The Falcon Novel is just a typical low-end Taiwanese derailleur with plastic knuckles and pressed steel parts. Even the pulley axles are rivets rather than removable bolts.

But the Falcon Novel is also not just a typical low-end Taiwanese derailleur. The geometry is taken from a 1990 SunTour XCT - and so it incorporates a slant parallelogram. The outer pulley cage plate is clearly labelled 'Quick Cage' as it has a gap in it that allows the chain to be unshipped speedily and easily. Here it draws on inspiration from a 1970s SunTour V GT. And finally it is not called the 'Falcon XR123456XY', but the 'Falcon Novel' and sports a colourful and possibly even alluring logo. These are pleasingly interesting features for such an inexpensive item.

Kudos to Falcon.

• Derailleur brands: Falcon
• Country: Taiwan
• Date of introduction: 1999?
• Date of this example: unknown
• Model no.: unknown
• Weight: 267g
• Maximum cog: unknown
• Total capacity: unknown
• Pulley centre to centre: 75mm
• Index compatibility: 6, 7 and 8 speed
• Chain width: 3/32"
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: largely steel, with composite knuckles

Ref. 2088