How Do I Determine What Rear Derailleurs Are Compatible With My Bike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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 . Meaning a 7 speed will fit for 5 and 6 speed bikes. An 8 speed will work for 7 and 8 speed.

Can you put any derailleur on a bike?

Shimano derailleur compatibility

This means that you can use an 8 -or 9-speed mountain bike derailleur with road shifters or vice versa . The only exception is pre-1997 9-speed Dura-Ace gearing, which won’t play nicely with anything because it uses a totally different cable pull ratio.

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.

How do I choose a bike derailleur?

How do I identify my Shimano rear derailleur?

Shimano stamps the rear derailleur model number on the underside/lower plate of the parallelogram . All models for the last several decades.

How do I know which Shimano derailleur I have?

Can I use Shimano derailleur with SRAM cassette?

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 .

What is the difference between long and short cage derailleurs?

How do you measure a rear derailleur cage?

Are rear derailleurs universal?

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.

Are front derailleurs universal?

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 long or medium cage derailleur?

If you are in-between the capacity ranges of the two, which is often the case with mountain bikes, then note the following: long cage derailleurs will accommodate a wider gear range and deliver a better chain line, while medium cage derailleurs are less likely to be hit by rocks on the trail .

Is Microshift compatible with Shimano?

Microshift has made all Centos components fully compatible with Shimano , so the cable pull ratios for gear and brake are identical. A meta-analysis of online comments from Microshift customers shows a lot of successful mix-and-matching going on across 11-speed Shimano groupsets of varying ages.

Can I use 10 speed derailleur with 11 speed cassette?

10-speed rear derailleurs do not work accurately with 11-speed cassettes when coupled with index shifters . The only exception are SRAM’s 10-speed exact actuation road derailleurs which have the same rear shift ratio as SRAM’s 11-speed road (exact actuation) and 10-speed MTB (exact actuation) derailleurs.

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.

Is my derailleur SS or GS?

For your particular gearing range (50/34 compact double and 12-25 cassette), an SS will work . GS is for wider gearing ranges that will result in more chain slack when the drivetrain is crosschained small-small, like on triples or if you are running a very large cassette on a double.

Is Altus better than acera?

Acera and Altus is positioned at the same level but based on my experience I feel Altus is much better than Acera . They create less problems and operate more precisely. Also they are lighter. They use some technology from Alivio line which you will appreciate.

How do I know what model Shimano shifter I have?

The shifter can be identified by model number, which is stamped on the plastic perch (under the rubber hood) .

How do I identify a Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur?

To determine what model you have, look on the back side of the cage . If it’s not stamped there, it is somewhere else on the derailleur. If not, and assuming the entire group is the same vintage, you can find the number on say, the back side of the rear derailleur parallelogram.

What is total capacity rear derailleur?

your drivetrain capacity is the maximum amount of slack chain the rear derailleur cage can handle . The more potential slack, the bigger a derailleur cage you need.

What model are my Shimano brakes?

The inside of the brake caliper (on the other side of the Shimano label) is a model number . Also on the bottom of the brake lever there should also be a model number.

Are Shimano and SRAM chains interchangeable?

Shimano and SRAM 11-speed chains are cross-compatible . If you have a Shimano 11-speed drivetrain, a SRAM chain will work fine and vice versa, however manufacturer’s recommend pairing your components for optimal performance.

Are all Shimano cassettes compatible?

In some cases, it is possible to run a cassette from a different brand than the rest of your drivetrain. SRAM and Shimano cassettes, on either road or mountain bike, are interchangeable with each other as the spacing is the same between the sprockets .

Is Shimano and SRAM compatible?

The SRAM rear derailleur (mech) will not work with a Shimano shifter as is; the cable pull and shift activation ratios are not the same between the two systems.

What is a GS rear derailleur?

“-GS” refers to medium-cage rear derailleurs, built with a maximum chain capacity of 37T to 39T or less . This is usually the longest cage offered for road bike rear derailleurs, but also the default “short” option offered for their mountain bike counterparts.

Can you change the cage on a rear derailleur?

If the current setup doesn’t work, just change the whole thing . RDs are pretty cheap, and if you start to pull it apart there’s a fair chance of ending up with little parts all over the floor. Life is short. Yeah, you could do it...but it is easier and likely close to the same cost to just get a whole new RD.

Can you make a short cage derailleur into a long cage?

Yes, if the derailleurs are the same model, and you can get all the parts, (which isn’t usually a straightforward process) youcan convert from short cage to long cage.

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.