Suntour

New-Old-Stock Suntour Alpha-5000 Shifters...6-Speed Index (Accushift) or 5/6/7-Speed Friction Shifting Compatible Thank you for your interest in this item and please visit our store for other offerings. We have very reasonable shipping terms and combine orders to save money (for customers) on shipping costs. We also maintain customer friendly return/refund/exchange policies. Product Description: Listing Update... We are receiving some questions on index shifting compatibility/interchangeability among Suntour drivetrain components. Specifically, these questions concern the ability to mix-n-match different model (but still Suntour branded) shifters, derailleurs and freewheels/cassettes while still maintaining functional index shifting capabilities. Our response is that as long as index shifting (Accushift) capable Suntour drivetrain components are being considered, then mix-n-match drivetrains should still achieve functional index shifting. We understand the significance of this assessment, given the difficulty in acquiring exact Suntour component matches (down to the model name/number), as most of these components have been out of production for around 20 years (so the ability to mix-n-match different model drivetrain components should allow for some much needed flexibility). Now I wish we could provide similar assurances concerning the mixing-n-matching of different branded drivetrain components (i.e., a combination Suntour and Shimano drivetrain). Unfortunately, the index shifting performance of such drivetrains has received mixed reviews. Feedback from customers is consistent with our experience in that sometimes functional index shifting is achievable, while other times it will not work properly. I say this to alert customers that even though these index capable shifters are significantly less expensive then our Shimano branded index capable shifters, I cannot comfirm they will properly index shift a drivetrain made up of predominently Shimano components. The possibility exists that index shifting may be achievable under this mix-n-match senario, but it's probably a 50/50 proposition at best. Original Listing... This offering is for one set of new-old-stock Suntour Alpha-5000 index (or Accushift) capable shifters (Model SL-XSOO-CH). They are not high-end Suntour shifters, but still very good quality that were probably intended for Suntour mountain or hybrid-type (entry-level competition) bikes with straight or riser bars. For those that are interested, the pecking order of Suntour mountain bike groupsets with indexing capable drivetrains is somewhat confusing...due primarily to the various model number/name changes over a relatively short time period (from the late 80's to the early 90's...so the final years of the original Suntour company headquartered in Japan). To the best of my knowledge, there were anywhere from four to eight indexing capable mountain bike groupsets from the late 80's and into the early 90's. In the late 80's these Alpha-5000 drivetrain components were likely in the upper third of this pecking order (so just below Suntour's 7000 and 9000 series competition-level groupsets). Said another way, these shifter sets are very good quality bicycle components and probably designed to hold up under light-duty or entry-level racing applications. Although, during the re-branding of the early 90's, I am not sure which groupset would be the equivalent of these Alpha-5000 series components. It's fairly clear the 4050 series components, which appear to be one step below these 5000 series components, were re-branded as the XCD groupset. So this leaves the XC-Comp and top-end XC-Pro groupsets from the early 90's. Now I know these indexing shifters are not top-end XC-Pro level components and maybe still a notch below XC-Comp components. It's really difficult to determine, but worst case, these shifters may fall somewhere in between the XCD and XC-Comp components from the early 90's (so not bad company). I don't know the reason behind all the re-branding, other than it appears by the early 90's, Suntour was attempting to move away from labeling that included numbers in the branding name. Some of the detailed specs include... Index shifting compatibility: 6-speed (with Suntour branded or compatible freewheel/cassette...although avoid ultra/narrow 6-speed freewheels, as sprocket spacing is too close) Friction shifting compatibility: Several options (most 5/6/7 speed freewheels/cassettes) Mounting bracket/spacers: Clamp-on model (for straight or riser bars with 22.2 mm bar tubing) Weight: 242 grams (including mounting hardware and cables/housing...just as pictured) Other notes: The left-side shifter is designed for friction-mode only (although it does incorporate Suntour's ratcheting design, so the shifter makes a series of small "clicks" as the lever is pulled through the gears), so it should be compatible with most double/triple cranksets. The right-side shifter does not incorporate this same ratcheting design when switched over to friction mode. As for condition, all the sets we have are new and in their original retail packaging (Suntour branded plastic bag packaging). The black and bright silver finish is nice and still shows as new. Also (and as illustrated in the pictures), each set includes the full complement of shifter cables and cable housing. Terms and Conditions: You may visit our store by clicking on this "Store Home Page" link and please note the product categories on the left side of our "Store Home Page". We have also moved our "Terms and Conditions" to a separate page within our Ebay store. You may navigate to this page by clicking on the link on the left side of our "Store Home Page" (below the product categories) or you may click on one of our "Terms and Conditions" direct links herein. Note to international customers regarding shipping... We apologize to those that feel some of our international shipping charges are too high. We only charge actual shipping rates, but once an order exceeds a certain amount, we hesitate to use the least expensive US Postal Services First Class International service. We feel this way, because this service is not trackable or insurable...so more risk of loss. We prefer the US Postal Services Priority Mail International service for more expensive orders, because this service is trackable at USPS.com and insurable...so less risk of loss. Unfortunately, this service is more expensive, especially for smaller/lighter packages, relative to the First Class International service. We are sorry about these higher shipping costs, but hopefully our notes help to explain why this is the case. Note to international customers regarding customs... We also apologize to those that feel their country import taxes, duties and brokerage fees are excessive. As a small US business, we are required by customs' laws to declare each order as a retail sale. Additionally, the declared order value must be equal to total store purchases and/or winning auction bids (less any shipping costs, as these are not considered in the declared value). As a result, each customer will be responsible for paying his/her own country taxes, duties and brokerage fees, which will be collected upon delivery. Again, we apologize for these additional costs, but we cannot afford the penalties and fines that come with breaking customs' laws...so we have to strictly abide by them.