Suntour Gears and New Bike

[Kevberlin]

I am going to view a FW Evans bike with 531frame. I note it has Suntour tube shifters and is described as 12 speed (2 chain rings). The bike appears superb and unmolested but I have no experience/knowledge of Suntour. Are parts available or should I steer clear. Thanks.

 

[GuyBoden]

I am going to view a FW Evans bike with 531frame. I note it has Suntour tube shifters and is described as 12 speed (2 chain rings). The bike appears superb and unmolested but I have no experience/knowledge of Suntour. Are parts available or should I steer clear. Thanks.

Suntour were the best, long before Shimano took over, they invented the slant parallelogram Rear Derailleur.

"Nobuo Ozaki, the head of product development at Maeda, invented the slant parallelogram rear derailleur in 1964"

"Suntour had a patent on the Slant Parallelogram (1964-1984)."

Suntour Superbe and Suntour Superbe Pro were the best components available at the time.

 

[Kevberlin]

Thanks for the info. Appreciated it.
Anyway, I went off and bought the bike. Going to do some research later, but I’m inclined to date it circa 1981/2 ish. All original. Needs a good clean, some new bar tape, rear derailleur adjustment and a Brooks saddle which is already in my garage.

 

[GuyBoden]

Very nice looking bike in excellent condition. Oil, grease and clean, ready to ride.

 

[biggs682]

@Kevberlin that looks like a nice bike so enjoy it.
Depending upon what hubs are fitted and if they are original or not there could be date codes on them which will give you an idea of age .

 

[Kevberlin]

@Kevberlin that looks like a nice bike so enjoy it.
Depending upon what hubs are fitted and if they are original or not there could be date codes on them which will give you an idea of age .

Thanks for that.
I will begin some fettling tomorrow and check out what you say.
Kev