Suntour LePree 3 pulley rear mech

[zerogravitas]

https://ebay.us/m/vuQ2Ux

Ungainly but fascinating, always wanted one of these.

 

[Gtpulse]

I think Suntour made some interesting stuff in that era. I’ve got one of these I swapped the cage with on an XC mech to better suit the build. Straight swap so easy to put back if needed.

 

[Glug]

I've always wondered, so I did a search:

From https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/118102-suntour-lepree-derailleur.html

"The LePree I remember was the version introduced in 1985 on Nishiki models. It had three pulleys to achieve a 42T of chain wrap. It had been developed in conjunction with Nishiki and as a result, Nishiki had one year exclusive availability on the three pulley version."

42T of wrap is a lot, apparently because mountain bikes were becoming a thing.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Further reading:
https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/suntour_xc_derailleur_3_pulley_system.html

 

[ferrus]

I bought one of these from the US a week ago. Having waited ages to find a decent one, 3 turned up in the States within a few days of each other; there’s another one now!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267258039577?_skw=suntour+3+pulley+derailleur&itmmeta=01JVYF8RJ12GY3ATDEG3R1SV1E&hash=item3e39d20d19:g:TDAAAOSwWG9oFNXM&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fiZRJwU4tGrIc4T9jZY/hTgzeUvpM8rslhHdJjjzO0w7jj4hoAGfuUTH/IrnGuzDHsSZbbmpCTSrSyQZYhjL5A3mdpr7jxOGmyGBtAakXj9vbxR5Sq/rmudOqxtZbRuuivb25giAV95spzZb/E+DsMeXK5a45O3q20XM/RkUHSc2v4QlhqCwmfl2EMy03d4yw0dugvf/zPflIDMCKZV/3ZGBJjG46vwK/sEKR+F+W2mSZQieZ7ETCd9NHERvwEAR4r1GQ0Z9yu3NdZ0wc9fnmk|tkp:Bk9SR6KJo8_fZQ

Mine:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127112146131

 

[Gtpulse]

I bought one of these from the US a week ago. Having waited ages to find a decent one, 3 turned up in the States within a few days of each other; there’s another one now!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267258039577?_skw=suntour+3+pulley+derailleur&itmmeta=01JVYF8RJ12GY3ATDEG3R1SV1E&hash=item3e39d20d19:g:TDAAAOSwWG9oFNXM&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fiZRJwU4tGrIc4T9jZY/hTgzeUvpM8rslhHdJjjzO0w7jj4hoAGfuUTH/IrnGuzDHsSZbbmpCTSrSyQZYhjL5A3mdpr7jxOGmyGBtAakXj9vbxR5Sq/rmudOqxtZbRuuivb25giAV95spzZb/E+DsMeXK5a45O3q20XM/RkUHSc2v4QlhqCwmfl2EMy03d4yw0dugvf/zPflIDMCKZV/3ZGBJjG46vwK/sEKR+F+W2mSZQieZ7ETCd9NHERvwEAR4r1GQ0Z9yu3NdZ0wc9fnmk|tkp:Bk9SR6KJo8_fZQ

Mine:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127112146131

Always the way, mine came with a Suntour seatpost from the US when I was looking for a LeTech rear mech. No sooner had it arrived than two LeTechs appeared on Uk eBay for less than the postage of the stuff from the US! It goes without saying I needed only one but bought both.

 

[gounthar]

I've noticed that some XC rear derailleurs use the same 3-pulleys arrangement. I'm curious if it's possible to mix a 2-pulley Le Pree with a 3-pulley XC.

 

[Gtpulse]

I've noticed that some XC rear derailleurs use the same 3-pulleys arrangement. I'm curious if it's possible to mix a 2-pulley Le Pree with a 3-pulley XC.

I’d guess yes as I did the reverse with mine, all looks the same.

 

[gounthar]

I could be tempted, then, whenever I find one cheap enough.

 

[Glug]

Apparently SunTour did the 3 pulley thing with Cyclone, XC, and LePree.

The arms definitely look similar:
Cyclone https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=D408EFE6-545F-4553-823D-EE00300AB180&Enum=108&AbsPos=50
XC https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=452F72A4-555E-4808-BC35-29E08352D7C9&Enum=108&AbsPos=95
LePree https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=52F9FD31-AC22-41E4-9FDC-407610AE3B3F&Enum=108&AbsPos=67

I'd really like to see the specs for those variants - wrap mainly.
Velobase doesn't seem to know.