7 sp RSX STI upgrade

Bruce Graham said:

[This followup was posted to rec.bicycles.tech and a copy was sent to the cited author.]

I have a 7sp RSX STI touring bike. The STI levers are becoming unreliable (up shift lever often
just flops - doesn't grip).

I am not sold on a complete 9 speed upgrade - I'm happy with the wide gear spacing on my 11-30
cassette and I have a lifetime supply. I also like the small wheel dish of 7 speed for touring.

Shimano Sora 7sp STI levers are still available.

Quoted message said:

I have read that Campy 8speed levers pull the same cable as Shimano 7 speed and from the Campy web
site it seems that a current Ergo lever can be retrofitted to be Campy 8 speed compatible. Will
this work? Also will the left lever work the Shimano triple front derailleur (RSX)?

A Campy 8sp lever does not pull the same amount cable as a Shimano 7sp, but Campy 8sp
lever/derailleur combination shifts the same distance as the Shimano 7s combination does. This means
you also need a campy derailleur if you go to Campy.

Another option is to use a Shimano 8sp lever which pulls "almost the same" amount of cable as
Shimano 7sp.

Bruce-<< I have a 7sp RSX STI touring bike. The STI levers are becoming unreliable (up shift lever
often just flops - doesn't grip). >><BR><BR>

<< I am not sold on a complete 9 speed upgrade - I'm happy with the wide gear spacing on my 11-30
cassette and I have a lifetime supply. I also like the small wheel dish of 7 speed for touring.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Get shimano 9s levers and then use 9s spacers on your 11-30, putting 8 of the 9 cogs onto
the freehub..

<< I have read that Campy 8speed levers pull the same cable as Shimano 7 speed and from the Campy
web site it seems that a current Ergo lever can be retrofitted to be Campy 8 speed compatible. Will
this work? Also will the left lever work the Shimano triple front derailleur (RSX)? >><BR><BR>

All true but you will need a Campagnolo rear der...the shimano fder will work fine with ERGO...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Bruce Graham said:

I have read that Campy 8speed levers pull the same cable as Shimano 7 speed and from the Campy web
site it seems that a current Ergo lever can be retrofitted to be Campy 8 speed compatible. Will
this work? Also will the left lever work the Shimano triple front derailleur (RSX)?

I look forward to your wisdom....

Not sure but I recall reading that a Campy 9 shifter will shift a Shimano rear derailleur for
7sp Shimano.

Bruce Graham <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[This followup was posted to rec.bicycles.tech and a copy was sent to the cited author.]

I have a 7sp RSX STI touring bike. The STI levers are becoming unreliable (up shift lever often
just flops - doesn't grip).

I am not sold on a complete 9 speed upgrade - I'm happy with the wide gear spacing on my 11-30
cassette and I have a lifetime supply. I also like the small wheel dish of 7 speed for touring.

I have read that Campy 8speed levers pull the same cable as Shimano 7 speed and from the Campy web
site it seems that a current Ergo lever can be retrofitted to be Campy 8 speed compatible. Will
this work? Also will the left lever work the Shimano triple front derailleur (RSX)?

I look forward to your wisdom....

Bruce Graham

..............Campy 8 speed and shimano 7 speed cog spacing are the same.If you go with a campy 8
speed shifter,you will also need a Campy RD.The Campy front shifter will work with the RSX FD.
Shimano 7 and 8 speed cog spacing are close enough,that Shimano 8 speed shifters usually work fine
with 7 speed shimano cogsets.Unlike the RSX shifters which shifted either a double or triple, a the
8 speed Shimmano fronts were either double or triple specific. If you use a 8 speed DA rear shifter,
it also has to be used with a pre 9 speed DA rear derailer.

"Bruce Graham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[This followup was posted to rec.bicycles.tech and a copy was sent to the

cited author.]

Quoted message said:

I have a 7sp RSX STI touring bike. The STI levers are becoming unreliable (up shift lever often
just flops - doesn't grip).

I am not sold on a complete 9 speed upgrade - I'm happy with the wide gear spacing on my 11-30
cassette and I have a lifetime supply. I also like the small wheel dish of 7 speed for touring.

I have read that Campy 8speed levers pull the same cable as Shimano 7 speed and from the Campy web
site it seems that a current Ergo lever can be retrofitted to be Campy 8 speed compatible. Will
this work? Also will the left lever work the Shimano triple front derailleur (RSX)?

I look forward to your wisdom....

Bruce Graham

A. E. Bike still lists seven speed Shimano Sora STI -
aebike.compage.cfmOpen ↗

Or you can get eight speed Sora - it'll work with a seven speed cassette/freewheel

Quoted message said:

I have a 7sp RSX ----- I look forward to your wisdom....

Bruce Graham

What a help you have all been! Thank you all.

I did not know that it was possible to clean existing levers with WD40 as I assumed that they had
some special Shimano exotic synthetic whale oil grease :-) and were lubed for life. (My LBS told me
that RSX STI shifters wear out, so buy Sora - which I did not like, or buy this brand new touring
bike on special as it would save me money. He may be right, but...)

The bike has been in dry fine desert dust in Australia and also in heavy rain at different times so
it may just be dirt not wear.

So I followed the advice to flush with WD40 followed with some nice synthetic/Teflon oil. I also
replaced the cable and outers. All seems sweet for now on the stand and I hope to test it on the
road tomorrow.

When the time comes to replace them I will be able to use the advice you have given me. Maybe Campy
(WITH a Campy rder!) or maybe Shimano STI 9s with an 8 sp cassette fitted with 9s spacers and chain,
so I can keep my hubs and wheel. Maybe even the Sora 7 sp (UGH) if I'm still poor and they are still
making them.

I do like the idea of Campy because of the hidden shifter cables (I use a handlebar bag) and because
of the way they provide parts and exploded diagrams on the web. But then I know nothing about Campy
(and obviously not much about Shimano either).

Thanks again.

Bruce Graham

Bruce Graham said:

have given me. Maybe Campy (WITH a Campy rder!) or maybe Shimano STI 9s with an 8 sp cassette
fitted with 9s spacers and chain, so I can keep my hubs and wheel. Maybe even the Sora 7 sp (UGH)
if I'm still poor and they are still making them.

Have you considered bar-end shifters, since you seem to have a problem with the durability of STI
equipment? They would not interfere with any but the largest handlebar bags.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!

Bruce-<< When the time comes to replace them I will be able to use the advice you have given me.
Maybe Campy (WITH a Campy rder!) or maybe Shimano STI 9s with an 8 sp cassette fitted with 9s
spacers and chain, so I can keep my hubs and wheel. >><BR><BR>

Well, if ya get a Campagnolo shifter, you won't be faced with a worn out, gotta throw it
away, lever...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says... <snip>

Quoted message said:

Have you considered bar-end shifters, since you seem to have a problem with the durability of STI
equipment? They would not interfere with any but the largest handlebar bags.

I've never tried them, but I really like STI. I also have a (probably unfounded) fear of getting
vital parts of me caught on bar-end shifters due to my clumsiness.

Bruce