Thanks to those who responded to my inquiry last week. Much to my pleasure and surprise, the one I had acquired for a pittance (supposedly rusty and buggered...arrived looking used by lively) arrived today. I had acquired it more for curiosity sake....to compare between Campy SR and Suntour Superbe. I had all paired with a set of Simplex RF shifters. After a morning of 'tests' using all three over the same terrain which provides for several shifts I report that the Crane seemed superior to both models. Both the Suntour and the Crane were heads and shoulders above the Campy SR. As between the Crane and the Superbe, both were crisp and accurate, the Crane just seemed lighter, like there was less tension within the drive train. The variables were as follows: as I mentioned I used the same cables and Simplex shifters with each; with each I used a SRAM chain on a Suntour 7speed freewheel. I had the same chain length for the Campy and the Superbe but needed to shorten the chain by a link for the Crane to keep the top jockey wheel off the freewheel in the lowest gear. So....one man's opinion/feedback for the archives.
ps...the SR cost $45 used, the Superbe was $25 practically NOS and the Crane was $9.00 used.
pps...I once had a Simplex SLJ-5500 and the Crane felt much like that but perhaps a little more precise---not having it today I'll leave it out of the comparison---but food for thought.
Dan 'Derailleurologist' Dannenbaum Arlington VA
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