Another SunTour Sprint Question
11-10-22, 03:50 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Another SunTour Sprint Question
I have inbound what appear to be a pair of SunTour Sprint aero brake levers. They’re SunTour branded, and after comparing their photo with photos of a known NOS set of SunTour Sprint aero levers either that's what they are, or they're something damn near identical. Close enough.
Unfortunately, there is one problem: the hoods. As the photos show, they come with hoods which I think will clean up OK – bright pink ones. SunTour branded pink hoods, actually, and I’m pretty sure they’re original.
Not my style; I’ll need to procure replacements. I’ll probably go with black (white isn’t my style either and I don’t much care for the look of tan or gum hoods).
The existing hoods appear to be dead ringers for Dia Compe BL07s. I believe I’ve also read that Cane Creek aero hoods are a good fit for many SunTour brake levers as well.
I’d welcome advice on which fit would better – or if some other brake hood would be a better fit than either. One thing that isn’t on the table is finding and procuring a pair of NOS SunTour hoods. Even if you can find them, I’m simply not paying what a NOS set would cost.
Thanks in advance for any advice any of you might have.
Edited to Add: also, if anyone knows of a repository of exploded diagrams and/or other technical documentation for vintage SunTour components, I'd be much obliged if you could post a link. So far I've searched but come up empty-handed.
Unfortunately, there is one problem: the hoods. As the photos show, they come with hoods which I think will clean up OK – bright pink ones. SunTour branded pink hoods, actually, and I’m pretty sure they’re original.
Not my style; I’ll need to procure replacements. I’ll probably go with black (white isn’t my style either and I don’t much care for the look of tan or gum hoods).
The existing hoods appear to be dead ringers for Dia Compe BL07s. I believe I’ve also read that Cane Creek aero hoods are a good fit for many SunTour brake levers as well.
I’d welcome advice on which fit would better – or if some other brake hood would be a better fit than either. One thing that isn’t on the table is finding and procuring a pair of NOS SunTour hoods. Even if you can find them, I’m simply not paying what a NOS set would cost.
Thanks in advance for any advice any of you might have.
Edited to Add: also, if anyone knows of a repository of exploded diagrams and/or other technical documentation for vintage SunTour components, I'd be much obliged if you could post a link. So far I've searched but come up empty-handed.
Last edited by Hondo6; 11-11-22 at 07:05 AM. Reason: Correct typo.
11-12-22, 07:17 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 716
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 319 Times
in
222 Posts
Originally Posted by Hondo6
I have inbound what appear to be a pair of SunTour Sprint aero brake levers. They’re SunTour branded, and after comparing their photo with photos of a known NOS set of SunTour Sprint aero levers either that's what they are, or they're something damn near identical. Close enough.
Unfortunately, there is one problem: the hoods. As the photos show, they come with hoods which I think will clean up OK – bright pink ones. SunTour branded pink hoods, actually, and I’m pretty sure they’re original.
Not my style; I’ll need to procure replacements. I’ll probably go with black (white isn’t my style either and I don’t much care for the look of tan or gum hoods).
The existing hoods appear to be dead ringers for Dia Compe BL07s. I believe I’ve also read that Cane Creek aero hoods are a good fit for many SunTour brake levers as well.
I’d welcome advice on which fit would better – or if some other brake hood would be a better fit than either. One thing that isn’t on the table is finding and procuring a pair of NOS SunTour hoods. Even if you can find them, I’m simply not paying what a NOS set would cost.
Thanks in advance for any advice any of you might have.
Edited to Add: also, if anyone knows of a repository of exploded diagrams and/or other technical documentation for vintage SunTour components, I'd be much obliged if you could post a link. So far I've searched but come up empty-handed.
Unfortunately, there is one problem: the hoods. As the photos show, they come with hoods which I think will clean up OK – bright pink ones. SunTour branded pink hoods, actually, and I’m pretty sure they’re original.
Not my style; I’ll need to procure replacements. I’ll probably go with black (white isn’t my style either and I don’t much care for the look of tan or gum hoods).
The existing hoods appear to be dead ringers for Dia Compe BL07s. I believe I’ve also read that Cane Creek aero hoods are a good fit for many SunTour brake levers as well.
I’d welcome advice on which fit would better – or if some other brake hood would be a better fit than either. One thing that isn’t on the table is finding and procuring a pair of NOS SunTour hoods. Even if you can find them, I’m simply not paying what a NOS set would cost.
Thanks in advance for any advice any of you might have.
Edited to Add: also, if anyone knows of a repository of exploded diagrams and/or other technical documentation for vintage SunTour components, I'd be much obliged if you could post a link. So far I've searched but come up empty-handed.
If the Sprint bodies are the same casting, the Dia-Compes are the best fit you're gonna find. NOS hoods are they only ones that fit perfectly, and they're unobtainium.
Depending on the condition of your pink ones, they might fetch stupid money. Or not.
--Shannon
Likes For ShannonM:
11-13-22, 07:49 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by ShannonM
I replaced Superbe Pro hoods with the then-current (mid-2000s) Dia-Compe aero hoods. They mostly fit, just a bit loose around the pointy bit at the top.
If the Sprint bodies are the same casting, the Dia-Compes are the best fit you're gonna find. NOS hoods are they only ones that fit perfectly, and they're unobtainium.
Depending on the condition of your pink ones, they might fetch stupid money. Or not.
--Shannon
If the Sprint bodies are the same casting, the Dia-Compes are the best fit you're gonna find. NOS hoods are they only ones that fit perfectly, and they're unobtainium.
Depending on the condition of your pink ones, they might fetch stupid money. Or not.
--Shannon
I'll post photos here after removing the existing hoods and cleaning them. There is a bit of smudging, but it looks like fingerprints that might have been made during removal. Hopefully it's not chain schmutz and will come off with a mild cleaner or wet wipes.
11-18-22, 03:14 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Update: levers arrived. Removed the pink hoods and ordered a pair of Dia Compe BL07 hoods.
IMO they fit even better than the SunTour hoods that came with them. Might need a bit of trimming at the clamp end to fit smoothly against the bars, but maybe not. And if so, it should be under the bar tape and invisible.
Posting this in case anyone out there needs a set of hoods for a set of SunTour aero brake levers. The Dia Compe BL07 hoods are IMO a good replacement option.
IMO they fit even better than the SunTour hoods that came with them. Might need a bit of trimming at the clamp end to fit smoothly against the bars, but maybe not. And if so, it should be under the bar tape and invisible.
Posting this in case anyone out there needs a set of hoods for a set of SunTour aero brake levers. The Dia Compe BL07 hoods are IMO a good replacement option.
Last edited by Hondo6; 11-18-22 at 03:18 PM.
Likes For Hondo6:
