a AR shifting a 14/34 and my Peloton has a VxGt doing likewise. They shift just as well as the new Deore XT on my Davidson. The Deore will shift a 9 speed cassette. I dont know if the old Suntours will manage more than 7.

Dave305Z, Keep an eye out for SunTour derailleurs. I could've used my Shimano spares on my RRA, but it just wouldn't have been right, in my eyes anyway.

Brad

Will a Fuji (Suntour) VX fit, using a claw? I see a front/rear set in eBay for a reasonable price. From what I've read, it's basically a lighter version of the V-GT, right?

I am looking to replace the rear Huret on my fiance's Sprite with a derailleur that actually, y'know, works. Well, it works, but you have to dial in each gear as if you were tuning a weak station on an old radio.

Will a Fuji (Suntour) VX fit, using a claw? I see a front/rear set in eBay for a reasonable price. From what I've read, it's basically a lighter version of the V-GT, right?

The GT suffix indicates a longer cage. Sometimes a Vx will have one; more often it will have a standard cage, at least ime. The longer cage will give you more chain wrap so it's desirable if you want to run a wide-range freewheel. Check velobase or disraeli gears for the details.

I like my old Suntour V, but it certainly doesn't shift better than the Shimano Ultegra on my Bridgestone. Suntours shifted better than anything else in their time, but their time has passed.

I like my old Suntour V, but it certainly doesn't shift better than the Shimano Ultegra on my Bridgestone. Suntours shifted better than anything else in their time, but their time has passed.

That may be, but the OP didn't seem to be considering that price point. I still think for durability, reliability and value, the V series is a fine choice.

+1 to the Suntour Vx variants. Cyclones too but they are getting expensive.

Another good economical choice is a Huret Challenger, or even a Shimano Light Action.

That may be, but the OP didn't seem to be considering that price point. I still think for durability, reliability and value, the V series is a fine choice.

I paid $39.95 for my Ultegra GS from a site in Colorado. I think I paid that much for a nice Suntour V GT Luxe.

Got the VX. $30 shipped front and rear. Disraeli Gears says it can handle up to 28 teeth, which is what I have on the biggest cog of my 7-speed cassette. Now all I need are some downtube shifters and I'll be in business. Anyone have? Please remember that I'm still not worthy enough to respond to PMs.

Somebody send him some Simplex retrofrictions. I'm fresh out.

I am looking to replace the rear Huret on my fiance's Sprite with a derailleur that actually, y'know, works. Well, it works, but you have to dial in each gear as if you were tuning a weak station on an old radio.

haha ! What a great expression, I suffered a huret mech for a long time so I hear you loud and clear :)

haha ! What a great expression, I suffered a huret mech for a long time so I hear you loud and clear :)

Which Huret model(s) are you referring to?

The Challenger/Success is one of the best DR's I've experienced.
(I do not disagree that not all Hurets are created equal though.)

Which Huret model(s) are you referring to?

The Challenger/Success is one of the best DR's I've experienced.
(I do not disagree that not all Hurets are created equal though.)

My experience is with a couple of Allvit's which I found to be rather troublesome, I hopped on a friends bike with a challenger tenspeed mech a while back and found it to be a vast improvement indeed.

This explains why I was going to give away the allvit I have lying around my parts bin such is the level of offense it caused me :)

To clarify I wasn't criticising all huret mechs, just the allvit and I should have made that clear I must confess.

Funnily enough, as I was looking through the bin of dusty, rusty old parts that came with this bike (it was one of those deals) I found a "Schwinn Approved" Allvit. Looks like a brick!

On the other hand, my dad's Grand Prix has a Challenger, which cleaned up perfectly and shifts well.

^

It feels like a brick also ! :)

I still think a reasonable solution is to "harvest" your fathers challenger mech and plead the fifth :)

So, just to bring this thread full circle, I did get the Fuji VX, but just as I started to put the whole thing together, my dad offers to ship his complete bike to me. His bike is complete plus the frame fits me better than the one I'm working on. But now I have to ask...should I swap the Suntour on there or leave the Huret Challenger? I'm leaning toward the latter both out of desire to keep it original and laziness, but I will admit the VX looks like quite a peice. Worth the effort? I do note that according to Disraeli Gears, the Huret is actually slightly lighter.