SunTour rides (yet) again! sort of...
#1
SunTour rides (yet) again! sort of...
This has been in hot-rotation on the CR List: a few of the people who used to be involved with the original SunTour (Maeda Corp., pre SR/Sugino iteration) have launched a few new/retro products, calling themselves "Sun XCD" and appropriating the old Suntour triangle logo.
https://stan-pun.squarespace.com/
As you can see, the stuff looks nicely made, modern yet true to vintage roots (in the style of some of the Velo Orange offerings), and the prices are high but I'd guess consistent with the quality.
The USA distributor is Merry Sales, So.S.F. so should be making its way onto LBS shelves in your town pretty soon.
https://stan-pun.squarespace.com/
As you can see, the stuff looks nicely made, modern yet true to vintage roots (in the style of some of the Velo Orange offerings), and the prices are high but I'd guess consistent with the quality.
The USA distributor is Merry Sales, So.S.F. so should be making its way onto LBS shelves in your town pretty soon.
#4
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From: Scranton, PA, USA
Bikes: '77 Centurion "Pro Tour"; '67 Carlton "The Flyer"; 1984 Ross MTB (stored at parents' house)
What kind of cassette will you be able to put on the shorter (120 mm OLD) rear hub?
I really like the idea of this, but none of that stuff looks particularly Suntour-ish.
I really like the idea of this, but none of that stuff looks particularly Suntour-ish.
#6
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#7
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hmmm, Suntour had the best freewheels imo, I wonder if they will have a "Ultra 6" cassette option? That would be wicked!
#8
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From: Nampa Idaho
Bikes: 76' Centrurion Pro-Tour, 86' Specialized Rock Hopper, 88' Centurion Iron Man, 89' Bruce Gordon "Hikari", 95' Rock Hopper Ultra.
The website said the five pin cranks had a 50.0 bcd (as opposed to 50.4), I wonder if that was a typo or if that is what it really is? The chainring adaptors are cool, remind me of the old Bullseye units.
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
#10
Old fart



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From: Appleton WI
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I suspect it's just a lack of precision in stating the specification. I bought a couple 5-pin Electra "Tincino" chainrings last month on sale for $10/ea. They're made by FSA and marked as "50mm BCD" but they fit my TA Pro-5 crank arms just fine. I wouldn't be surprised if these "SunTour" 5-pin crank arms come from the same foundry that supplies Electra's 5-pin crank arms.
#11
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From: South of the North country
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Sweet! Excellent, really. I was and am a huge SunTour fan.
I especially love the old photo of the executives in the SunTour boardroom with ashtrays and cigarettes...
I especially love the old photo of the executives in the SunTour boardroom with ashtrays and cigarettes...
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1987 Nishiki Prestige (now 650B!)
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1987 Nishiki Prestige (now 650B!)
1981 Trek 710
198? Nishiki Olympic 12 mixte (now 650B!)
2020 Surly Troll fat-tire build
#12
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"Junzo (company president) feels the time is right to re-enter the bicycle component business. As he puts it 'the market is too race-centric; carbon fiber, electric shifting, full suspension, 11 speed, doesn’t really enhance the enjoyment of cycling. In the 1970’s and 80’s we cycled to be closer to nature, for the environment, for our health, for the simple beauty of cycling.' For these reasons SunXCD will focus on touring and randonneuring components which were the focus of SunTour during its heyday."
Funny, in that I preferred Superbe Pro because it was the best stuff for racing at the time...
But cool nonetheless. And yeah, the cranks do look a lot like the Velo-Orange offerings, and the hubs seem somewhat similar to the Grand Bois.

I look forward to seeing prices. If they're competitive, I will definitely be trying some of this stuff.
Funny, in that I preferred Superbe Pro because it was the best stuff for racing at the time...
But cool nonetheless. And yeah, the cranks do look a lot like the Velo-Orange offerings, and the hubs seem somewhat similar to the Grand Bois.
I look forward to seeing prices. If they're competitive, I will definitely be trying some of this stuff.
#14
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From: The other Maine, north of RT 2
Bikes: Seriously downsizing.
Now. if they'd make a 116bcd three-pin to 130 adapter and a 144BCD 'tripleizer' they'd have something.
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#15
Freewheel Medic



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From: An Island on the Coast of GA!
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On the short (120mm) cassette, I would think we could take apart an 8 speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and using the same spacers come up with a 6 speed cog set. I have some 8 speed cassettes I could try this on and see if the stack height is comparable to a 6 speed Ultra spaced freewheel.
The nice thing about this would be the ability to quickly adapt the rear wheel for the riding conditions of the day (if the RD and chain is properly spec'ed to handle the differences. If this works this would be a great alternative wheelset for our C&V 120mm spaced bikes!
The nice thing about this would be the ability to quickly adapt the rear wheel for the riding conditions of the day (if the RD and chain is properly spec'ed to handle the differences. If this works this would be a great alternative wheelset for our C&V 120mm spaced bikes!
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Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#16
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From: Waukesha WI
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I like the whole "for the simple beauty of cycling” thing they're going with.
It may have to do with just being out of the racing game for so long- even the people who raced with Suntour back in the day probably wouldn't consider them now- as the folks seriously into that racing thing don't appear to be the least bit sentimental about the stuff they used to like.
I dig the hubs- I think high flange hubs exude class.
It may have to do with just being out of the racing game for so long- even the people who raced with Suntour back in the day probably wouldn't consider them now- as the folks seriously into that racing thing don't appear to be the least bit sentimental about the stuff they used to like.
I dig the hubs- I think high flange hubs exude class.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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#18
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On the short (120mm) cassette, I would think we could take apart an 8 speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and using the same spacers come up with a 6 speed cog set. I have some 8 speed cassettes I could try this on and see if the stack height is comparable to a 6 speed Ultra spaced freewheel.
The nice thing about this would be the ability to quickly adapt the rear wheel for the riding conditions of the day (if the RD and chain is properly spec'ed to handle the differences. If this works this would be a great alternative wheelset for our C&V 120mm spaced bikes!
The nice thing about this would be the ability to quickly adapt the rear wheel for the riding conditions of the day (if the RD and chain is properly spec'ed to handle the differences. If this works this would be a great alternative wheelset for our C&V 120mm spaced bikes!

The revived Suntour flanges are lacking a bit in style, (kind of surprised they did not mimic Maxi-car) but I think it is a sound idea to offer a hub to fit 120 and even 126 spaced frames.
#19
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Re. the V/O resemblance: as I understand it, SunTour didn't actually make components "back in the day", but was rather a group of engineers who designed stuff and then farmed it out. This is essentially what V/O is doing (and Grand Bois, for that matter). It wouldn't surprise me to learn that SunXCD, V/O, and Grand Bois stuff all comes out of the same factory/s.
Which would suit me just fine, as I have been very pleased with my V/O cranks and Grand Bois hubs.
Which would suit me just fine, as I have been very pleased with my V/O cranks and Grand Bois hubs.
#20
Freewheel Medic



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From: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Okay. I took pictures and measurements of Shimano and SRAM 8 speed cassettes and a Suntour 6 speed ultra spaced freewheel.
While my cassettes can come apart via a small hex screw from the rear, I kept the 6 largest cogs assembled. Both cassettes have two seperate smallest cogs and a lockring. The Suntour ultra 6 is a Winner body. The bottom flange of the freewheel body raises the largest freewheel cog off the counter by about the thickness of a credit card, so the cassette bodies are placed on top of credit cards.

L-R: Shimano cassette, Suntour freewheel, SRAM cassette

L-R: Suntour freewheel, SRAM cassette

L-R: Shimano cassette, Suntour freewheel
Measurements:
Suntour freewheel cogs are almost 2mm thick, while the cassette cogs are about 1.75mm.
The stack height is:
Shimano 26.5mm, SRAM 27mm and Suntour 27.5
So I think it is safe to say an eight speed cassette modified to 6 cogs would fit nicely on this 120mm spaced hub. I'd use an 8 speed chain. I could also take a 9 speed SRAM cassette apart to see how that works.
While my cassettes can come apart via a small hex screw from the rear, I kept the 6 largest cogs assembled. Both cassettes have two seperate smallest cogs and a lockring. The Suntour ultra 6 is a Winner body. The bottom flange of the freewheel body raises the largest freewheel cog off the counter by about the thickness of a credit card, so the cassette bodies are placed on top of credit cards.

L-R: Shimano cassette, Suntour freewheel, SRAM cassette

L-R: Suntour freewheel, SRAM cassette

L-R: Shimano cassette, Suntour freewheel
Measurements:
Suntour freewheel cogs are almost 2mm thick, while the cassette cogs are about 1.75mm.
The stack height is:
Shimano 26.5mm, SRAM 27mm and Suntour 27.5
So I think it is safe to say an eight speed cassette modified to 6 cogs would fit nicely on this 120mm spaced hub. I'd use an 8 speed chain. I could also take a 9 speed SRAM cassette apart to see how that works.
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#21
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I measured the width of the bottom 6 cogs of a 7-speed Shimano cassette and came up in the ballpark of 26.5mm there, too. In theory, it should be a little thicker than that, so I'll blame my measuring device.
#22
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From: Armenia, Colombia
Bikes: 1961 Raleigh Sports
That 120mm hub is going to be a thing among the hipsters who now own a glut of fixed gears and are now wondering:
"How am I going to put some gears on this?"
Sell some derailleur claws for track ends, and presto, a geared track bike.
"How am I going to put some gears on this?"
Sell some derailleur claws for track ends, and presto, a geared track bike.
#23
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From: Work in Asia, now based in Vienna, VA
I will follow eagerly any reports of the 120 hub.
For repechage, I watched that auction with a certain lust, but I thought the Dura Ace EX began at 126m, no?
I want a set, but the prices have been quite high. sigh.
I am given to understand that the cogs for the Dura Ace series of EX hubs was unique to the hub -- none of the other series would fit.
A set of NOS hubs AND the cassette out of Europe went for a small fortune recently. I dug deep and was still left in the dust.
I'm hoping these guys introduce a nice 126m hub, but I have two frames that would be very happy with one of these sweet 120m hubs and 6 speeds.
Somebody buy one and do the testing. . ., please!
For repechage, I watched that auction with a certain lust, but I thought the Dura Ace EX began at 126m, no?
I want a set, but the prices have been quite high. sigh.
I am given to understand that the cogs for the Dura Ace series of EX hubs was unique to the hub -- none of the other series would fit.
A set of NOS hubs AND the cassette out of Europe went for a small fortune recently. I dug deep and was still left in the dust.
I'm hoping these guys introduce a nice 126m hub, but I have two frames that would be very happy with one of these sweet 120m hubs and 6 speeds.
Somebody buy one and do the testing. . ., please!
I think the 120 mm hub offering is very interesting too. I bought on ebay recently an NOS early Shimano Dura Ace EX freehub set. I have not compared the more modern Shimano hubs to see if the basic cog fitment is the same. It does appear the locking cog is different. I have since found I was lucky, and the early EX hub sets are becoming pricey.
The revived Suntour flanges are lacking a bit in style, (kind of surprised they did not mimic Maxi-car) but I think it is a sound idea to offer a hub to fit 120 and even 126 spaced frames.
The revived Suntour flanges are lacking a bit in style, (kind of surprised they did not mimic Maxi-car) but I think it is a sound idea to offer a hub to fit 120 and even 126 spaced frames.
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* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
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(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
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1959 Hilton Wrigley Connoisseur (my favorite!)
1963 Hetchins Mountain King
1971 Gitane Tour de France (original owner)
* 1971 Gitane Super Corsa (crashed)
* rebuilt as upright cruiser
1971 Gitane Super Corsa #2 (sweet replacement)
1980 Ritchey Road Touring (The Grail Bike)
1982 Tom Ritchey Everest
(replacing stolen 1981 TR Everest custom)
1982 Tom Ritchey McKinley (touring pickup truck)
1985 ALAN Record (Glued & Screwed. A gift.)
Last edited by LeicaLad; 04-15-13 at 02:55 PM. Reason: typo
#24
In fact, that's what I did when I realized 1 speed got old fast.
#25
aka Tom Reingold




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I wish the new SunTour good luck. They're going to need it.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.




