Shifters.
To upgrade to indexed shifting, you have to replace the rear shifter, and the derailer, if it an older model not designed for indexing
. This also offers an opportunity to upgrade to shifters which are more convenient, so let’s look at shifter choices first.
Should I upgrade my shifter cables?
The “upgrading” will get you marginally lighter and better components thay may last a little longer
. Replace them when they break. Keep in mind that if your gear is new then your shifting will deteriorate noticeably in the biginning as the cables will stretch a little.
Are bike gear shifters interchangeable?
No, different maker or different model with different number of “speed” shifters have different pull ratio
(i.e. the length of cable pulled by a single shift). Usually it’s safe to use different model with same number of gears from the same maker.
Do shifters and derailleurs have to match?
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best not to mix and match drivetrain components from different brands. While things such as cranks, chains and cassettes are mostly inter-compatible between brands, generally speaking,
shifters and derailleurs aren’t
.
What are bicycle Brifters?
It
combines the braking and gear shifting controls into the same component
. This allows shifting gears without having to remove a hand from the bars, unlike previous down tube shifting systems. This component is usually referred to as a “shifter” or “dual-control levers”, or occasionally “brifters”.
How do you update shifters?
Will 7 speed shifter work with 6 speed cassette?
You would need to either add a 7 speed cassette or use 7 speed spacers on the current 6 speed cassette
. Are you sure it’s a cassette? Many 6 speeds are freewheel. The derailleur should work fine.
Can I put a 12 speed cassette on 11 speed hub?
Yes you can run a 9/10/11 & 12 speed cassette on a shimano free hub
, a Sunrace 12 speed will fit.
Are Shimano shifters compatible?
Shimano shifters, whether for 6, 7, 8, or 9 speeds are
compatible with all the Shimano RDs for 6 to 9 speeds, and with Shimano 10 speed road RDs (not with 10 speed MTB RDs)
. Update: a new exception are Shimano Tiagra 4700 road 10-speed shifters, and Shimano GRX gravel series shifters.
How can I improve my mountain bike shift?
- ON YOUR RIGHT—AND LEFT. It may sound silly, but there are plenty of novice riders who don’t understand which side of the handlebars has which shifter. …
- DIAL IN YOUR FIT. …
- KNOW YOUR CADENCE. …
- TIMING IS EVERYTHING. …
- PLAN FOR THE CLIMBS. …
- PLAN FOR THE DESCENTS. …
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. …
- MAINTENANCE IS KEY.
What is SST inner wire?
Shimano Road Gear Cable Set with SST Inner Wire
On the inside of the cable outer is
a polymer sheath that’s lubricated all the way with a low-friction silicone treatment to keep friction to a minimum
. A better-value option than the Dura-Ace cables, but still miles ahead of unbranded alternatives.
How do you pre stretch a bike cable?
Will 9 speed derailleur work with 8 speed cassette?
Condensed answer: 8 and 9-speed derailleurs have the same rear shift ratio but only when both models are made either by Shimano or SRAM. In consequence,
a 9-speed derailleur can work just fine with an 8-speed cassette produced by the same brand
.
Can I use a 7 speed derailleur on an 8 speed cassette?
8 speed shifter and cassette, 7 speed derailleur?
You’ll be fine
. There’s no “probably” about it. 6-, 7- and 8-speed gear is all cross-compatible in terms of chain width.
Can I use a 9 speed derailleur on a 7 speed cassette?
SRAM and Shimano derailleurs, cassettes, chains mix just fine
. You just have to be careful with the shifters. SRAM numbered shifters only work with SRAM numbered rear derailleurs.
What does sti mean in cycling?
When Shimano launched its STI (
Shimano Total Integration
) system, it did much more than just relocate and streamline the gear levers — it completely changed how people rode and raced bikes.
What is STI in cycling?
Dual Control or Shimano Total Integration (STI) is
Shimano’s name for the integrated brake and gear shifter lever
. The Shimano shifter system works by moving the whole brake lever to change gear in one direction, and using a smaller integrated lever inside the main brake lever to change in the other direction.
When did Shimano introduce STI?
STI, which Shimano debuted in
1990
, combined the shift and brake levers into a single unit, giving riders more control and stability — hands always on the bars, no awkward reaching toward the down tube.
Are bar end shifters indexed?
What are bar end shifters? These are gear shifters that sit at the end of your bars, whether that’s drop or straight bars. They have levers that you click one way to shift up and one way to shift down, so
are also indexed
.
Who invented index shifting?
The rise of index shifting and modern gear sets
That all changed late in the 80s when
Japanese cycling business Shimano
introduced indexed shifting. Thisis what many people know and love today — a simple system that lets you flick a lever and click easily between the gears.
How do I make my bike shifter easier?
Can a 7 speed derailleur work on a 6 speed?
It works fine on a 6-speed freewheel
.
How do you use a Shimano 7 speed shifter?
Can I replace a 6 speed freewheel with 7 speed?
If your bike currently has a regular-spaced 6-speed freewheel,
you can generally upgrade to 7-speed with little trouble
. Since the sprockets are closer together on a 7-speed freewheel, the overall width is only very slightly wider than a regular-spaced 6-speed.
Can AXS do 11 speed?
New Red and Force AXS shifters will now work with 11-speed eTap derailleurs
.
Can I upgrade Shimano 11 speed to 12 speed?
Is there a low-cost 11-speed Di2 to 12-speed Di2 upgrade path? Unfortunately
no, there is not
. As I’ve mentioned above, 11-speed Di2 components need a firmware update to make them work with 12-speed Di2.
Can I put a 9 speed cassette on an 11 speed hub?
Condensed Answer:
A 9-speed SRAM or Shimano cassette can be installed on an 11-speed MTB SRAM or Shimano hub right away
. A 9-speed SRAM or Shimano cassette will require a 1.85mm spacer to be mounted securely on an 11-speed Shimano or SRAM road hub.
