I'll be contrarian, and recommend using the 600 Group for the cranks and rear derailleur over the 1st gen Superbe. As this is a touring frame, the 600 cranks are better because they will take a 39 tooth inner ring (38 with a modern TA replacement) as opposed to the Superbe's 42, and the Superbe rear mech was limited to a 24 tooth rear freewheel. The long cage 600 rear easily shifts a 28 rear, and I used one with a 30 tooth with no trouble. Also, the Superbe cranks are Sugino made Campy clones, limiting your bottom bracket options to Campy copatibles, whereas the 600 should work with any Shimano style square spindle BB of an appropriate length.
I agree the Superbe stuff works great and looks sweet, but a clean Arabesque 600 group is also lovely. If you want everything to match, the 600 group gives you better gearing on a touring rig. But the 600 definitely was a step below the Superbe on the prestige/mojo scale.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
>From: "Bingham, Wayne R." <WBINGHAM@imf.org>
>To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Subject: RE: [CR]600 or Superbe?
>Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 08:59:15 -0500
>
>Marcus wrote:
> >>>I just picked up a Bob Jackson touring bike. The components are a
>mix of
>Suntour Superbe (calipers, rear der, pedals) and Shimano 600 (cranks,
>brake
>levers). I can ride it like this, but I like the idea of having the
>components match. So I am probably embarking on a part search. But
>which
>way to go.....Superbe or 600?<<<<
>
>I have to side with what appears to be the majority and recommend
>Superbe, although if you decide to go the other way, I'd be happy to buy
>or trade for the Superbe parts. And I also agree with Joe B-Z that the
>Superbe group may be one the finest (and underappreciated) set of
>classic components available. As Joe says, the parts were not widely
>spec'd, especially as a complete group, so some of the bits are pretty
>rare. And, yes, there was a very complete group, including pista bits.
>Seatpost, stem and headset are probably the hardest to come by. The
>stem is particularly nice, with a classy cut-out in the face. As to be
>expected (and as is the case with many other parts of the period), the
>components are very Record-like. The details are nicely executed,
>especially on the seat post, and I particularly like the nice gold
>"Superbe" labels on the hub and pedal bodies.
>
>Very cool stuff, indeed.
>
>Wayne "Suntour fan" Bingham
>Lovettsville VA
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