SunTour Brakes

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Suntour could trace its origins to 1912, when the then-named Maeda Iron Works began making bicycle sprockets and then freewheels.

Suntour's business really took off with its introduction of the slant parallelogram rear derailleur in 1964. This innovation, upon which all modern derailleurs are based, allowed the derailleur to maintain a constant distance from the sprockets and vastly improved shifting.

Suntour thrived and expanded, eventually producing complete groups, all well-designed and beautifully made. But upon the expiration of Suntour's slant-parallelogram derailleur patent, arch-competitor Shimano, adopting this design, became a relentless and dominating force in bicycle components, crushing the weaker Suntour company.

In 1988, the now-struggling Suntour company was purchased by the a Taiwan firm and by 1993, once-dominant Suntour owned only five percent of the U.S. market.

SunTour Superbe Pro aero brake levers with cables. Used, $65.00

SunTour part# BL-SB00-N
Produced 1988-1994

SunTour aero brake levers

A bit scuffed, but fully functional

SunTour Superbe brake levers

The same levers, flipped over.

SunTour SL Aero Brake Levers w/cables. New, $100.00/set

Part# 82146

SunTour part# BL-SL00
We have one set in stock
Produced 1991 - 1994
Comes with cables and housing

SunTour SL brake levers

New, in the box, with cablesets.

SunTour SL brakeset

Here's the box, close up

SunTour SL levers

Here they are, out of their box

SunTour brake levers

Close-up of just the levers

SunTour SL brake levers

Side view

SunTour SL brake levers

Here are the same levers turned over.

SunTour GPX Aero Brakeset. New, $300.00/set

Part# 81099

This brake set is different! The forged aluminum calipers have internal springs. The return spring is not visible, making these about the cleanest looking brakes ever made. To our knowledge, only the SunTour Superbe Pro calipers from this same era have this feature.
Produced in the late 1980s

SunTour GPX brakeset

New in the box. Levers are under the calipers.

SunTour GPX brakeset

The grey finish will go with any bike.

SunTour GPX calipers

The calipers

SunTour GPX calipers

The calipers from the back. Not a spring in sight.

SuinTour GPX brakes

Side view

Close-up of a caliper

SnTour GPX brakeset

Of course, levers and cables are included.

Close-up of the levers

SunTour GPX brakeset

Side view of the levers

SunTour brake levers

And the levers turned over to show thier other sides

SunTour SE XCR rear calipers. New,$120.00/set

Part# 81120

One eBay seller described these remarkable calipers thus: "The self-energizing element consists of an internal helix or cam in each arm which moves brakes pads inwards i.e. towards and rim (as you would expect) and also forwards in the rotational direction the wheel. This forward motion increases braking power 60-70% for much less effort than a traditional cantilever brakes require."

Important note: These calipers will work ONLY as rear calipers. They will not work as front calipers.

SunTour SE calipers

The set of self-energizing rear calipers.

SunTour SE calipers

The calipers turned over.

SunTour brake calipers

The calipers turned over.

SunTour SE XC Pro rear cantilever brake calipers. New, $100.00/set

Part# 81120

These cantilever calipers are called "self energizing". The very act of braking creates ever greater pad force against the rim. To quote SunTour's (which licensed Pedersen's design) explanation of the design:

"Designed to enhance the rider's stopping power without expending more energy at the brake lever. ...Self Energizing brakes use the directional force of the rim to increase braking energy. As the [rear] pads contact the rim they are pulled forward toward the seat stay; the brake's internal helical mechanism drives the pads on to the rim with greater force."

Important: Pedersen calipers are front/rear specific. That is, there is a front pair and a rear pair. Care should be given to mounting them

Since SunTour never made a front wheel version, all Suntour SE XC Pro rear brake cantilever calipers go on the rear.

SunTour brake calipers

Still new, in the box.

SunTour XC SE brake calipers

A close-up of the calipers

SunTour brake calipers

Note the calipers are Pedersen Self-energizing stoppers. These must be mounted as rear brake calipers.

SunTour brake calipers

The backs of the calipers

XE SE Pro Brake Spring. New, $5.00/each.

We have eight in stock

Se Brake Spring

SunTour XC Pro 1" Headlocker Cable Stop. Used, $50.00

This cable stop/headset lock was made for 1" steering tubes to work with SunTour XC Pro cantilever brakes. But this beautifully made piece of cycling art will work with nearly any cantilever or centerpull brake.

SunTour XC Pro headlocker cable stop