Vintage Components - SunTour pedals

On this page: XC-2 MTB/BMX, 9/16" axle pedals

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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 a Taiwan firm and by 1993, once-dominant Suntour owned only five percent of the U.S. market.

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Suntour XC-2 MTB/BMX, 9/16" axle pedals, used. $75.00

Suntour released the XC-1 version of these pedals in 1981. The XC-1 was an immediate hit, but this version had very sharp teeth, designed to grab the rider's soles. The teeth were so sharp that after a couple of months, a redesigned version, called the XC-2, with blunter, safer teeth replaced the original version. That is what we have here, the safer XC-2 pedal, probably made in 1982 or 1983.

Though it was originally designed for mountain biking, BMX riders immediately fell in love with the Suntour XC pedal. The wide platform, sealed bearings and replaceable cages made them the go-to pedals for the 20-inch dirt set. The XC pedal is a great off-road pedal, whether your bike has 20 or 26-inch wheels.

The XC-2 is completely rebuildable. Suntour sold replacement cages, bearings and axles, though we are not sure about the availability of replacement parts for these pedals in 2021.

Important note: These pedals have 9/16" axles, not 1/2"

• They are missing their dust caps
• Both axles have the slightest brinelling (see bottom picture), but we can't feel it when we turn the axle.
• The pedals have been overhauled.

Top view

Another view

Here's one of the axles, showing only the slightest brinelling.