Classic & Vintage - Suntour Barcons

I picked up a pair of Suntour barcons from the co-op. What makes these so special that they fetch prices up to $76.00 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SunTour-Bar-End-Barcon-Ratcheted-Friction-Shifters-Vintage-/300611289235?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item45fdd44093) on eBay?

Sure, they are nice, but are they really that nice?

They're no longer produced. eBay can be a crazy place.

One of the C&Vers described them (as I remember) as one of the most perfect mechanical designs in existence. Having used a pair for a while, I can see where that comment comes from. That said, $76 is a bit steep. For reference, I got mine for $35 for the pair at a swap meet.

outlier

They work. But you have to make sure they have all the hardware on the ends or the screw will back out.

They do have a very nice feel to them, nicer than the current production Shimanos, but they lack indexing, obviously. They're also very durable and with the exception of having the tendency to lose the outer locknut, they're virtually indestructible.

groooannnn...Before I became more parts-savvy, I drilled out a set of vintage SunTour barcons to remove them from my handlebars...dumb, dumb, dumb...

Lemme see if I have any extras to throw on ebay if they are fetching that price. Wow. I don't know about the value but when I needed one I put a want ad on Craig's and someone about 5 miles from me dug it out of his parts bin and gave it to me. Nice.

The good part is they do what the ebay ad says. I put some on to use with an 8 speed Campy drivetrain and they worked great. I may put them on something else with 9 speed Shimano. I like em.

groooannnn...Before I became more parts-savvy, I drilled out a set of vintage SunTour barcons to remove them from my handlebars...dumb, dumb, dumb...

Ouch. I recall a couple of years ago a friend brought me some handle bars with said shifters attached and said, "you seem to know about bikes, how can I get these darn things off?". It is not obvious, huh.

Lemme see if I have any extras to throw on ebay if they are fetching that price. Wow. I don't know about the value but when I needed one I put a want ad on Craig's and someone about 5 miles from me dug it out of his parts bin and gave it to me.

Hold on there, pardner, that price was for a NOS set. Good used sets typically sell for under $40. I got both sets of barcons in my fleet off of fleabay and never paid more than $35 a pair.

I have them on my bike and my sons, we love them and luckily managed to get them free off bikes I flipped :)

They are great, but +1 for being <$40.

IMO, silver shifters work better than the SunTours.

I have them on my Sekai and love them, in my area you never see barcons so I'd guess that price wouldn't be steep at all here.

Hold on there, pardner, that price was for a NOS set. Good used sets typically sell for under $40. I got both sets of barcons in my fleet off of fleabay and never paid more than $35 a pair.

I see the auction as "used"...

I see the auction as "used"...

Ha! I stand corrected, my bad. Indeed, $76 for used Barcons is steep. Notice the seller did his homework and wrote out a very thoughtful descpription of them, and also employed that rather crass routine of embedding high-zoot keywords into the description for the sole purpose of boosting his hit rate. Those definitely help get the most out of your auctions!

My mistake comes from recently seeing a NOS set of barcons fetch $92 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-SUNTOUR-BAR-END-BARCONS-RALEIGH-COMPLETE-SYSTEM-RANDONNEUR-TOURING-BIKE-/330627563361?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cfaf03f61).

Ha! I stand corrected, my bad. Indeed, $76 for used Barcons is steep. Notice the seller did his homework and wrote out a very thoughtful descpription of them, and also employed that rather crass routine of embedding high-zoot keywords into the description for the sole purpose of boosting his hit rate. Those definitely help get the most out of your auctions!

My mistake comes from recently seeing a NOS set of barcons fetch $92 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-SUNTOUR-BAR-END-BARCONS-RALEIGH-COMPLETE-SYSTEM-RANDONNEUR-TOURING-BIKE-/330627563361?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cfaf03f61).

Hmmmm adding those clamps, guides, cables, and housing is a good way to up the price with little expense!

IMO, silver shifters work better than the SunTours.
Interesting. I also have a pair of silvers. Was debating on which pair to use for my wife's Peugeot.

Ouch. I recall a couple of years ago a friend brought me some handle bars with said shifters attached and said, "you seem to know about bikes, how can I get these darn things off?". It is not obvious, huh.
Reverse threads get you every time.

I swapped mine out for a newer set of shimano ones and never looked back. They work so much better... flame suit on..

Just a bidding war, I guess.


Good used sets typically sell for under $40.
Agreed.

I got a pair of take-offs, still waiting to be mounted on something.
And I really like the pair shifting a wide-range 8-speed SRAM cluster.

And I really like the pair shifting a wide-range 8-speed SRAM cluster.

Same here! They handle my wide-range Shimano 8-speed no problems, and trimming is very easy.

I use a little bit of clear silicone sealer on the outer locknuts, haven't lost one yet.

I use a little bit of clear silicone sealer on the outer locknuts, haven't lost one yet.

Or blue loctite on the threads, and they will stay put.

Any idea where I can find a rubber cover for one?

Any idea where I can find a rubber cover for one?


Ebay http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=shifter+covers&_sacat=158999&_odkw=&_osacat=158999&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

I have been watching the prices Barcons fetch on eBay for a bit. It's all over the map, and really depends on the listing details. I just picked up a pair, including cable, housing, stops, a Raleigh-labeled Suntour Vx RD, FD, crank, seat bolt/nut, for $56. All because it was a single fuzzy picture with no detailed description.

Regarding the locknuts...I have a hardware store here that has a VAST array of loose hardware, most drawers of nuts, bolts, screws I've ever seen in a single store. I plan on taking one of my locknuts in and seeing if I can find a bolt or screw with a similarly shaped head. Whack the head off, put in a vice with some wood gripping it and drill a hole down the center of the head, then tap. I hope to reproduce fairly closely the original locknut for all of us who have barcons without.

IMO, silver shifters work better than the SunTours.

Grant got them reproduced, then promoted them
they are also a Suntour design, for downtube location, lever rather too long
as a Bar end.

so how did you like the Kool Aide?

I was watching ebay auctions for these for a few weeks, and it seemed that they all went for at least $45. I got lucky and found a pair locally for $20 and I snatched them up right away.

Grant got them reproduced, then promoted them
they are also a Suntour design, for downtube location, lever rather too long
as a Bar end.

so how did you like the Kool Aide?

I like the long levers as they are easier to work with. The kool-aid tastes fine.

Regarding the locknuts...I have a hardware store here that has a VAST array of loose hardware, most drawers of nuts, bolts, screws I've ever seen in a single store. I plan on taking one of my locknuts in and seeing if I can find a bolt or screw with a similarly shaped head. Whack the head off, put in a vice with some wood gripping it and drill a hole down the center of the head, then tap. I hope to reproduce fairly closely the original locknut for all of us who have barcons without.

I've done this with a regular straight slot pan head screw and it worked fine. I think it was a #12. I used stainless so tapping was a little slow, but do-able.

btw, I clamped the screw shank in my drill press vise and drilled the pilot hole before sawing off the head. The shank was just big enough for the 4M pilot.

I've done this with a regular straight slot pan head screw and it worked fine. I think it was a #12. I used stainless so tapping was a little slow, but do-able.

btw, I clamped the screw shank in my drill press vise and drilled the pilot hole before sawing off the head. The shank was just big enough for the 4M pilot.

Thanks for that...I had just envisioned this in my head. I was hoping to find a screw with a somewhat shallower head than a standard pan but we'll see.

Good idea about drilling before beheading...I'll try that.

My goal is to have a few sets on hand for when people need them.

My goal is to have a few sets on hand for when people need them.

I'll happily buy a few if you do....

Whew, I didn't know about the locknuts. Fortunately, mine has both of them.

Thanks for that...I had just envisioned this in my head. I was hoping to find a screw with a somewhat shallower head than a standard pan but we'll see.

Good idea about drilling before beheading...I'll try that.

My goal is to have a few sets on hand for when people need them.

I know you have very high standards, but honestly you can barely see the difference in the profile once the thing is mounted. Just sayin.

Also, it's been said before - a drop of blue loctite on these isn't a bad idea at all.

I really like my Barcons and Suntour makes the best ones, in my opinion. I have them mounted on a few different bikes, the most recent of which is my Motobecane Gran Jubilee (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Feature_Bicycles/Feature_Bicycles_France/Motobecane_Gran_Jubilee/MOTOBECANE_GRAND_JUBILEE_1_Start.htm). Today, I took the drop bars off of the Motobe...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/French_Bicycles/Motobecane_Bicycles/Motobecane_Gran_Jubilee_57/Motobecane_GJ_Fenders/Motobe_GJ_Fenders_HandleBars_1.jpg

and installed mustache bars, with Barcons fitted, exactly the same as the set-up on my Legnano Gran Premio (http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Feature_Bicycles/Feature_Bicycles_Itlay/Legnano_Tipo_Roma/LEGNANO_GRAN_PREMIO_1_Start.htm)...
http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/Italian_Bicycles/Legnano_Bicycles/Legnano_Brian/Legnano_Test_Build/Legnano_Build_1/Legnano_Conservatory/Legnano_Consv_HandleBars_3.jpg

Someone on this site suggested using a nut from a pedal-mounted reflector to replace a missing locknut. I tried it and it has worked so far.

:cry:I gave away a perfectly fine Suntour bar-con body after I crashed and broke the lever. Then I found a lever at a co-op but did not have a body.

Since then ive tried to build a single functioning bar-con with two bodies and three levers. However those little metal "g shaped" springs inside the ratchet seem to be cut different lengths by hand to work with each lever/body combo.

If anyone has a barcon or barcon parts, I am still looking. :D

They do have a very nice feel to them, nicer than the current production Shimanos, but they lack indexing, obviously. They're also very durable and with the exception of having the tendency to lose the outer locknut, they're virtually indestructible.

Unless you get the later, black-bodied indexing ones....

groooannnn...Before I became more parts-savvy, I drilled out a set of vintage SunTour barcons to remove them from my handlebars...dumb, dumb, dumb...

Tragic.

Thanks! Just checked back here...

Unless you get the later, black-bodied indexing ones....

There is nothing better than Suntour Bar Cons when you consider their price, availability, and rock solid construction and performance and when it comes to friction systems Suntour is king.

I do run some Simplex Retrofriction dt's which are, without a doubt the smoothest shifter ever made but they are neither plentiful or cheap.

I also have some of these bad boys and some indexed Suntour bar end shifters which can also be switched to friction.

Suntour Command Shifters... switchable between a regular 6 speed, Ultra 7, and friction. These are brilliant but sadly, were introduced during the sunset of Suntour's production.

http://www.velobase.com/CompImages/Shifter/CCD7F320-E526-4894-B1A5-10654D91D004.jpeg

This is how they mount...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e6r0U-cw-Zc/TNolP4bXEfI/AAAAAAAAAEc/rr_pz-8Tqg8/s1600/command_top.jpg

They're not really reverse threaded; you're just looking at the bolt from the wrong end.
I'm not trying to be a smart burro. Think about it.

Top

Yeah, I think that's right, top. To loosen the bolt, you need to screw it further into the handlebar, which means turning the hex key clockwise.

Thanks for that...I had just envisioned this in my head. I was hoping to find a screw with a somewhat shallower head than a standard pan but we'll see.

Good idea about drilling before beheading...I'll try that.

My goal is to have a few sets on hand for when people need them.


I'll happily buy a few if you do....

I picked up some stubby pan head slotted sheet metal screws today who's heads snuggle nicely into the opening for the locknut.

If I can get my arse going after table tennis tonight I'll try drilling a few.

Anyone know off-hand the screw size and thread for these things? I'm not at home and wanted to go get a tap. M4 maybe?

I picked up some stubby pan head slotted sheet metal screws today who's heads snuggle nicely into the opening for the locknut.

If I can get my arse going after table tennis tonight I'll try drilling a few.

Anyone know off-hand the screw size and thread for these things? I'm not at home and wanted to go get a tap. M4 maybe?

Well, leave it to Sheldon...


Those locknuts are a very commonly lost/damaged part, and have not been
available for decades.

As it happens, there is a relatively easy workaround. Many pedal
reflectors use 4 mm threaded hardware, with nuts that use a 7 mm wrench.

The 4 mm thread is the same as the Barcon pivolt bolt, and the 7 mm size
is small enough to let you use a nutdriver or socket wrench to tighten
the nut up inside the recess in the Barcon housing.

Most bike shops will have a box full of discarded pedal reflectors under
a counter somewhere...

Sheldon "Solutions" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Some of my brother's paintings may be seen at: |
| http://junila.com |
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Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com http://sheldonbrown.com

Hmmm...M4 tap requires a 3.3mm drill bit, 3.3mm = 0.1299216", 1/8" = 0.125"

Can't imagine the 0.004" matters for the tap huh?

I think we have a winner! :)

I listed a couple pairs of these on ebay this past Spring for $25 BIN price +shipping and they sold VERY quickly..........

I little late to the conversation I used to have a set of what I guess you would call semi index with longer levers Suntour barcons that worked great with both 5, 6speed and good with 7 tension setups that where on a bike that got stolen a about 8or9 years ago. They where great If I could find another pair like them they are one of the few small older parts I would shell out actual bucks for. Damn be the daffy looking cabling of having two extra cables come off your bars for them to work great.