I'm replacing both derailleurs on my 80s Trek 400, and I don't know what to replace them with. It has Suntour ARX derailleurs. I was going to replace them with Suntour 4050s, but I need a cage lenght of 29 teeth. The 4050s only go to 28 teeth. Most of the ARXs I've found are scratched. Does anyone know where I can get some NOS or in the box ARXs. The main reason I haven't just gotten a mountain bike long cage is because I like the clean, shiny look of something like the ARXs. Any suggestion? Thanks.

why are you unable to use the shorter cage?

The Vx comes in a long cage "Gt" version with plenty of take-up. It is also has an aluminum body and doesn't use one of those knurled plastic tension spring covers that crack-oh-so-easily, both big advantages over the ARX in my opinion. NOS examples pop up on eBay pretty regularly, if that's what you're after. There are also long cage Cyclones, Vgt's and later accushifts as well as a slew of others. In fact, if you really like the ARX so much that you're willing to search out NOS replacements, one of their better offerings will blow your mind as they address the aforementioned design issues.

edit: Oops! the ARX apparently didn't have the plastic spring cover, maybe it was just the AR? I can't recall now, a lot of the lower-end mechs had it, but no matter the ARX does at least have that overweight steel parallelogram/rear cage plate.

Cyclone GT II is a great consideration for the performance and clean look you seek.

Because most short cage derailleurs only have a cage length of 28 teeth. I need 29 just a little to long.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been checking ebay, but do any of you know of any other stores/websites that I could check out.

Always good to look through and, when you strike gold, buy from:

https://www.yellowjersey.org/index.html

I have a Vx-GT and a V-GT Luxe... those re suntour, both in pretty darn good shape, if these are of interest to you sent me a PM and I am sure we can work something out. Both are 1970s-early 1980s suntour longish cage touring derailleurs.

I run one of these on my hybrid conversion and it will handle 30 teeth in the rear.

It's a beautiful derailer as well.

I have a Suntour BL (blue line) GT RD on my Univega Turismo. That would be a good choice. It should clean up nice.

I have a Suntour ARX on my Lotus. I thought it was the GT version (long cage). I'll take a look when I get home. The ARX are pretty decent components as well.

This is a day 1 pic of the BL derailleur (before cleanup and dumping the pie plate).

There is a Suntour ARX on ebay right now, looks like a long cage. Lousy pictures, may be in mediocre condition. But there are several other Suntour long cage choices on ebay right now.

The BL is the same as the Cyclone GT... it too is a very nice derailer.

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm going for a set of Cyclong II GT derailleurs.

https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Home.html

thought I would throw this link at you all, most of you probably know it, but anyway. I think it is one of the most helpfull deraileur sources I have found for dating things, and its cool to just look.

Never heard of that site. Pretty awesome.

I have BL deraiileurs on my 82 Trek and liked their feel so much I bought a set for my 84 Gitane Tour de France to replace the Ofmega Mistral's. These shift very nicely and the rear runs quiet.