I heard of some bad things about the Superbe Tech derailleurs BUT maybe I might be the exception rather then the rule (?), because my rear derailleur is the Tech model made in 83 or 84 and that unit has over 140,000 miles and still shifting strong. Just last weekend my front derailleur finally broke, but it was the thin band that went around the seat tube that broke (due to rust) not any moving parts; fortunately I had the spare new Superbe derailleur, so I just put it on when I got home.