SunTour Superbe Pro
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Category:  Rear Derailleurs
Name:  SunTour Superbe Pro
Brand:  SunTour
Primary Group:  Superbe Pro
Model:  RD-3100
Years:  1979 - 1983
Country:  Japan
Weight:  169.5 grams (avg)
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Added By: Don Buska on 02/29/16
Updated By: MGTS on 03/12/20
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SunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe ProSunTour Superbe Pro
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Outer Plate MarkingsSUPERBEInner Plate MarkingsMaeda Industries Japan [date code]
MaterialAluminum AlloyDesign CategorySlant parallelogram
Attachment Bolt Size6mm Allen KeyCable Attachment Bolt Size5mm Allen Key
Shifting SystemsFrictionCable AdjusterNo
Cage LengthShortMax Cog Size23
Max Chain Wrap20T  
General Information
This is the 1st Superbe Pro rear derailleur offered by Suntour.  It appeared in the 1979 Japanese catalog and disappeared around 1983 with the introduction of the RD-5200.  This derailleur is often confused with the RD-2100 model as with a quick glance they look very much the same.  Notice that the RD-3100 has no labeling for the PRO designation on its body!  

However, the difference between this RD-3100 and the non-PRO RD-2100 versions are as follows:
  • Both pivot bolts are aluminum alloy and have no engraved markings on them.  The 2100's are engraved plated steel.
  • The Cable Attachment bolt is a Allen Key style vs the hex head bolt of the RD -2100.
  • The pulley attachment bolts are flush allen head vs yet again hex head bolts on the RD-2100.
  • Due to the above items this derailleur weighs 25 grams less than the RD-2100.
There are two variations of the RD-2100 and RD-3100 in which the internal coil spring mounting bolt was either a hex head bolt for the early models (Aug-1980 and Prior) which changed to a flush Allen head bolt on later models (Aug-1980 and Later).  From my body date observations the RD-2100 and RD-3100 derailleurs used the exact same body and there appears to be two major time frame lot runs.  One lot was made in mid-1977 through early 1978 (Early model) and then a later run happened at two points in mid-1980 and early 1981 (Late Model).  I have currently found few models of either derailleur with a body date code from the years 1978 or 1979!  However, since the PRO version was introduced in 1979 those would have appeared using the body manufactured much earlier.

This is the second lightest rear derailleur ever built by Suntour, as the Cyclone Mark II (RD-3500 Short Cage) beat it by 9 grams!   Albeit I think the RD-3100 has the Mark II beat in the "looks" department. 

The bikes, that I know of, which came delivered with this dérailleur were the 1980-1981 Rampar (Raleigh) Superbe, 1981-1983 Fuji Professional, 1983 Fuji Opus III and the 1983 Bridgestone World Criterium.  I would be interested in hearing of others.  Albeit, the non-pro RD-2100 version came on many high end brands from the 1979-1980 time frame.
Quality:Rarity:
 
 
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Additional Resources
Resources:Reference & ChartsCatalogsExternal Resources
Component Groups
Primary Group NameBrandQuick InfoBrowse Group Components
Superbe ProSunTour1981 - 1994, Road RaceView 47 Components
Details:   Suntour's Superbe Pro competition components are the very best bicycle components you can buy. Their simple and elegant styling, outstanding quality in materials and finish, extremely precise design and manufacturing tolerances and race-proven efficiency assure optimum performance and looks for any custom frame.
Brand Information(click to expand)

SunTour (Maeda)

SunTour derailleurs have a two-letter date code. On rear derailleurs the code is stamped on the back side of the inner parallel arm. On front derailleurs it is stamped on the back side of the inner cage.

The first letter represents the year. Larry Osborn and I believe O (Oh) is 1972, V is 1979 and A is 1984. As with Shimano, the second letter is the month code, where A is January and L is December.

SunTour Year Code

N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
 
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992

SunTour Month Code

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

The earliest Suntour derailleur I have found with a code is marked OF. A rear derailleur marked OD (corresponding to April of 72) was reported by Leighton Walter. I have a bike that dates from between 1970 to 1972 that has the original SunTour derailleurs. These derailleurs do not have date codes on them, so I believe the coding started sometime between 1970 and April of 1972.

(source: vintage-trek.com)

 
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WeightSourceNotesAdded By
169 GramsSpecOne of Suntours Lightest Don Buska
170 GramsActual MGTS
Cinelli
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