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.

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

Thanks. That was my assessment (that the Dia Compe BL07s were about the closest available). Appreciate your input.

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.

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.

Hey there. Just got a bike with Sprint levers and found your recommendation. You are recommending the hood from this lever, the BL07, also sold as Blaze or Edge:
https://www.diacompe.com.tw/product/bl07/

And you are not recommending the hood from this lever, which is known as the 287, Evo or BL08?
https://www.diacompe.com.tw/product/bl08-2/

The general outline looks more like the BL08, but I can see that the lever construction might be more like the BL07, despite the relatively low point compared to the Sprint?

Being a thin hood the BL07 might just stretch to that shape better?

Would you happen to have a picture of how yours came out with the new hoods?

Reproduction Superbe Pro aero hoods are now available on eBay. If the Sprint aero levers are the same shape as the Superbe Pro, that's probably a good bet. IIRC, the repros run about $40 a pair.

I don't see any on Ebay. But you can buy it straight from the maker Racevelo for $30:
https://racevelo.com/produkt/suntour...v=0b3b97fa6688

They also make reproduction hoods for lots of other brake levers and brifters.

Geez, you expect me to remember clearly something from nearly 2 1/2 years ago?

My recollection is that the BL07s were the hoods I ordered and used, and that those hoods fit as well or better than the Suntour hoods that were on the levers I got.

Unfortunately, those levers (along with the rest of the Sprint groupset) are now in remote storage and won't be accessible for some time. Also unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the installed hoods available.

Wish I could be more help. Sorry.

I went to the coop and spent $6 on Blaze levers for the hoods.




The first photo shows the difference between the Sprint/Superb lever and the Blaze/BL07 lever on the right. The Blaze lever body is clearly longer and has a different horn.

Second photo shows the Blaze lever inset and the ridge on the inside of the Blaze hood. I sliced this mostly off.

Final result. The Blaze hood stretches around the Sprint lever nicely, but it is long on the handlebar end, as Hondo mentioned. The old Sprint hood doesn't fit the Blaze lever at all.

So I would say this is a succes for the price. Thanks, Hondo!