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Suntour
XC Pro Top Mount Shifter
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Submitted by
mark
a
from kennasaw ga usa
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | durable, smooth action, retro! | | Weaknesses: | dont make them any more! | | Similar Products Used: | retro stuff | | Bike Setup: | schwin homegrotn girven crosslink fork raceface cranks xtr derailers mavic wheels control teck stem bontrager seatpost titec handlebars onza peadles paul brakes and levers no bar ends! actoin tech bb | | Bottom Line: | light and retro! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco
a Cross Country Rider
from Half Moon Bay, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Doctor's, Crested Butte | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | 10 | | Strengths: | Smooth, consistant shifting. Option to use friction shifting. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't been sold for over a decade. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore XT top-mount shifters. | | Bike Setup: | Shimano 8-speed cassette, XTR rear deraillier. | | Bottom Line: | BEST SHIFTERS EVER MADE!!!!
Front deraillier shifts perfectly every time.
Rear derailler is a different story. These shifters are spaced for SunTour cassette (top cogs are wider spaced and bottom cogs are more narrow spaced). Shimano cassettes have even spacing.
SUNTOUR SHIFTERS WILL NEVER SHIFT PERFECTLY WITH SHIMANO CASSETTE. That being said, they do shift alright. You can set them up so the top (or lower ratio) gears shift well, but the 8th cog doesn't always hit. Or run a 7-speed cassette; first 6 cogs will shift fine but you may need the extra click (i.e. 8th) to get into the 7th cog.
Unfortunately, I will resort to a pair of Shimano 8-speed bar end shifters transplanted into the suntour body housing (should work like Paul's Thumbies). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Coggsworth Coggs
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | light, easy to set up, adaptable, soon will be "working antiques" | | Weaknesses: | none whatsoever | | Similar Products Used: | DX wishbones (remember those?), xc expert push push, LX triggers, XT triggers, XTR triggers | | Bike Setup: | Echo Urban Stock Trials rigid Echo Urban forks, Avid disc front, rear LX v-brake w/plazmatic pads, rear silent clutch shimano hub, Rynolite XL rims, Bontarager XXXL Bars (29") Shimano LX hollow splined cranks, granny gear only, Granny God bashring. | | Bottom Line: | My set of XC Pro Thumbies is now eleven years old. I run the right side shifter on a modified cassette on my Trials bike, its the easiest way to run an indexed 4 speed transmission.
The bikes these shifters have been on are as follows:
1996-1998 - BRC Banzai (rigid forks) the XC-pros were a prize in a race
1998-2001 - upgraded to a Brodie something or other
2001-2002 - went FS - AMP B-4 then B-5 (sorta was sponsored)
2002 - 2003 - went super FS - Kona Stinky - broke collarbone, 3 ribs, decided I was no huckster
2003 - Present Echo Urban Stock Trials bike (I also run a cannondale hardtail)
I only wish I could find a 8 speed set to put on my cannondale.
I expect these to outlast a bunch more bikes in years to come. I wish all bike parts were like this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Daddy Blue
a Cross Country Rider
from Somewhere
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$5.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Nicer than XT thumbies, more positive, more bulletproof, everyone makes fun of you for riding Suntour, youngsters don't even know what they are. | | Weaknesses: | What did you say?
Where do you get them?
Will you sell me yours? | | Similar Products Used: | XT thumbies
Gripshift(yeah, right - gimme something that WORKS!) RF+ | | Bike Setup: | Who cares? Been a off-roader, a one-speed, a Urban Assault Vehicle, a college commuter, and a tourer. | | Bottom Line: | Been riding these bad boys for 10 years. Bought them in Boulder Colorado at the Velo News swap meet off some buffoon what thought RF+ was the best. S'okay though, cause I only give 'im 5 smackers for them. Betcha can't find any RF+ or GS fer 5 bucks and ride them constantly for more than 10 years. Still feel like they did when brand new. Betcher 10 year old RF+ and especially yer GS don't feel like they did when new. Here's a little secret I'll let ya in on - git the 8 speed version if ya can and run em with yer 8 speed XTR cassette and whatever derailleur you choose. You'll never be tempted with 9 speed foolishness agin, I guarantee!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Obleg
a Cross Country Rider
from Warsaw Poland
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$6.00 | | Purchased At: | Plus | | Strengths: | Simple, durable, precise shifting, as light as a feather, look great :] Perfect for those who need low-weight quality shifters. I have owned them for over 1 year and their performance is flawless | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Old shimano deore and XT (topmounts), various rapid fire, sti and gripshift | | Bike Setup: | Scott G-Zero Pro, Xtr derailleurs, suntour xc pro shifters, profile design, roox etc | | Bottom Line: | I love those shifters. Light, precise, durable and simple. In conjunction with XTR derailleurs they form an ultimate shifting weapon ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rodger Dodger
a Racer
from Noo Yawk Siddy!
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The one to your mom's bedroom, doh! | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Winker's | | Strengths: | Lightweight and simple. | | Weaknesses: | They were kinda' expensive for what they were, looking back on it, but who cares...........they don't make them anymore anyway. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore 'rapid fire' shifters, Dura Ace 'roadie' levers, etc........... | | Bike Setup: | 1990 'Competition Series' Cannondale 3.0 Aluminum hardtail with 'Pepperoni' rigid fork. Black with neon green speckled paint, full Suntour XC gruppo, lots of Ritchey (remember Tom and his handmade frames?), Sun Rims, Avocet saddle............basically an entirely old school rig.........and YES, I bought it new, and NO it wasn't my first serious mountain bike either! | | Bottom Line: | Some stuff was better back in the day, others weren't. For the front derailleur, it didn't get any better than this thing, for the back, I like indexing shifters much, much better. Actually, I think I'm going to start combing eBay and yard sales to pick up another set for my freerider. Heck, the front derailleur only gets shifted back and forth maybe twice all ride, it would be a nice weight savings. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Underhill a.k.a. Bobo
a Cross Country Rider
from Bartertown
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The Misty Mountains | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$66.00 | | Purchased At: | Some "feel good" bike shop in Berkeley | | Strengths: | Simply everything. Durability (approaching a decade), Strength, Precision engineering, Weight (if you're into that sorta thing). They still look and feel new. | | Weaknesses: | Surely you jest? | | Similar Products Used: | XC Pro 7 and 8 speeds, XT Deore 9 speed | | Bike Setup: | Klien Fervor, Marzocchi Atom Race, Suntour XC Pro | | Bottom Line: | The world has changed. It started with the rise of great forces. In the beginning, there were Suntour and Shimano. The armies garthered in the land and the battle ensued. The downfall came with the forging of the One Shifter: The Rapid Fire System. The hearts of men were easily corrupted and much that once was is lost. For most who now live, no longer remember. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from the Netherlands
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | backroads of Europe | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$8.00 | | Purchased At: | A race-shop in Leognan, just south of Bordeaux, France | | Strengths: | Simple and strong, compatible with 7, 8 or 9 spd.
Lightweight, cool retro-look | | Weaknesses: | availability | | Similar Products Used: | xt-topmounts | | Bike Setup: | Ti-hardtail, mix xt-Hugi-Magura | | Bottom Line: | The shop-owner was glad to get rid of them..!
Unbelievable how people can not rate these beauties at value, these are the best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jojo
a Cross Country Rider
from san diego, ca
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$59.00 | | Strengths: | light, simple, durable, easy to operate | | Weaknesses: | mine are only 7 speed compatible, they don't make them anymore, shifting the front derailleur into high gear is a bit of a thumbstretcher. | | Similar Products Used: | XT thumbshifters (much clunkier and slower shifting), Gripshift 600 | | Bike Setup: | 7 spd XC Pro rear derailleur | | Bottom Line: | Folks, I own two sets of these gems. I've owned them over ten years. Until recently, they had been sidelined in a box. I recently set up a bike with them and couldn't be happier with their performance. They work flawlessly and are so wonderfully simple compared to all the new stuff out there. Not the best choice for high-intensity racing, but for fun rides these are great. I love riding my retro bike set up with these shifters and my old dia-compe ss-5 levers. It may not actually make me ten years younger, but somehow I feel like I've gone back there for at least a little while. It's hard to find them now, but there will always be some chump who thinks they're outdated junk and will be willing to part with them at garage sale prices. Happy hunting! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Nich., KY
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Shifting | | Weaknesses: | Hard to find | | Similar Products Used: | Everything | | Bike Setup: | KONA MAX(Full MAX) frame, suntour shifers & der., custom wheels, SX-Ti fork, Manitou stem | | Bottom Line: | They work better than anything else made to move a derailleur. And, they keep working. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jonathan
a
from somerville, ma
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | A shop that's been closed for 4 years! | | Strengths: | It's all been said before...
But, they ARE indestructible, super light, and more durable than any other shifter ever made. XT top mounts don't even compare! | | Weaknesses: | That would be that they're not made anymore.
(can also be a strength if you're lucky enough to have them; they're rare and half the new riders have never seen 'em before) | | Similar Products Used: | gripshift, rapidfire, rapidfire plus, shimano top mounts | | Bike Setup: | S-Works har tail, many random parts, but the shifters are certainly the most precious. | | Bottom Line: | I never ever want to have to deal with front chainring indexing. If you ride technical trail, your ring are not always going to be true.
I love these, I'm just bummed that I stupidly stripped the threads on my main pair, had to cannibalize the older ones till I can put a helicoil in :)
Even the really old ones work great! Pair these with a smooth rear mech and 8 speeds and you'll be very happy. Never any hesitation or missed shifts. No need for sill Optical Gear Displays! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, Colorado
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike n' Hike | | Strengths: | Bombproof - indestructable | | Weaknesses: | none! are you kidding? | | Similar Products Used: | grip shift, rapid failure, deore top mounts | | Bike Setup: | custom ti soft tail from www.empirebicycles.com, raceface + xtr drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Please please please somebody start making these again! I got 'lucky' and found a pair of these brand new, but probably overpaid for them -- actually no - it was really worth it. Too bad there are riders out there that will never experience anything but indexed shifting. I swear there is nothing better than a very high quality friction shifter -- accurate shifts - easy adjustment (if it ever needs it), 7, 8 and 9 speed compatable (no buying new shifers every time you upgrade) - these things just rule. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
super butta
a Cross Country Rider
from L.I NY
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | stillwell/greenbelt | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Ergonomics id the name of the game when it comes to Suntour thumb shifters. I hate using rapid fire crap! | | Weaknesses: | tough to get a hold of but worth it...possible compatibility problems? | | Similar Products Used: | Crap | | Bike Setup: | Ventana Marble Peaks FS | | Bottom Line: | Try It, You'll like it! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Racer
from OMaha NE
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | PORCUPINE RIM | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Sorry, I can't tell you | | Strengths: | Simplicity, very light, work very well with my new XTR 8 spd setup. If I ever bend the derailleaur hanger, I can change it from index to friction shift mode, and make it home w/out any shifting problems. | | Weaknesses: | They don't make them anymore. That's why I can't disclose where I bought them(they have another set), sorry. | | Similar Products Used: | I've used them all. | | Bike Setup: | 01 Ellsworth Aeon Isis SL, and all the chi-chi parts. | | Bottom Line: | These shifters perform flawlessly, As I was having this bike custom built, many of the mechs. at the shop, were leary of these shifters. After completion, they were all in ah how well these shifters perform on a new XTR 8 spd setup. If you can find a set of these shifters, and your not sold on the paper thin 9 spd setups...do yourself a favor...buy them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Duncanville, Tx
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | it's a secret | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$19.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeman (an awesome internet shop) | | Strengths: | Bombproof, Idiotproof (that helps me), Friction mode, Simple, True 8 speed | | Weaknesses: | Not made anymore | | Similar Products Used: | Grip Shift, Shimano Push-Push, Trigger and XT Thumbies (also excellent) | | Bike Setup: | Strong Racing custom steel hardtail, XTR and other spiffy stuff | | Bottom Line: | I decided about 3 years ago after using Grip Shift for a couple of years that I would go back to my XT Thumbies b/c I liked them better. When building up my new bike, I was sold on finding new thumb shifters somewhere. I just bought a NEW rear shifter from Bikeman. I wish that someone would go into business with me to manufacture thumb shifters again, they consistently rate higher than any other on this board. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan
a Racer
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Kettle Moraine | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | I have bikes set up with XC Pro and Deore XT and use Suntour shifters on both with no incompatibility problems at all. | | Weaknesses: | No longer made | | Similar Products Used: | Grip shift, Shimano shifters | | Bike Setup: | Klein set up with XC pro
Breezer with Deore XT, Crosslink wheels, 8 speed | | Bottom Line: | I've used these for over ten years with no problems. They are fast, reliable, and if you ride in the cold, they shift great wearing heavy gloves. There is a friction option if the indexing goes wrong, but I have never had to use it. I had an extra pair and gave them to a friend. Yeah, that was stupid. Funny thing, these are popping up on the internet and at dealers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory Farley
a Weekend Warrior
from Verdi, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | last forever, ergonomic, shift any derailleur over any gearset, never miss, light, friction capability | | Weaknesses: | can't get 'em anymore | | Similar Products Used: | Most major models sold 1984-2000 | | Bike Setup: | Got 'em on two: Bstone MB-3 set up as a commuter with midline Shimano gruppo, and an old Trek tourer hybridized for fire roads, with Stronglight crankset, Helicomatic freewheel and Campy derailleurs (hey, it works). | | Bottom Line: | Flat out one of the best products of any kind that I've ever used. Ranks right up there with Brooks saddles and Buck knives. Mine are eight or nine years old and perfect, except for a little surface wear. I can't imagine a cyclist who WOULDN'T love these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tihamér Tasnády
a Cross Country Rider
from Ravels - Belgium
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Bombproof - everlasting - troublefree | | Weaknesses: | Not made anymore | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | 1994 Specialized S-Works - complete Suntour XC Pro gruppo (7-speed) | | Bottom Line: | I'm still using my first set of XC PRO thumbshifters that I started with 8 years ago. Tried all kinds of shifters, did not like any of them. The XC PRO thumbshifters are reliable, simple and bombproof. I'm running them on my second MB now, but they probably will survive others to come.
Too bad they're out of business now (but I still got 2 pairs, just in case ....) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
g
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Coburn, PA | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Bombproof. When nuclear war hits, all that'll be left will be cockroaches and these shifters. | | Weaknesses: | No longer made. | | Similar Products Used: | Deore DX's, Sachs, Rapidfire | | Bike Setup: | piecemeal DBR, mostly XT, SID | | Bottom Line: | These shifters are the best pieces of bike equipment I own. I will never get rid of them, and in the odd chance that they break, I'll bronze them like baby shoes and display them in my living room.
It's all been said before in the other reviews, but these are simply the best shifters I've ever ridden. My first bike was a Kona with Deore DX's, and one too many crashes rolled the stamped steel lip too far. I replaced it with the only XC I could find for the front, and now the rear is shifted by a Sachs- and while that's a decent shifter, it's nowhere near as precise or easy to shift as the Suntours.
May the pair (or three) I have live forever, or please let someone start fabbing some more... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jody
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cap'n Jack's | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Bomber, black, beautiful no plastic junk here | | Weaknesses: | Extinct | | Similar Products Used: | XTRF, Grip shift | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR 8 sp, with XC Pro microdrive cranks | | Bottom Line: | Any moron who would rather ride rapidfailure or crap shift over these little gems is an uneducated buffoon. I've been running mine with an XTR rear cassette on an XT hub for about ten years now and there are no other shifters that can even compare. They feel as new as the day they were, and have given me zero grief. Small, light, FRICTION, unbreakable.
Perfect. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Little Welsh boy
a Please Select
from Wales
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Robust
Friction Mode!
The rubbery sticker thing with the red XC pro logo on each shifter has converted me to the way of leaving the stickers on things!
Easy to adjust resistance to movement on the fly | | Weaknesses: | They can scratch a little easily
I would agree with the people that say the barrel adjusters are a little small though | | Similar Products Used: | DNP friction shifters
Shimano friction shifters
SunTour XC Expert 7/8spd index/friction top mounts
Shimano RF
SRAM Gripshift
| | Bike Setup: | SunTour XC pro & some other bits, slowly slowly It'll have a full WTB/SunTour influenced mix of componentry | | Bottom Line: | Got mine for twenty five quid It's the best twenty five quid I've ever spent
These are lovely shifters to use in friction mode (as I do) and are also great as index shifters. I really wish mine were 7/8 speed as the XC Expert ones I had were.
I don't think I need to say anymore as everyone else has said it all.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gustavo
a Weekend Warrior
from montreal, canada
Date Reviewed: December 22, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
big elbow loop, K-country, alberta | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
lite, super bomb proof, | | Weaknesses: |
no longer made. | | Similar Products Used: |
shimano, grip shift | | Bike Setup: |
1992, 17.5 yeti fro with accutrax fork | | Bottom Line: | The xc pro's are the very best shifters ever produced. They are the lightest, most durable and least finicky shifters to deal with. I've worked in several shops over the years and seen many exploded shimanos and shattered grip shifts. plastic crap, badly engineered and overly complicated. I've owned a pair of xc pros for 8 years and never had a single problem. I'm looking for a new pair because all good things come to a end. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tsunami a wanna be
a Racer
from NorCal
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Ho Chi Minh Trail | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
friction mode option, can still shift w/ bent derailler
bomb proof, probably will survive through two nuclear wars
always know what gear your in by postion of shifters
looks retro and cool | | Weaknesses: |
have to move your hands to shift
when going to one lower gears you have to go two lower than back one
looks retro and stupid | | Similar Products Used: |
XT RF (on my FS XC bike)
Grip Shift 800 xRay (on my hardtail) | | Bike Setup: |
rockhopper w/ all suntour xc expert component group except xc pro shifters and rear derailler | | Bottom Line: | How can you guys say these things are better than RF or GripShift? As far as pure shifting conveniance go, RF and GS is far superior to thumb shifters. However the thumbies do work well and they are bomb proof (not like GS and RF). Although the thumbies don't leave your hands in a natural shfting position like GS or RF, you do get use to them. for being bomb proof and working good even w./ bent deraillers they get a 4.5 which rounds up to 5 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from cinti, ohio
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
light, simple, excellent shifting | | Weaknesses: |
none, really | | Similar Products Used: |
xt thumbies | | Bike Setup: |
khs montana team 95 | | Bottom Line: | great shifters, i don't need to say any more. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
speedlove
a Cross-Country Rider
from Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
ANYTHING STEEP | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Foolproof, Simple, light, unique | | Weaknesses: |
Dumbasses will laugh at them, Barrel adjusters broke in a crash | | Similar Products Used: |
rapidfire +, Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
Amp B4, XT/LX/XC-PRO, Manitou EFC, Raceface | | Bottom Line: | These babies are my pride and joy. I've been running a set for over eight years and the only service I do is squirt oil in them once a year. I can set them up to work flawlessly, and They wont ever explode (like shimano) I broke tbe barrel adjusters on a treestump a few years back, and replaced them with ugly Shimano Derailleur barrel adjusters. I now search far and wide for an 8 speed set, due to my dwindling horde of 7 speed cassetes. Why people trash on these is beyond me. They are the best things you can put on your bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mac
a Racer
from St. Pete FL
Date Reviewed: November 1, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
hermosa CO. | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Bombproof, Light | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
All of them | | Bike Setup: |
MRC Ti Hardtail | | Bottom Line: | Run the shifters reversed and up-side down for full hands on rerformance and brake and shift same time. This set-up only takes a few rides to get used to. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross-Country Rider
from Elkhart In
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
I'm still looking | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Indestructable. Light. Not Shimmano | | Weaknesses: |
Don't shift with same accuracy. Not currently aviable. Barrel adjusters are undersized. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano XT pods. Gripe Shift 600 | | Bike Setup: |
Jamis Dakar Team | | Bottom Line: | I hunted down a set of these and the shifting was not up to par. I tried to fiddle with them to get them up to the same level, but it never quite arrived. I tried a rollamajig, tried mounting the cable in slightly difffernt places. The shifting never quite imporved. It was one of the products I wanted to like and work, but it just wasn't up to par. Switched to XT pods again and the shifting is spot on and crisp. I'd love for someone to make a true shimano compaitible thumb shifter. Maybe take their 8 speed (or even 9 speed) road thumbies and make handlebar clamp for them. Still thinking of trying to mix the base of these with the Shimano top part. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Doctor
a Weekend Warrior
from Bethlehem, PA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
SHARK CRUISER! | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Simple, LIghtweight, no friggin plastic! | | Weaknesses: |
NOT MADE ANYMORE! | | Similar Products Used: |
shimano thumbies, xt and xtr rapidfire | | Bike Setup: |
pre-trek klein attitude hardtail
'88 bridgestone mb-5 | | Bottom Line: | simple and always work. not as ergo as the rapidfire+, but not nearly as complicated and plasticy. no need for gear indicators and don't wear out after a year like my xts! new these things were like 40 bucks, now xtr shifters are 120! hot to be grouchy, but probably will never be topped for durability and simplicity. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SRH
a Weekend Warrior
from Mo-town
Date Reviewed: September 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
PAtriot's PAth | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Light, simple, minimalist by nature, Mmmm...friction mode | | Weaknesses: |
hard to find, thank you mtbr.com | | Similar Products Used: |
Deore Thumbies, 800 X-Rays, Rapid Fire | | Bike Setup: |
Homegrown Carbon f/s Judy XL Dbl crown
Fat City Cycles ATB/cruiser with Amp F1 fork | | Bottom Line: | Just found another pair, practically sporting wood. Going to try them in friction mode with a MEGA-9 drivetrain (XTR der's & chain/XT 11-34 cassette)...I'll keep you posted on the results of this experiment! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Red Owl
a Cross-Country Rider
from WI
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Indestructible | | Weaknesses: |
Unavailable | | Similar Products Used: |
Early Shimano Deore DX & Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
BRIDGESTONE MB-0 | | Bottom Line: | Put me on the list of believers who want to see these fabulous babies back in business, I want a pair for every mountain bike I'll ever own. Simple, light, bomb-proof, minimalist. Year after year they perform hard in all conditions and show no signs of giving up -- not much that can really go wrong with them, is there? Clicked my first shift back in '91 and it still feels the same today. Why they scrapped production is complete insanity. Like the sying goes, if you want my Suntour Topmounts you'll have to pry 'em from my cold dead thumbs... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Red Owl
a Cross-Country Rider
from WI
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Indestructible | | Weaknesses: |
Unavailable | | Similar Products Used: |
Early Shimano Deore DX & Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
BRIDGESTONE MB-0 | | Bottom Line: | Put me on the list of believers who want to see these fabulous babies back in business, I want a pair for every mountain bike I'll ever own. Simple, light, bomb-proof, minimalist. Year after year they perform hard in all conditions and show no signs of giving up -- not much that can really go wrong with them, is there? Clicked my first shift back in '91 and it still feels the same today. Why they scrapped production is complete insanity. Like the sying goes, if you want my Suntour Topmounts you'll have to pry 'em from my cold dead thumbs... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Perkunas
a Cross-Country Rider
from Back Mountains
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
TMTN | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
The best never rest | | Weaknesses: |
Hard too find | | Similar Products Used: |
XTRF | | Bike Setup: |
DBR Ti Manitou Ti | | Bottom Line: | CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE TO GET SOME OF THESE | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lost boy
a Cross-Country Rider
from WI
Date Reviewed: May 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Can't pick one far to many to choose from | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Durability, Friction Option, Who says thumbshfters are hard to use have you eve herd of a tune up. | | Weaknesses: |
Out of style | | Similar Products Used: |
shimano xt, xtr, gripshift 800 xray, and sachs power grip extreem. | | Bike Setup: |
93 Trek 8300 | | Bottom Line: | Durability is far better than any product today. tha lack of small plastic pieces to wear out these shifters came on my bike new. I replaced them with gripshift for about a month but returned to suntour less frustration they shift more consistently ++ when I bend my deraliers I just pop the shifters in friction mode and ride away laughing at the guy walking by the side of the trail because there derailer bent and they can't shift. Sometimes we seem to leave some of the best things behind just because of fasion just ask mr 80,s below. I have tried most shifters but nothing matches thumbshifters for durability and ease of use. Some company should start marketing thumbshifters again as an aftermarket item I know several people who would convert. I give five chilies to any product that can claim five years of hard use This set of shifters has seen four derailers, a few bent handlebars and more chains than I want to count. I would give them a ten if I could. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Cross-Country Rider
from Conneaut, Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 22, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Compact, reliable | | Weaknesses: |
Hard to find | | Similar Products Used: |
Grip Shift, Rapid Fire | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale F500 | | Bottom Line: | It takes a lot to make me giddy -- finding a new box of these at a hole-in-the-wall shop did it. No more tempermental plastic fad shifters, thank you. Solid shifting, no matter how tweaked my rear derailleur gets. Now if I could only find a SunTour XC Pro rear derailleur... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
man
a Downhiller
from place
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap 80's crap SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy
a Cross-Country Rider
from Grand Forks, ND
Date Reviewed: April 6, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Cost
Lifespan
Options
(this could go forever) | | Weaknesses: |
barrel adjusters (too small) | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano XT thumbies | | Bike Setup: |
Shimano derailleurs & rings, HG chain | | Bottom Line: | Gotta love yer thumbies!!! I first saw these in 1989, and vowed to get some. The bike they were on belonged to Tom aka Hurl Everstone, recently immortalized in Dirt Rag. So I finally found some used a couple months ago, and the day I get them in the mail there's also the copy of Dirt Rag with Hurl's interview. Too weird! Anyway, I was really disappointed in the shifting at first, until I figured out that my Rollamajig wasn't seated properly, and thus I wasn;t getting proper or even tension in the cable. Now they are dialed, and work awesome for 8 spd. Gripshit, bye,bye. I have so many options with the Suntours...7 or 8 spd., friction or indexed. Only complaint is I don't like the wimpy little barrel adjusters. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eli
a Weekend Warrior
from Fresno, CA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
cannell trail | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Light, easy to use, tough, has friction option, works forever | | Weaknesses: |
Easy to strip the mounting bolts | | Similar Products Used: |
Rapidfire, Gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz Superlight, Manitou SX Ti | | Bottom Line: | These shifters will rule the earth long after Gripshift and Rapidfire have gone extinct. They just keep going and going and going. I have owned three sets in the past nine years, and the only problem I ever had with them was a stripped mount, because the mounting bolts aren't long enough. Other than that, they are flawless. Light, very durable, reliable, and they have a friction option! And yes, the late model eight speed versions index perfectly with Shimano. I should know, I've been running that setup since 1995. You youngsters may not remember what friction shifting is, but it means that you can still ride even if you derailleur and/or hanger are bent. Very nice to have when you're thirty miles from anywhere. I've tried bikes with Gripshift (hard to use, cheesy plastic feel) and Rapidfire (works well until it breaks, but too heavy, complicated, breaks too easily, no friction option) and I've never felt the need to switch to the new guys. Like the other guy said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
riley
a Cross-Country Rider
from michigan
Date Reviewed: March 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
ease of use
strength
reliability
simplicity
elegance | | Weaknesses: |
try finding them! | | Similar Products Used: |
nothing compares, but:
rapidfire
gripshift | | Bike Setup: |
numerous over the last few years | | Bottom Line: | if you are new to the sport you may not even know what these look like. similar to what trek and fisher put on their full susp bikes for fork lockout, but muych more elegant. these little gems have never failed me, period. i've used both the 7 and 8 speed versions on just about every bike i've owned in the last 9 or 10 years. i just scored a beautiful new set a few weeks ago for only $25!! this will be the main reason i will hesitate moving to 9 speed. they are simple to use, rock solid, easy to reach from bar ends, allow all the trim you could desire in front and have a fail-safe built in with the friction mode. rremember life before indexing? ned o ran suntour before the fall, and i was surprised to see the number of local (michigan) racers using them last year. the suntour xc pro system ushered in 8 speeds, compact drivetrains and weighed less than shimano's offering of xt before it fell from the shelves. this is a timeless product that got smashed in the marketplace. gripshift and rapidfire are good systems, but many still prefer and would prefer thumbies if they could be had. i suppose it's too much to dream for..... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JV
a racer
from Albuquerque NM
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
I had XC pro 7 speed on my first-year zip, and it sucked royally. Suntour decided not to use uniform spacing on its freewheels, and didn't match the lever throw with the cogs. Result: acceptable shifting in three cogs, crappy shifting in the other four. This poor execution was the death knell for Suntour. Imagine my disbelief when my LBS manager recommended XC pro 8 speed topmounts on my Bizango. Imagine my surprise at how well they worked mated with XTR derailleur and cassette! These sweet little units are as light as GripShift X-Rays, and way more reliable than RapidFailure. I wish I'd bought three pair from his box-o-topmounts. Simplicity, instant knowledge of the gear you're in (without a stupid plastic gear indicator) and the ability to shift from the bar-ends adds up to a superior product. It's gonna be a long time before I abandon them for 9-speed (by then 10 speed will be out :-) ) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad Quartuccio
a cross-country rider
from Dirt Rag Magazine
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Here goes, another great review for these awesome shifters. I came across a brand spankin new pair of these and now have them mounted on my new Spooky Darkside with an old Shimano DX rear deraileur. Can't beat it. The Suntour topmounts are absolutly perfect and mate with my XT 8 speed cogset great. The only gripe I've got is that they are damn hard to find. I'm with that guy below who suggested that a small CNC shop should start making these things...if they made nine speed ones I'd be the first guy on the block to have em. -brad quartuccio | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Kriese
a weekend warrior
from Kamloops, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Although these shifters are reliable and durable, the effort to shift is just to much. I have put an Avid rollamajig in line and the shifting effort has been much inproved but is still too difficult. Also, the shifter requires too much travel for each shift. All of these problems lead to difficult shifting in the tough stuff and sore wrists as well. I will be switching away from all of my suntour products soon. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doran Nugent
a cross-country rider
from Massachusetts
Date Reviewed: December 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Stop! You're torturing me! All these glowing reviews remind me of my beloved bike with XC Por grouppo which was stolen. I'm dying 'cause I can't find a new shifting system that compares to the XC Por thumbshifters for ease of use, elegant simplicity, low cost etc. One advantage I did not see mentioned was that one could shift without leaving the bar-ends with a little extra reach of the thumb. No other shifter can do that! So sad that these reviews are nothing more than a eulogy. Waaah!
P.S. The GreaseGuard system was truly awesome too. What evil conspiracy robbed the biking public of these superbe products? Get Mulder and Scully on the case! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daryl
a cross-country rider
from Texas
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had the SunTour XC-Comp top-mount 7 speed shifters on my 1990 Bridgestone MB-2 since I bought the bike new. I have experienced ZERO problems with these thumb shifters in over 8 years of riding (including Moab, Durango, Crested Butte, Texas, etc. ) It's nice having the friction shift mode, also. I noticed other posts saying that SunTour is still in business. Well, yes and no. I think someone just bought the SunTour name. I think the folks that made these shifters are probably long gone from the company. We can only hope someone will notice and start making simple products that work reliably. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred
a cross-country rider
from ventura,Ca
Date Reviewed: December 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
3 1/2 yrs ago, after wearing out 2 Gripshift rear twisters over the course
of a year, I went back to the old top mounts. Never to look Back!These work fine on an 8spd setup, esp after adding an additional detent!This may be the ONE item on the bike I NEVER have to mess with. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Wenham
a cross-country rider
from We(s)t Yorkshire, UK
Date Reviewed: November 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The best shifter ever made bar none. Light, simple, works well, carries on working well forever (pretty much). Shame you can't get them new any more, but keep 'em peeled for old stock hanging around those dusty shops.They won't work well with 8-speed Shimano set-ups, stick with 7 and ignore the extra click. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a cross-country rider
from victoria, bc
Date Reviewed: October 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
oh my god!! i'm not the only one! my first mountain bike came equipped with the suntour thumbshifters.... i think the last year they sold them, though i could be wrong. i remember the salesperson telling me that thumbshifters were the way of the past, but i loved them, still do 7 (?) years later. still ride that bike sometimes, and miss thumbshifters like nothing else. what i loved best was that you could adjust them by a slight push or pull so that the front derailer wouldn't rub the chain when you were riding the low gears. can't do that on my new XT's, though i still try! i'm giving these old favourites 5... umm, thingies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Engleim
a cross-country rider
from Springfield Mo.
Date Reviewed: October 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These shifters are classics.
They take all sorts of abuse and that famous click click just keeps on going.
The position makes them a bit of a reach but the actual performance cannot be beat. Gripshift=hard to install easy to break plastic. Rapidfire wears out to easily and does not shift as well. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a cross-country rider
from Ellensburg
Date Reviewed: August 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
After riding with top mounts on my trusty Paramount for 3 years, I fell into the new is better mindset and jumped ship to gripshift. Wasn't my cup of tea. Then tried rapidfire. Loved'em-until they broke or stopped indexing. After two years I finally returned to my senses and got hold of some top mounts once again. It was like I was reborn. I was riding like never before. Well, maybe they did't have that much of an effect but when I built my dream bike ('96 Klein Attitude) I made sure to have thumbshifters on it. The Suntours work great and are lightweight but I'm partial to the Shimano XT's because of the bigger lever. If ever there was a product that needed to be brought back, it is the thumbshifter! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry
a
from Palo Alto, CA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
To me there is nothing that compares to a good top mount thumbshifter. You can ratchet from one end of an 8 spd cassette to the other in one sweep, they are light, simple, you can feel what gear you are in day OR night, they don't jam up, you can adjust the ease of shifter movement, and you don't accidentally shift gears when you hit a bump, like in gripshifts. Why did they ever discontinue such a proven and effective system! Both the Suntour XC Pros and Experts I have work superbly. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Squach
a cross-country rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I am known for destroying shifters. I usually went through about a pair a month, sometimes less. I have an 6-year old pair of the XT top mounts on my old warhorse, an old Schwinn that doesn't even bear its marking anymore. I bought a new cannondale DV1000, complete with XT grouppo, and I can't stop breaking shifters. I have changed derailuers, rapidfires, GripShifts...everything...all tubed in a month or so. I wish they still made these REAL STEEL, SOLID as a rock shifters. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T.G. Mittler
a cross-country rider
from New Mexico
Date Reviewed: June 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
THE best shifters ever made. If you've never tried them you simply owe it to yourself to try them. An excellent design that died an ignoble death. I'll let the rest of the world ride with their grip shift. Bike parts should be made of metal, not plastic. I've a few pair stashed away on the off chance I'll actually break them. Now If I could only figure out a way to get a suntour cassette on a shimano hub... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jerome
a racer
from Boulder CO
Date Reviewed: June 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have sad news to relate: I had my dream bike stolen, a full custom steel Henry James lugged beauty, with an eccelectic bunch of parts on it...the parts I miss the most and wonder if I can ever replace? The XC pro 8spd top mounts. They worked like a charm, like they were new, on every ride. The positive click, so audible and loud that you could hear it over your teeth rattling as you rode down the trail, that must have been its best attribute. But mine, mine are gone, and I don't know where to get a new set. I'm kicking myself for not buying ten sets when I worked in a shop three years ago...$35 cost. I mean, what was I thinking, giving up the chance to keep using these things forever? ...and if anyone sees an off white, lugged steel frame in Boulder, kill that SOB for me, but please return the topmounts...and perhaps the XC pro grease guard headset, another Suntour wonder. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a racer
from Providence, RI
Date Reviewed: April 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I use these shifters on my commuter bike, and they are 100% problem free. Which is the reason I put them on in the first place. Every bike courier in town uses thumb shifters due to their simple design, and resistance to shity weather. No matter what happens these babies keep on tickin' like a Timex. I wish they were more plenitful, I stumbled upon these at a friends big basement bike parts sale. For $5, they are the BEST bike thing I have ever purchased. My only gripe is that the friction setting is not a true friction mode, a la old school Deore XT's (another courier fave). As someone below already mentiond, why doesn't someone like Paul or Precision Billet (even SRAM/Sachs) make a thumbshifter anymore? This design is so much more tolerant to dirt and grime it seems a shame its been relegated to the scrap heap of forgotten designs. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly
a cross-country rider
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: April 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
XC Pro thumbshifters hold up in the long run, as there is not much to them. Tough little buggers, too. They have survived more than a few crashes, as well as Buster the Ferret nibbling on them. The ultimate in simple, light, trendproof bike gear. Throw is a little long from granny to big ring, but maybe my thumbs are abnormally small. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rory Pickard
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Dear people,
I thought it sucked shit hjndf sd f sd f sdf s df s df s df s dfs d fffffffff fffffff fffffff ffff wwwwwwww wwwwww wwww wwww w wwww wwwwwww ww w akm edf; ;nj lm d;ln f;lmdxf;lsknd;lmks;xldkf;lksd s dfl; df sdf sd fsd jfpjsl;dk fjoiqjweodknkvnuenflnldsn jr fojsa09i32wokksxc epow | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matthew Bernick
a weekend warrior
from Wyckoff, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just took my first ride last night with my new XC-Pro thumbshifters - they work great! I've ridden Rapidfire since I started back in 1989. After considering my options for switching to V-brakes, I decided to switch to thumbshifters. Several friends have been using thumbshifters for many years and they all rave about the simplicity and ease of use. If you're having trouble finding these or spare parts for bike gear, contact Third Hand (541) 488-4800. They have an incredible catalog of rare items, spare parts, and every bike tool under the sun. Their prices are also quite good. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a cross-country rider
from Valley Forge, PA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
XC Pro's rock, no doubt, they work forever. I have had mine 3 years and never once had a problem. They index just fine with my XT 8 sp. I'd like to end my review here because nothing more needs to be said but this web page said I had to type 50 words or more or they wouldn't post it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Strawhorn
a cross-country rider
from College Park, MD
Date Reviewed: February 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm so glad to see all the positive reviews. I've used these baby's for years and can't believe someone (Paul??) hasn't come out with a tricky cnc'd pair of thumb shifters. My only gripe is that you can't completely turn off the indexing (a-la Shimano thumbies). Even in the off setting, mine dosen't quite jive with my XTR cassette. I love how you can use these with any derailler too. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lancer
a weekend warrior
from Northridge, CA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Just purchased XC Pro thumbshifters to replace my 600 Gripshifts. Already an improvement over what I had. Shifting is more precise. Had I not found the XC Pros I would have turned to XT Rapidfires which was not a change I was looking forward to, but neither was Gripshift. Hopefully, Suntour will reconsider and begin manufacturing them again (Suntour is still in business) or some aftermarket manufacturer will realize that not everyone is pleased with Rapidfires or twist shifters. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a cross-country rider
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have to agree with everyone else here. These shifters and even the xc pro gruppo is excellent.
I have had a complete xc pro gruppo on a mtb tandem for the past four and half years and I have
never had one problem with them. My only concern was finding replacement parts, but if I continue
to have as good of luck as the rest of you I won't have to worry about replacement parts. If you can
find some buy em you won't be sorry.....Even the stress and rigors of propelling a tandem have not broken them
them down. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary
a cross-country rider
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had a pair of these shifters for years, they move to every new bike I get along with all of my other Suntour components which NEVER break despite the abuse and Northwest mud. I sure hope the other manufacturers out there get bored with fashion gadgets and start designing simple, beautiful components like Suntour did.
Five flaming dead horses because they deserve it and to counteract all those bogus gripes about overshifting, get a screwdriver and adjust the derailleur!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a cross-country rider
from Ca
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I,ve been on the same pair since '86- They have seen trails and tumbles in many states and have survived it all. They have just been installed on their thied frame... One day I'll pass them on to my children.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Launch Pad
a cross-country rider
from The Eastern Woods
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
No doubt about it - thumbies rule. However, when I switched over to 8 speed I figured I'd use a set of 8 speed Suntour thumbies I had laying around. Nope. Not that they didn't work well, they did. Ergonomically though, the throw to the 8th gear was a little far for me. And since I do most of my riding mid-ring-biggest second-to-biggest rear cassette cog the reach was a little too far deal with on a consistant basis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BobC
a weekend warrior
from RI
Date Reviewed: October 19, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I searched 3 years for Suntour stuff. I found the cranks,brakes and
levers which I have installed already. The thumb shifters I'll
install as soon as I go 8 speed. But the workmanship and feel of
the click makes me want to convert my bike over sooner than later.
Started out with thumbshifters.. I'll be back soon. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bill
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: September 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These shifters break just using them.
They should call it shift 'n' bust | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Drew
a cross-country rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: August 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using the same pair since 1993 and I hope they last another decade or two, because I can't imagine a lighter or more efficient shifter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henry
a cross-country rider
from SW Fl.
Date Reviewed: August 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Found a pair at a LBS for $16.00. Work great, just not as ergo as the newer designs. 7-speed will handle a 8-speed cassette with the extra play at the end of the sweep. It never fails and its nice to think that they'll last and last. Best of all theie already out of style so they wont have to be replaced by the fashion police next year. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a cross-country rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Replaced my old XT top shifters with these after they wore out. After 3.5 years, I still chuckle at the noises coming from my mud encrusted colleagues gearchanges, as they stuggle with their Gripshifts (A menace in muddy conditions, I think the designers must live where it never rains) and rapidfires (Better, but nowhere near the same control). I don't care who says its retro. Its light, accurate, unaffected by conditions, and you can judge the precise moment of the gear change every time. All this and use the brakes simultaneously (Try doing that with a Gripshift!). I can't figure out the craze for Gripshifts and complex rapidfire systems when this just plain works better - especially if it rains where you come from. The rest of my set-up is all XT, and the combination works better than ANY other I have seen in all that time, and it STILL works better! Well done Suntour. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco Iaconelli
a cross-country rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I havn't bought a new bike since 1992, because of SunTour XC Pro. Works like a dream, few parts, friction mode, you can always tell what gear are in by simple look at them, shift from top to bottom with one stroke, easy shift with gloves, low weight. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
marc
a cross-country rider
from radford, va
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just because you ride a rigid bike with suntour thumbshifters
people feel the need to call you retro or say Gee you should really
try Grapeshift. Sorry, but I would rather have red hot spokes stuck
into my belly button. Suntour is light,failsafe and reliable. Mechanics
love you, too. My only concern is where to buy replacements.
Help anyone? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a racer
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These were sweet little thumb shifters indeed! Much nicer than the old Shimano XT thumb shifters. Like Mr. Anderson below, I too had to over shift with these but I think that was a function of the XC Pro rear derailleur and not the shifter because when I changed to a Shimano XT rear, the problem dissapeared. I went from the XC Pro shifters to XTR Rapidfire 5 years ago and love them. But for those folks who like thumb shifters, this was the absolute peak of perfection. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
broken spoke
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
After a few forays into shifter modernity -- I've tried Xrays and XT Rapidfire for 1/2 year apiece -- I keep returning to topmounts. I'm not into old parts, just good parts, and these exemplify some worthwhile minimalist KISS principles: light, little or nothing to break, good performance, put 'em on and forget 'em. If i were a sponsered racer with a mechanic that tuned my bike every few days I might go with GS, but I'm not. The XCpros shift great: unlike Mr Anderson I don't have to overshift and then correct; all it takes is a nudge of the lever to the next click, and SNICK goes the chain to the next cog, and its centred. Suntour's cog spacing is a fraction of a mm different then Shimano's, but the XC's will shift an 8speed shimano cassette perfectly when indexing is lined up with the middle cog, rather than the large cog. This way, the cumulative effects of the different Suntour spacing are always tiny enough to be accomodated by float in the upper derailleur pulley. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Anderson
a cross-country rider
from Hinsdale
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I ran the Sun Tour XC Pro Gruppo on one of my bikes for 3 years. The thumb shifters were well made, light, small but I always hated that you had to always shift slightly beyond the gear and then bring the lever back. For their time, before there was rapidfire, they were fine. Thou' the Shimano XT thumb shifters were better. But, now with Rapidfire, why bother. 4 peppers when compared to other thumb shifters, 2 when compared to Rapidfire. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael J
a cross-country rider
from Clemson, SC
Date Reviewed: July 3, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These parts were sweet!I just thought I might add that a rear 8-spd ST shifter, mounted upside down, makes a sweet front shifter. Multiple clicks like GS, Sachs, etc but the ability to go friction if needed and you will never need to replace it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sp
a cross-country rider
from michigan
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Mr may 18th is the only thing here that sucks! This is an excellent product which many riders new to the sport will never have the good experience of using. Long live the great Suntour thumbies! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
riley
a cross-country rider
from
Date Reviewed: May 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These are the gems of the shifter set. Light, reliable, quick, easy to shift from bar ends. I don't mind RFP, but really don't care for GS at all. After spending the bucks to use the latest RFP I was just not satisfied with the use and performance of the new stuff compared to these beauties. I don't think it's retro to use an excellent product that the big S drove out of the market. I believe individuality is one aspect of the sport that brings use all in to begin with. If people don't want to try this great product then fine, that gives those of us who prefer them a fighting chance of finding the few remaining in supply. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a cross-country rider
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have Suntour XC comp shifters on my Trek 8300, along with Suntour derailers and brakes, and they work great! I really like being able to shift while using the bar ends. I love my new Santa Cruz Tazmon with full XTR, but the Suntour shifters and rear derailer works just as well. The only advantage to the XTR is the shifting of the front derailer. The cantilever brakes work as well as the V brakes when set up properly (refer to the Bontrager web site for an excellent article). If Suntour was still in business, I would have equiped my Tazmon with Suntour equipment. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kurt
a cross-country rider
from Langley, B.C.
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I agree with Langdon. I've had these shifters for three years and have never
had to think about them. They're compatible with both shimano and sachs
cogsets, easy to adjust and keep adjusted, simple in design and very light.
Absolutely no complaints, the best shifter around ( if you can find them ).
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Landon Inge
a cross-country rider
from Tucson, AZ
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I already know what you are saying,Retrogrouch. In defense of all things retro, if something works
well, why mess with it. Such is the case of top mounts. The simplicity of these shifers is excellent.
Shifting is postive, fast and very smooth. These shifters are extremely compact compared to the
old XT top mounts. They shift eight speeds and the best part is that you can shift while braking
and go for high to low in one swift shift. And the durabilty blows Gripeshift and Rapidfoul out of
the water. No plastic parts that will break in a fall or compatibilty problems like Gripeshift. No
tiny parts hidden inside a plastic housing like Rapidfoul. Just easy smooth shifting. And even
better, you can go to friction if you have problems out in the middle of nowhere, unlike the other
two. A beatiful black polished unit, with a trick barrel adjuster, compact body and oh so fine
lever. I have tried Rapidfouls, which wore out in two months and required constant adjusment.
Went to Gripeshift and had problems trying to shift when using light action Shimano deraillurs. I
was able to track down these new at Bikeman and will never go back. If you want durability,
looks, smooth shifting, options, these are for you. Top mounts rule!!!P.S.- I am not a retrogrouch, I just prefer parts that don't fail and last forever. | | Overall Rating: |
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