Barcons for the win.
 

I look at old bikes to find deals that include suntour barcons. I look for barcons before frame size... Check this out.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d9d2a6a9bf.jpg
83 trek 620 in a 24" and a 23.5 supercourse from the late 70s. The supercourse even has 700c weinmanns. Both pretty solid. Trek-$100 Raleigh-$150.

My favorite color on that Raleigh :love:

So…. did they come home with you? Both very nice and great deals. I’m not big on barcon shifters but I would overlook that for those deals. A tad small but nice. I just bought another bike over the weekend just for the wheels, second time I’ve done that! It seems the best way to get parts is to buy bikes? It works for me. A set of Super Champion 700c wheels with SS spokes laced to SunTour Superbe high flange hubs for $50. Catch? Had to buy an old Raleigh , I think , to get the wheels. The old frame will go to the co-op after I take a few things.

Both came home. Not sure what I'm going to do but I like this super course better than my original and the trek is a perfect fit and quite light.

Half-step + granny on the Trek for the win.

Not just kidding either except it has the helicomatic hub. If I keep it I'll build new wheels.

I bought a Carabela back in February or March for 15 bucks for part. The Suntour bar end shifters to me were worth it. But I think the bike overall will be better than I hoped. I just need to find time to finish a couple in process projects so I can get to it.

Wow! Nice score on both, and the better bike was cheaper!
Tim

Both bikes are sharp looking! Barcons are nice, so are long cage derailleurs. I like the triple crankset on the Trek. When they’re in good condition, I really like the Brooks B15 Narrow on the Raleigh. Lots of intriguing parts here along with good looking serviceable frames.

Glad you like barcons. I must have six sets of Suntour barcons in a parts drawer. I just haven't taken a liking to bar end shifters.

Land of the Giants. Would have likely done the same - swapped the bar-cons off into my stash and passed those monsters on.

What year is the Super Course? There was only gold and red in 1978 when I ordered mine.

You very likely have some experience with the Helicomatic but if you haven't, give it a shot. It came on my 620 and I thought it was pretty cool. Not durable is my understanding but interesting vintage tech.

Oh and I really like the blue saddle and how it "matches" the head tube.

I've used barcons for decades on three of my bikes - one ratchet friction, two indexed. Two Suntours and a Shimano.

My recumbent has used friction barcons since the early 1980s. The barcons sit just outside the grips on the long-wheelbase high-rise handlebar, and make it easy to double-shift the half-step + granny drivetrain (was a 14-38 in the back for a while, now a ramped 14-32).

My racing bike (Raleigh Pro Mk IV) lost its drop bars as soon as I let my Cat 4 license lapse in the 80s, and after some experimentation I settled on Scott AT-2 bullhorns, with Suntour 7-speed barcons in the ends. Easy to reach and reliable. After a barcon came loose on a very steep ride last month, I decided to try to switch to 7-speed RSX brifters, but switched back to the barcons in a jiffy. I'll probably put narrower bullhorns on the racer - I tried Nitto Aerodynamics, but the long curve makes them look like "DUI bars". I'll get something with just a little sweep like the AT-2s but narrower.

I knew I'd be busy when I'm captaining our tandem, so I installed Shimano 7-speed barcons in short bar ends, and it's been reasonably trouble-free for thousands of miles.

Those two bikes of yours look great. I just re-donated two barcon-bearing drop bar bikes from the same era as yours to the local Rusty Spoke bicycle collective on behalf of another bike charity that couldn't use them, and they were well-received. Hope they find good owners.

Copper was available as an alternate color (not pictured in a catalog but listed) 79-81. You were just a little early.

I have about a half dozen Helicomatic freewheels all clean, spiffy and freshly lubed. They are in different gearing ranges. PM me if you have any interest.

+10 Praise for taking the right approach.


While some look at the whole and ponder, others look at parts, and get in the car and drive. I've bought bikes over the years for just a single part. And typically bikes bought for just one part will have a second, third, fourth and so on part worth $$ too. Many buyers don't like barcons. I had a customer ask me "how much to change out those shifters?" "I'll put on stem shifters for no charge." Win/win.

I bought a Super Course (in neglected condition) like the one above. Price was less than the value of the barcons.


FWIW, Helicomatic cassettes and hubs both have value. I hate them myself.

If you decide to pass on that Trek, I'd be interested.

Great Finds
 

I found a nearly identical Trek 620 (in the brown color scheme) and paid $105 for it. It is in original condition, including the Heliocomatic hub and cassette, and the Trek designed and build Profile Rims. I plan to keep it all in its original configuration.

Love Barcons and always have. Every bike I have ever owned and ridden (prior to brifters) has barcons! All of those who hate Barcons can forward them to me.

The b15 is just about toast. I have two others an love them. The Raleigh is lighter than I thought and the weinmann sidepulls are pretty effective.

My neck and shoulder make them almost necessary.

Not sure what year but they came with barcons later. It also says 12 speed on the chainstay.

Thankyou!

Me too!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7626fa36f3.jpg
Fun stuff
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5a5bb0e353.jpg
One of my favorite suntours.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...601b9816f9.jpg
Does this bike include ishiwata stays and fork? It is certainly light.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...edaf35cfa6.jpg
For real 620

1977 was a watershed year for the Super Course. They dropped chrome, went with Sun Tour and Bar Cons. I know they also transitioned to integrated top-of-toptube cable guides in the 1980s in general, but they also discontinued using the name too. I hadn't known of the model with these details before this thread. :thumb: