7 speed - what rear derailleur can I use
TwoTone
My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
derailleurs. Is this true?
Also, why do some shimano rear derailleur advertise 7, 8 and 9 speed
compatible (ie. shimano deore)?
Sheldon Brown
All rear derailers made in the last 20 years are 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-speed
compatible. The derailer doesn't care how mamy gears.
Designations for gear numbers on derailers are just about marketing, not
about function.
Sheldon "Easier Than You Might Think" Brown
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| It is good to learn from your mistakes; |
| It is better to learn from the mistakes of others. |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
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Zog The Undeniable
Find a new LBS! Even the latest "Mega 9" ones are compatible. I've
just put a 9-sp XT rear mech onto a 1993-era 7-sp DX setup.
MSeries
"Zog The Undeniable" <hroth...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:408ec082.0@entanet...
Yup my tourer has a 2003 9 Speed XT rear mech with 1988 six speed cassette
and Shimano 105 6 speed downtube levers. I expect 7 speed mechs are not made
but you don't need one.
Qui si parla Campagnolo
derailleur.
My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
Yikes, another clueless LBS...too bad. Use any shimano rear der that is not
'rising rate'..or the ones that work backwards, like an XT or XTR from 2003..it
will work fine and dandy with 7s chain, shifters, cogs.
Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"
Sheldon Brown
> derailleur.
> My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
> shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
> derailleurs. Is this true? >><BR><BR>
Peter Chisholm replied
> Yikes, another clueless LBS...too bad. Use any shimano rear der that is not
> 'rising rate'..or the ones that work backwards, like an XT or XTR from 2003..it
> will work fine and dandy with 7s chain, shifters, cogs.
Actually, there is no problem with _any_ Shimano rear derailers for this
application. The low-normal models (Shimano buzzword "RapidRise") are
just as compatible with 7-speed systems as the more common high-normal
models. The only difference is which way you move the shift control to
upshift/downshift.
Once you get used to shifting in the opposite direction, it turns out
that the low-normal models actually downshift a bit better than the
high-normals.
Sheldon "Benelux Mark VII" Brown
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep. |
| --W. C. Fields |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
John Everett
<capt...@sheldonbrown.com> wrote:
> TwoTone-<< I have an old XT 7 speed drive train and I need a new rear
>> derailleur.
>> My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
>> shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
>> derailleurs. Is this true? >><BR><BR>
>
>Peter Chisholm replied
>
>> Yikes, another clueless LBS...too bad. Use any shimano rear der that is not
>> 'rising rate'..or the ones that work backwards, like an XT or XTR from 2003..it
>> will work fine and dandy with 7s chain, shifters, cogs.
>
>Actually, there is no problem with _any_ Shimano rear derailers for this
>application.
Not to nitpick too much, but I'm not so sure an RD-7402 would work
very well.
jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3
Sheldon Brown
>>
>>>derailleur.
>>> My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
>>>shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
>>>derailleurs. Is this true? >><BR><BR>
>>
>>Actually, there is no problem with _any_ Shimano rear derailers for this
>>application.
>
A bandwidth-wasting pedant nitpicked:
> Not to nitpick too much, but I'm not so sure an RD-7402 would work
> very well.
I _would_ consider this too much nitpicking, since that's a model that
has been extinct for 8 years.
Positron derailers also won't work, nor will pre-S.I.S. models such as
the Crane, Lark or Eagle. Happy now?
Sheldon "Nits" Brown
+----------------------------------------------------+
| A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of |
| explanation. --H.H.Munro ("Saki")(1870-1916) |
+----------------------------------------------------+
David Kerber
capt...@sheldonbrown.com says...
...
> Positron derailers also won't work, nor will pre-S.I.S. models such as
> the Crane, Lark or Eagle. Happy now?
If anybody needs a Lark derailleur, I've got one I can spare!
....
--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).
Qui si parla Campagnolo
for this
application. The low-normal models (Shimano buzzword "RapidRise") are
just as compatible with 7-speed systems as the more common high-normal
models. The only difference is which way you move the shift control to
Well sure, but why muck with this 'backfire plus' rear der when a more 'normal'
one will work, 'more normal' for the gent. He has already been swacked by his
LBS. No need to confuse the issue more.
John Everett
<capt...@sheldonbrown.com> wrote:
>TwoTone-<< I have an old XT 7 speed drive train and I need a new rear
>>>
>>>>derailleur.
>>>> My local bike shop told me that I would have to buy a really cheap
>>>>shimano derailleur since shimano does not make any good 7 speed
>>>>derailleurs. Is this true? >><BR><BR>
>>>
>I replied:
>
>>>Actually, there is no problem with _any_ Shimano rear derailers for this
>>>application.
>>
>A bandwidth-wasting pedant nitpicked:
>
>> Not to nitpick too much, but I'm not so sure an RD-7402 would work
>> very well.
>
>I _would_ consider this too much nitpicking, since that's a model that
>has been extinct for 8 years.
This bandwidth-wasting pedantic nitpicker can still find RD-7402s on
ebay (I just checked). If the OP were to (for some reason) purchase
one based on the above assertion ("no problem with_any_Shimano rear
derailers"), would he be happy with the result?
TwoTone
How do I identify the lowrise compared to high rise der.? I am now
looking at ebay and would like to make sure I get a normal rear der
that will not shift in the opposite direction.
Model numbers or years would be appreciated. One person mentioned
2003 to stay away from (xt and xtr). Anything else I should be aware
of before purchasing?
John Everett <jeve...@earthlink.DEFEAT.UCE.BOTS.net> wrote in message news:<qr32909f4rfjh4sti...@4ax.com>...
TwoTone
vecc...@aol.com (Qui si parla Campagnolo ) wrote in message news:<20040429085935...@mb-m05.aol.com>...
TwoTone
story (can't use a new xt rear derailleur with an old 7 speed system).
They tell me the new 9 speed rear der. uses a narrower chain. They
phoned Shimano Canada to confirm in front of me and Shimano said the
arch of the new derailleurs is very different from the old 7 speed
system and will not work properly.
I am now back to being paranoid. Please help
twoton...@msn.com (TwoTone) wrote in message news:<de1495b.04043...@posting.google.com>...
craz...@webtv.net
cassette and an 8 speed STX with a 7 speed cassette. And an LX in the
parts box for a spare. And when their gone it Sram which I own 5
installed Sram rear and 6 front derailleurs.
I MTB 2004
gecwhite
TwoTone wrote:
>
> Well, I talk with the same bike shop and they still hold on to their
> story (can't use a new xt rear derailleur with an old 7 speed system).
> They tell me the new 9 speed rear der. uses a narrower chain. They
> phoned Shimano Canada to confirm in front of me and Shimano said the
> arch of the new derailleurs is very different from the old 7 speed
> system and will not work properly.
>
> I am now back to being paranoid. Please help
You most certainly *can* do it. I'm *doing* it without the slightest
hint of a problem. There is absolutely no problem. A 9sp XT, or
whatever, will work fine with a 7-8sp chain in a 7-8sp system.
I think in the 6sp days, the outsie pin width of chains were a bit
longer than desired for 7 & 8sp. But *any* modern 7-8sp chain will be
fine with *any* 9sp Shimano r-der. You don't need to be paranoid.
What the hell is the "arch of the new derailleurs?" If you are using
something like a 12-21 cassette, the *slant angle* of an XT (or any MTB)
derailleur is not as appropriate as that of a road derailleur. But if
your biggest rear cog is 26t or above, then no problem. The slant angle
issue is totally irrelevent to the 7-8-9sp issue. If you have a 12-21,
13-23, or similar rear cog span, then a road r-der would be the right
choice, and 9sp would be okay. You said your system was old XT, which
implies a new XT is just fine. Get a 9sp r-der and a new bike shop.