I think my downtube Suntour ratchet shifters are more superb than my Superbe shifters
09-16-22, 11:26 AM
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I think my downtube Suntour ratchet shifters are more superb than my Superbe shifters
After getting off my vintage Fuji with the wonderful feeling ratchet shifters, I hopped on my vintage Trek with Superbe shifters. I can’t say I ever really liked the shifting on the Superbes. I also have to keep the tension screw quite tight to keep the shifter from ghost shifting when accelerating hard. I’ve cleaned them and tried with and without lube etc. I think the Trek is going to get some ratchet shifters I have in my stash.
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09-16-22, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by sd5782
...I have in my stash.
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09-16-22, 11:39 AM
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Sounds like you are describing the Superbe full friction shift levers. I would also prefer the ratcheting type.
if you happen to be talking about their Accushift Indexing levers, those are excellent when paired with compatible freewheels/cassettes and RD’s.
if you happen to be talking about their Accushift Indexing levers, those are excellent when paired with compatible freewheels/cassettes and RD’s.
09-16-22, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by sd5782
After getting off my vintage Fuji with the wonderful feeling ratchet shifters, I hopped on my vintage Trek with Superbe shifters. I can’t say I ever really liked the shifting on the Superbes. I also have to keep the tension screw quite tight to keep the shifter from ghost shifting when accelerating hard. I’ve cleaned them and tried with and without lube etc. I think the Trek is going to get some ratchet shifters I have in my stash.
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09-16-22, 01:12 PM
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The Superbes are indeed friction only. I believe they may be first generation as the Trek is 1983, and they are clamp on. I just now put the ratchet ones on the Trek in anticipation of lots of shifting on a visit to my brother in Tennessee. They are stamped Raleigh on the band clamp, but it is not noticeable and the bike is already a mix of parts. Nice shifting on the stand and a test ride tomorrow. It isn’t too hard to have a few things in the stash with a small co-op in town.
09-16-22, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by sd5782
The Superbes are indeed friction only. I believe they may be first generation as the Trek is 1983, and they are clamp on. I just now put the ratchet ones on the Trek in anticipation of lots of shifting on a visit to my brother in Tennessee. They are stamped Raleigh on the band clamp, but it is not noticeable and the bike is already a mix of parts. Nice shifting on the stand and a test ride tomorrow. It isn’t too hard to have a few things in the stash with a small co-op in town.
09-16-22, 04:40 PM
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Around here it is not common to see a lot of different stuff, and French stuff isn’t common either. Ive read about those retro friction simplex and would get some if I saw them cheap. Interestingly on a Peugeot UO14 I purchased, the standard Simplex downtube shifters had a very nice feel. The whole driveline did actually.
09-16-22, 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by sd5782
Around here it is not common to see a lot of different stuff, and French stuff isn’t common either. Ive read about those retro friction simplex and would get some if I saw them cheap. Interestingly on a Peugeot UO14 I purchased, the standard Simplex downtube shifters had a very nice feel. The whole driveline did actually.
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09-17-22, 10:46 AM
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There are shifters that look very much like the "New Superbe Pro" shifters posted above- but have the more refined "micro ratcheting" that Suntour used on all their later "Power" shifters and that is now commonly associated with the "Silver" shifters. IMO- the old Power Shifters are big and klunky and "low end old" while the newer shifters look more graceful- but, as far as function, I'll choose the old Power shifters over the pure friction shifters any day of the week- but I'd take the micro ratcheting shifters over either. It's kind of a toss up between the micro ratcheting shifters and the Simplex retrofrictions.
You'll most often see them with the Suntour logo (as above) as Sprint shifters, and there's also a version that looks identical (to me) but with the later Superbe Pro screening.
The big "tell" on these shifters is the blued sort of "triangle" shaped cover on the back side that covers the ratcheting mechanism.
Suntour Power Shifter vrs. Superbe down tube shifter?
You'll most often see them with the Suntour logo (as above) as Sprint shifters, and there's also a version that looks identical (to me) but with the later Superbe Pro screening.
The big "tell" on these shifters is the blued sort of "triangle" shaped cover on the back side that covers the ratcheting mechanism.
Suntour Power Shifter vrs. Superbe down tube shifter?
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