Here is the catalog of Suntour in 1991.
This catalog was issued in the October 1990. Suntour already passed the peak as a company, had been rolling down the slope in this year. There were some products which would develop into present parts such as MD (micro drive) which was announced in 1992. However, the sudden rise of Japanese yen which was caused by Plaza agreement of 1985 and influence of good sales of Shimano SIS hit Suntour directly. The gap of total strength between Suntour and Shimano had spread in those days.
Suntour accepted the capital injection from Mori industry, became SR-Suntour. Later the company was sold to Taiwan capital in 1995.

Even now, there is a number of Suntour fan who is fascinated by its high quality and function. Of course, I'm one of them. The conception and technology of MD (micro drive) and slant pantograph were inherited to present parts of several makers. It is the fact that Suntour built up an epoch.

Then, please enjoy the catalog more than 20 pages. At here, two pages on centerfold are shown as one page.

This is the front cover and the back cover. The photo of MTB racing was printed on the front cover, and the photo of road racing was on the back cover. The cover design causes us a strong image that products of Suntour were made for the bicycle sports.

There was the concept of Suntour in a photograph of two MTB running in the vast and harsh mountainous area. The catalog was saying "we have made mechanical parts with feeling of bicycle fan. We are proud of being creative person".

Through four pages from here, the catalog explained about the mechanism which Suntour prided.
"X-Press" was a shifter for BMX which was equipped with the derailleur positioning system. It was one of the greatest products along with "Rapid Fire" of Shimano.
"Command" was a sifter for road-racing bicycle which was equipped with the derailleur positioning system. It was announced before Shimano STI lever. It still has high popularity on the internet auction.

The most interesting part in this page was Beast. It was a gear change system which opened and closed quarter of chain ring by micro motor like a switching point of rail line.
It became big burden to Suntour because of the high cost for the development and the license fee.

The group-sets were introduced from here.
The highest grade MTB parts "XC-PRO" appeared first. Head parts, BB, pedal and hub were equipped with the grease guard system. It was used for the highest grade MTB of mass-production maker as well as Shimano XTR.

This is the second grade model "XC-COMP". Though it wasn't equipped with grease guard, it had enough (more than necessary) function and quality. My only MTB Araya Muddy-Fox was equipped with "XC-COMP" group-set. I was impressed with its shifting and braking performance in those days.

This is third grade model "XC-LTD". Though the function was almost equal to two superior models, the price was suppressed low because of its material and finish work.

The products which were inferior to middle grade parts were introduced through three pages from here.

I think the three models in this page were the group-parts for mass-production bicycle.

The road racing parts were introduced from here.
Superbe-Pro appeared first. The market share of Superbe-Pro must have been less than Dura-ace. However, there were a number of people who said that the endurance and precision of the rotation parts were better than Dura-ace. Even now, you can buy several parts such as derailleur, chain-wheel, hub, and head set, if you make a little effort.
I myself had used Superb-Pro group-set other than brakes. I had felt that sharp shifting performance of the derailleur was equal to the present parts.

The binding pedal was supplied as OEM version of "Time-Criterium". I also have new one. However, there are no shoes which can be used for it in the market.

SL was the light weight group-set. It seemed not so popular. The brake was perfectly OEM product of Yoshigai. I got stronger impression from Cyclone and Sprint of the 1980s.

GPX and RADIUS were the competing products of Shimano Sante and Ole.

I havenft seen these models.

These were several optional parts. Micro-Light and Command-Shifter were occasionally put up for internet auction.

This is the combination chart of the group-sets.

If you look at the catalog closely, you would be able to recognize that the streamlining of high grade parts had been proceeding, and there had been lots of inexpensive parts for mass-production bicycle. I guess it must have been the hardest time to the parts maker.

However, it is the fact that the products of Suntour had been loved by a number of cyclists as a buddy of cycling and competition for a long time. The fact that there are lots of Suntour fan even now is one of evidence of it.

The last came to be a bit sentimental comment. Ifd like you to understand that it was a feeling as one of Suntour fans.