So my GF's new-to-her Cannondale (I believe it to be a ST500 based on that it looks identical to this) came chainless and with a very bent RD cage. Looking around a bit leads me to believe this RD was prone to this sort of behaviour. Here's the thing, do we try and simply bend it back into place? Or is it not worth the effort, and should we concentrate on a suitable replacement?

(yes I realize pics are needed, I'm heading over to her place and will try to upload then)

believe this is the one in question https://velobase.com/velobase.com/Vie...9d5c9&Enum=108

It did not happen often but Suntour did produce some dogs... the Superbe Tech was one of them and for the long haul I would replace it with a derailleur that is less "techy".

the damage in question

65er is correct: that derailleur's a pile. If the cage weren't bent, the parallelogram will break soon anyway. Make it into a windchime and put a VGT on the bike. You'll probably have to finagle a cable housing stop on the chainstay- it can be done with ferrules and a little ingenuity.

I have 2, and would gladly take that one for parts. While not complete crap, they suffered from too much thinking which has lead to a top jocky wheel which is niether servicable nor as "sealed" as it ought to be. This usually leads to either locking up, or selft destructing and seperating the cage from the derailuer. Both are fatal (to the part), but the later is usually more dramatic.

Replacing it with a better functioning, less inovative deswign will require a new derailluer cable stop as one of the "features" of the Superbe Tech was a straight-pull cable. Very do-able, but you need to remember this when installing the new part.

Replace it with a Suntour Cyclone, Sprint, Superbe, or Superbe Pro.

so a bike co-op volunteer helped me bend the cage back into place and get it on the bike, but 'balindamood' nailed it, the top jockey wheel is VERY rough feeling and it's just not working as it should. Frustrating because all she wants to do is ride. Anyone feel like selling a RD?