madpogue 

This is on a '75 (or is it '73?...) Raleigh Gran Sport, purchased back in the '80s. Something's always vexed me about the FD. It's a Suntour Compe V. The action is "reversed", that is, you pull the cable and wind up the spring to put it on the smaller chainring. I've never been too pleased with the action; it just seems like it's going against physics trying to get the chain to climb onto a larger sprocket by releasing tension.

I suppose for a novice it sorta makes sense "visually" - shifter further forward means higher gear ratio, applies to both rear and front. So I wonder if that's the only reason they came up with this design; one of those "it seemed like a good idea at the time" things. Might make sense for a casual user with one bike, but of course, for me, switching between bikes, it feels like driving a truck with the clutch pedal on the opposite side of the footwell.

It's original to the bike AFAIK. So would it be blasphemy to replace it? Just find a V-GT or some similar period-correct Suntour at the bike kitchen? The bike's mostly original otherwise; Weinmann brakes, Normandy hubs, that randonneur bar they used to throw on them, etc.

I'm guessing no, but is it of any added value just because of its oddity?


(Yeah, it needs a cleaning....) Kind of a pretty cage, too bad there's not a way to reverse the action.....

stardognine

3speedslow

noglider 

I like them, and I wouldn't expect them to work well, but they work perfectly for me. I like them because they're different. Also, I think there is a value in shifting in the same direction as the rear derailleur.

I don't have one of these on a bike now, but one is in the parts bin, just because.

Glennfordx4

I have 3 or 4 NOS Suntour SL FD's out in the shop. I built up a Schwinn Varsity drivetrain with modern ramped FW, chain, cables,RD and the High normal Suntour SL Fd and it was one of the best shifting bikes I have ridden. I like them.
Glenn

crank_addict

I concur with the OP and its not one of the better products of Suntour. That said, I like it for its quirkiness weird and belongs on my 76 Viscount.... along with the 'death fork', this-that bottom bracket, tubular / clincher rims, etc....

Cougrrcj

I rode my old Fuji with it's 'backwards' SL and now Compe V front derailleur for soooo long, I've accepted it as normal -- i.e. both shifters are positioned forward to go faster. Now that I have other bikes with Cyclone derailleur sets, I find those harder to get used to! And yes, the Compe V shifts across the 48/38/28 triple crankset just fine!

SurferRosa

All the gods want you to replace it and then burn it at the stake.

Or just toss it. No sense in wasting a good fire on one of those...

seedsbelize 

Top normal Spirt is the best fd I've ever used. Crisp! shifting. I currently have one mounted and two more awaiting builds.

TomJD

One advantage of this style FD is that when pedalling uphill with increasing tension on the chain and needing to downshift that you don't need to rely on a spring to make this critical shift, but instead can directly pull the chain over with the cable (like the RD). In contrast when upshifting there will tend to be less tension on the chain and so you can rely on a spring to make this shift.

ed4406

I've had good luck with the Compe-V, sturdy and responsive. Downshifts are a bit quicker in my experience as well.

JohnDThompson 

And the "SL" which used an exotic aluminum cage rather than steel as on the Spirt and Compe-V.

dweenk

I like top normal FDs and open cage RDs as well.

repechage

steelbikeguy

I concur.

There is a hill on my commute home from work that has a sudden transition from a few percent grade to 14% grade. There have been a number times where I waited too long to drop to the granny and tried to let the Cyclone derailleur spring shove the chain off of the middle gear and down to the granny gear.
Well, as long as there was tension on the chain, that little spring couldn't do the job. It is possible that the Spirt or Compe V might have been able to do the job, utilizing my strength to force the lever.

I did used to have a bike with the Spirt derailleur on it. Under normal conditions, I don't recall any problems with it. Maybe it's easier to live with if you only have one bike and don't have to adapt to using two types of front derailleurs?

Steve in Peoria

markk900

madpogue 

Yup, that's what I was trying to convey in my opening post. Seems like a way to cater to novices. Fah, maybe I'll keep it, as y'all advise, just because it's different.

DiegoFrogs

One can identify these because the housing stop is the part that pivots. I have an early AG Tech that also incorporates this feature, in addition to the inner plate that pivots up and down while shifting.

Ol Danl

This is the fd that came on my '77 Raleigh. Used it for years, even though I had ridden other bikes with low normal fd's. Finally decided to put fenders on the old Record, and found that the Compe-V kinda sticks out on the rear if the seat tube, and couldn't use it with the fenders. Stuck on a Huret-made Schwinn Approved derailleur. Suddenly wondered why I'd been putting up with the high normal Compe-V all these years. I guess I stay on the small chainring most of the time, so it really doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

The Golden Boy 

That's a really good point- something I hadn't thought of- I tend to think of the "sprung" direction as the automatic direction- but you really only have "control" over what you're pulling on the cable... Interesting thought...

bikeaddiction1

I often "upgrade" personal vintage bikes so they perform they way I like them. However, I always keep the removed items so they can be reinstalled if I sell the bike or want decide to return it to original.

52telecaster

I love spirts. I wish all my bikes had em.

SurferRosa

They're a whole $9 (shipped) on ebay, so, go for it.

52telecaster

my bobjackson has too much drop for the spirt to work well or i would. Ive got the derailleur for it but cant use it.

Lascauxcaveman 

Gimme one of those every time. Half of my (vintage, friction) FDs don't want to go down to the small ring when I really need it, climbing under load. And if you adjust them so they will do it every time, then half the time they overshoot and end up dropping the chain inside. It's a very fine line with an elderly bottom-normal FD, but with a top normal, getting to that inner ring is just a matter of muscle, not wishful thinking.

They should all be made that way.