SunTour’s first attempt at a ‘pro’ level derailleur, the early 1977 Superbe (2100) was tough, durable and gave a fast and accurate change. Its only downside was that it weighed a chunky 15g more that SunTour’s humbler, but still excellent, Cyclone.

So, in late 1977, SunTour launched the, even more upmarket, Superbe Pro (3100). This had unbranded aluminium b-pivot and p-pivot main Allen bolts. It also had aluminium Allen key pulley bolts and a steel Allen key cable clamp bolt. The Superbe Pro (3100) retained the strength and durability of the Superbe (2100), but all those aluminium bolts allowed it to match the weight of the Cyclone.

Inevitably, there were three distinct variants:

• The initial examples, from late 1977, had a hex headed parallelogram spring retaining bolt.
• In 1978 the hex headed parallelogram spring retaining bolt was replaced by a smoother recessed Allen key item.
• In 1981 a new, even more deluxe, variant was added complete with SunTour’s new sealed bearing pulley wheels. A black and gold colour option was offered. I also believe that the 1978 version with conventional, plain bearing pulley wheels continued to be manufactured in parallel.

This is an unused example of a black and gold 1981 version of the SunTour Superbe Pro (3100).

The look of the 1985, next generation, black and gold, SunTour Superbe Pro (5200) is conventionally classy, and some would even consider it to be an essay in good taste. But this 1981, black and gold SunTour Superbe Pro (3100) has a slightly disturbing and tantalising tinge of unpleasantness. The gold anodising is too yellow, the golden finish on the steel adjustment screws and steel cable clamp bolt hints at badly applied nail varnish, the over-shiny silver-ish pulley wheels clash... the whole look has a tiny touch of the inauthentic, rancid, sleaziness of that famous golden excalator in Trump Tower (to say nothing of the Mango Mussolini himself). Trump Tower, the look of which is conventionally tacky, and which some would consider to be an essay in bad taste, was constructed between 1979 and 1983 and so is exactly contemporary with this unlucky derailleur.

• Derailleur brands: SunTour
• Categories: SunTour - the Superbe story
• Themes: Ultra-lightweight - short cage models, A riot of colour
• Country: Japan
• Date of introduction: 1981
• Date of this example: 1981 (two letter date code is XB)
• Model no.: 3100
• Weight: 179g
• Maximum cog: 23 teeth (SunTour)
• Total capacity: 22 teeth (SunTour)
• Pulley centre to centre: 47mm
• Index compatibility: friction
• Chain width: 3/32”
• Logic: top normal
• B pivot: unsprung
• P pivot: sprung
• Materials: aluminium

Ref. 1056