The ‘x’ in SunTour Vx was widely understood as standing for ‘extra light’ (I do not know whether this was SunTour’s real intention). This was the SunTour V T Luxe after it had been on a strenuous diet, the steel holder for the cable clamp bolt has been replaced by an aluminium channel and the knuckles are slimmer and neater.

Despite the weight loss, this was an extremely affordable, strong and reliable derailleur - I still see many of these in use on the roads today.

This version of the Vx came out first, in 1976, as a mid length cage general purpose derailleur - but without a Quick Cage. The next year, 1977, SunTour decided to develop the Vx as a family, and this version faded away in favour of the Vx S. The swooping pulley cage is rather elegantly formed from a single piece of aluminium, but is distinctly ‘un-SunTour’ in style. This prompts me to think that this model may have been created for a particular manufacturer. Is is possible that someone like Schwinn may have demanded a derailleur without the Quick Cage for some spurious safety reason.

____________________________________________

1. •Brand: SunTour
   

2. •My category: SunTour - the V story
   

3. •Country: Japan
   

4. •Date of introduction: 1976
   

5. •Date of this example: 1977 (two letter date code is TD)
   

6. •Model no: unknown
   

7. •Weight: 214g
   

8. •Maximum cog: 30 teeth? (Source: my guess based on the SunTour Vx S)
   

9. •Total capacity: 28 teeth? (Source: my guess based on the SunTour Vx S)
   

10. •Pulley centre to centre: 59mm
    

11. •Index compatibility: friction
    

12. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

13. •Logic: top normal
    

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

15. •Material: aluminium
    

0171/E