Simplex or Huret Front Derailleur for 75 Raleigh Grand Prix
02-15-16, 04:06 AM
#1
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Simplex or Huret Front Derailleur for 75 Raleigh Grand Prix
The Grand Prix has been running surprisingly well with the Suntour derailleur from my donor Raleigh Europa.
The derailleur works in reverse which is a bit disconcerting when swapping bikes and aesthetically the cage doesn't quite follow the chain ring to say the least.
So want to replace with an original plastic Simplex or a period Huret.
Haven't had a Huret front derailleur but had a rear Svelto BITD and can't remember how well it worked (or not work) but thought it may be a more durable option to the plastic bodied Simplex. Thoughts, suggestions and comments welcomed.
The derailleur works in reverse which is a bit disconcerting when swapping bikes and aesthetically the cage doesn't quite follow the chain ring to say the least.
So want to replace with an original plastic Simplex or a period Huret.
Haven't had a Huret front derailleur but had a rear Svelto BITD and can't remember how well it worked (or not work) but thought it may be a more durable option to the plastic bodied Simplex. Thoughts, suggestions and comments welcomed.
02-15-16, 06:43 AM
#3
Death fork? Naaaah!!
On the one hand, I like the 'backwards' SunTour FDs.
On the other hand, I think I have a Huret FD out in the barn. I'll look tomorrow.
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On the other hand, I think I have a Huret FD out in the barn. I'll look tomorrow.
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02-15-16, 07:50 AM
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SunTour derailleurs would be quite appropriate for a '75 Grand Prix. SunTour was a recommended upgrade from the stock Simplex derailleurs, and Raleigh even had SunTour make Raleigh-badged derailleurs for their bikes in the late 70s. Otherwise, i'd avoid the plastic Simplex front derailleurs as they are prone to failure. I wonder if there are any unbroken ones still out there? Huret would be decent as well; the Svelto rear you mention was a surprisingly competent derailleur, much like a steel version of their highly-regarded Jubilee derailleur.
02-15-16, 08:39 AM
#5
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SunTour derailleurs would be quite appropriate for a '75 Grand Prix. SunTour was a recommended upgrade from the stock Simplex derailleurs, and Raleigh even had SunTour make Raleigh-badged derailleurs for their bikes in the late 70s. Otherwise, i'd avoid the plastic Simplex front derailleurs as they are prone to failure. I wonder if there are any unbroken ones still out there? Huret would be decent as well; the Svelto rear you mention was a surprisingly competent derailleur, much like a steel version of their highly-regarded Jubilee derailleur.
02-16-16, 06:01 AM
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So do I generally. This bike has had a few period upgrades - 1980 Weinmann alloy rims and an early SR fluted seat post w/clamp. Happy to give some more love in the derailleur dept but didn't want to go overboard (Nuovo Record) or a modern Simplex. The original FD broke when I did the clean and reinstall. The Huret was possibly a downgrade? but looks the part with the solid cage face.
02-16-16, 06:08 AM
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Every single Simplex plastic FD I have come in contact with in the last ten years (at least 20 of them) has been cracked in the clamp area. Some badly cracked. Plastic on a derailleur was a bad idea, and to be fair, they have surely outlasted original design criteria. To get ten years out of one probably far exceeded design. Forty years? Not happening here.
I would never put one on a bike I planned to ride. No thanks. The rears, while I don't personally care for them, seem to be more durable. You see a lot of Suntour replacements on these bikes for a reason, they worked better. And you have the pantographed Raleigh Suntour derailleur set that is pretty nice on a Raleigh.
My bias, when restoring a bike to be "period correct" for my own use, I consider likely upgrades the original owner might have done "back in the day". So replacing a superior part with an inferior one just to match originality is not required, unless you are building a wall hanger. Sure, I am not putting a modern SORA derailleur on a vintage bike, but a similar era Suntour? Bring it on!
Realize many original parts were picked NOT because they were the most suitable but instead to meet a price point (CHEAP). In industry we used to call this "value engineering" which is pretty funny. Basically, what is the CHEAPEST part we can put on this bike and it still work and customers would still buy it? There was safety in numbers, with other European competitors using the same stuff. Want to see value engineering in action? Check out the bikes for sale in Walmart.
I would never put one on a bike I planned to ride. No thanks. The rears, while I don't personally care for them, seem to be more durable. You see a lot of Suntour replacements on these bikes for a reason, they worked better. And you have the pantographed Raleigh Suntour derailleur set that is pretty nice on a Raleigh.
My bias, when restoring a bike to be "period correct" for my own use, I consider likely upgrades the original owner might have done "back in the day". So replacing a superior part with an inferior one just to match originality is not required, unless you are building a wall hanger. Sure, I am not putting a modern SORA derailleur on a vintage bike, but a similar era Suntour? Bring it on!
Realize many original parts were picked NOT because they were the most suitable but instead to meet a price point (CHEAP). In industry we used to call this "value engineering" which is pretty funny. Basically, what is the CHEAPEST part we can put on this bike and it still work and customers would still buy it? There was safety in numbers, with other European competitors using the same stuff. Want to see value engineering in action? Check out the bikes for sale in Walmart.
02-16-16, 06:42 AM
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Most of my bikes have plastic Simplex derailleurs. I find they operate just fine. I wouldn't hesitate to put them on any bike. And on a Grand Prix, absolutely.
02-16-16, 12:17 PM
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Sorry, I am not a fan of pushrod front derailleurs except with half-step gearing. The Campag. Gran Sports wear out and become very sloppy, and the Simplex break. (I have admittedly broken a SunTour Cyclone, as well.) I am keeping the original Gran Sport on the Sieger, in a nod to value of the bike over performance of the transmission.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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