Do Older Bikes Need A Derailleur Hangar?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Carrying a spare derailleur hanger will help you when you’re at a loose end. You wouldn’t think a derailleur hanger would be such a crucial and essential part on a bike. Not many people know how important they actually are, but

they help protect your bike frame from being damaged by snapping

.

Can you install a rear derailleur without a hanger?

Currently,

SRAM does not offer any direct mount rear derailleurs, and always need to be mounted to a standard derailleur hanger

. If your frame has a direct mount hanger, and you are switching from Shimano direct mount to SRAM, you will need to replace your hanger with a standard mount version of your hanger.

Do all bikes have derailleur hangers?

Derailleur hanger is a replaceable bike part that connects the rear derailleur to the bike frame. Rear mech hanger is attached to your bike using bolts, screws or sometimes lock nuts/rings and then bike rear derailleur itself bolts on to the mech hanger.

Almost all modern bikes with gears have it

.

Does my bike need a derailleur?

Many experts say that

the lack of a front derailleur makes riding a bike so much easier

. The lack of front derailleur on a mountain bike helps decrease the weight of the bike. It also simplifies the process of riding a bike because you’ll have fewer cables to worry about.

Do all derailleurs fit all bikes?


A derailleur for your mountain bike should match the specifications on the original derailleur

. That is, while it doesn’t need to be the same model of derailleur, it does need to be the same brand, in almost every case. It also needs to match the number of gears, or have more intended.

What is the purpose of a derailleur hanger?

About Rear Mech Derailleur Hangers

A rear mech hanger is a sacrificial component part of a bicycle, designed

to deliberately bend or break in order to limit or prevent damage to the bike frame and the other component parts of its drivetrain, when under duress

.

How do I know what derailleur I need?

When buying a new rear derailleur be sure to

match it with your drivetrain ‘speed’

. 10-speed drivetrains use narrower chains than 9-speed so you’ll need a mech to match. Most rear mechs are made of a polymer and alloy mix but you’ll find carbon fibre in top-end models to shave even more weight.

Are rear derailleur hangers universal?


The Universal Hanger should be in everyone’s saddlebags

. If your existing derailleur hanger busts, strips or is totally wonky, the Universal Hanger replaces the drive-side nut on your quick-release skewer so you can get the majority of your gear range back. Absolutely essential for touring or epic mountain biking.

How do I identify my Shimano rear derailleur?

How do you install a rear derailleur on a bike?

How do you use a universal derailleur hanger?

How do you know if your rear derailleur hanger is bent?

Do you need a front derailleur?

Are Front Derailleurs Necessary? These days

front derailleurs are essentially not necessary, on mountain bikes at least

. Now even high-end road bikes are starting to lose their front derailleurs. With a larger rear cassette, it’s possible to get the same number of gears without the need for a front derailleur.

Why do mountain bikes have no front derailleur?


Removing the front derailleur opens up options to make rear suspension pivots wider

, meaning more stiffness and longer lasting bearings, which makes our riding lives better/happier/more fun.

Does Shimano Deore have a clutch?


This well-loved derailleur has a freshly serviced clutch

, ready to provide chain tension through another season. The clutch mechanism on all Shimano derailleurs needs to be cleaned and greased occasionally.

How do I know what rear derailleur to buy?

Can I use any front derailleur?

In addition, front derailleurs are made for either 7, 8, 9 or 10-speed chains, but

they can often be used interchangeably

. If you are using a different chain than your derailleur was made to work with, the degree of adjustment you can expect will be lower than with a matched set.

Do I need a short or medium cage derailleur?


It’s generally best to go for as short a derailleur cage as you can get away with

, as long as you can avoid the chain contorting on the extremes of the cassette, such as using the largest on both sprocket and chainring. Smaller cages tend to have snappier gear changes, they’re lighter, and also less exposed to damage.

When should a rear derailleur hanger be replaced?

What is a MTB hanger?

WHAT IS A MOUNTAIN BIKE DERAILLEUR HANGER. A Rear Derailleur Hanger is

a scarificial bracket the connects the derailleur to the bike frame

. The hanger makes it easy to repair and re-align the derailleur without an impact destroying the derailleur system or bike frame.

How do you make a derailleur hanger?

How do I choose a derailleur for my mountain bike?

If you are replacing an existing derailleur on a bike, simply

count the number of cogs on your cassette

and you’re good to go. If your drivetrain’s speed is an unknown quantity, you can count the number of steps that your shifter runs through and add ‘one’ to determine the number of gears your drivetrain has.

Can I use Shimano cassette with SRAM derailleur?

Buyers are free to use a SRAM chain and cassette with their Shimano groupset, and vice versa, just as a SRAM chain can be paired with a Shimano cassette, and vice versa.

SRAM’s cassettes and chains are compatible with all of Shimano’s groupsets, and vice versa

.

How do bike derailleurs work?

On mechanical-type derailleurs, a cable is secured at a pinch bolt. The cable is pulled to move the cage inward. A return spring in the linkage will move the derailleur the opposite direction when the cable is released. Electrical systems use an electrical signal to trigger a motor to move the linkage.

Are mountain bike derailleur hangers universal?

SRAM UDH universal derailleur hanger details and information


This single hanger should work with any bike designed around the standard

, essentially consolidating all of the different hangers and bespoke solutions manufacturers come up with to mount a derailleur to a bike.

How much does a derailleur hanger cost?

derailleur hangers are usually

10-20 bucks

depending on the brand. You may be able to have the hanger straightened, but I would put a new one on for the reasons rockcrusher gave. as for the cost of tuning the derailleur, depends on your location.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.