Originally Posted by
tigerdog
Fast forward several years: the answer to my question was "YES!" I ended up replacing the crank/chainrings as well, since the internals of the old SR bottom bracket were as worn as the chainring teeth. Lo and behold, with new chain and cables, it actually shifts better than I ever remember it shifting. Almost makes you wonder why Suntour died at the hands of Shimano.
XC Pro is still good stuff- but there were factors... It probably shifts better than you remember because the chain is better. I've heard it either way that ramped and pinned chainrings are better or worse for friction shifting in the front.
While there is a bit of a 'they're not around anymore' factor to it these days- Suntour stuff was good for it's time and a lot of that stuff is good now.