I (perhaps erroneously) regarded the SunTour U (and the very similar SunTour Hero) as being versions of the SunTour Honor manufactured down to a price, and fitted as original equipment on Japanese made bicycles.

This later SunTour U seems to me to differ from my fourth style of Honor in that it has a particularly ugly pressed steel rear knuckle and a non-standard and very crude hanger. It also has no plastic spring cover - which seems to be the defining mark of a U as opposed to an Honor.

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1. •Brand: SunTour
   

2. •My category: SunTour - the Honor story
   

3. •Country: Japan
   

4. •Date of introduction: 1982?
   

5. •Date of this example: 1982 (two letter date code is YB)
   

6. •Model no: unknown
   

7. •Weight: 349g including hanger plate but excluding drop-out bolt
   

8. •Maximum cog: 30 teeth (Sutherlands 4th edition and SunTour)
   

9. •Total capacity: 28 teeth (Sutherlands 4th edition and SunTour)
   

10. •Pulley centre to centre: 57mm
    

11. •Index compatibility: friction
    

12. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

13. •Logic: top normal
    

14. •Pivots: two pivots, front sprung and rear unsprung
    

15. •Material: steel
    

0146/E