Drivetrain compatibility - in pictures!

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Retrobike Rider
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Every so often somebody asks on the forum about compatibility between derailleurs, cassettes, shifters, chains etc. Please add photos of your Franken-build drivetrains to show what’s possible:

Shifters:
Front derailleur:
Rear derailleur:
Cassette:
Chain:
Chainset:
 
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Shifters: SRAM x7 gripshift
Front derailleur: n/a
Rear derailleur: SRAM 7 speed
Cassette: SRAM 7 speed
Chain: Shimano Dura Ace 11 speed
Chainset: Prowheel single chain ring

Works perfectly!
 

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Shifters: Shimano 3 x 7 rapidfire
Front derailleur: non-series Shimano 7 speed
Rear derailleur: Shimano Alivio 8 speed
Cassette: Shimano 7 speed
Chain: KMC 8 speed
Chainset: Suntour 7 speed

Works perfectly!
 

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Shifters: Shimano 3 x 9 rapidfire
Front derailleur: Shimano Nexave 8 speed
Rear derailleur: Shimano Sora 8 speed
Cassette: Shimano HG70 9 speed
Chain: KMC 11 speed
Chainset: Shimano 105 (road) 10 speed

Rear shifts perfectly, front works OK but downshifting isn’t exactly slick.
 

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9 speed shimano cassette and chain, 11 speed xt shifter mated to xt m739 v brake levers, stainless single speed chain ring and 10 speed Zee derailleur. In true franken form it doesn't work perfectly, the largest cog needs a double shift to push it over the line, but everything else works fine.
Inspiration from Hucking Kitty
Edit: The best resource for figuring out all the combinations and permutations is Science Behind the Magic | Drivetrain Compatibility – Art's SLO Cyclery
 

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10speed 11-36 SRAM cassette
XT II RD-M 735 Rear derailer
single chain ring 38T
Gevenalle Dropbar levers with a Microshift thumbie from a 10speed RR bar end shifter
- it was a bit of effort to adjust everything perfectly, and 10speed and 36cog is certainly at the edge for the old XT II derrailer, but works fine

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10 speed 11-36 cassette
LX RD_M550 rear derailer (polished)
Single 36T chainr ring with MRP chain guide
Microshift 10 speed (RR) flat bar trigger
- also here, 36cog is the max what the old derailleur could serve, the Microshift RR Trigger works nicely and even fits style-wise to the rest.
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10speed 11-42 cassette
SRAM X9 Type 2.1 rear derailleur
Samex single chainring crank 152mm 32T
X0 10speed twist shifter
- in particular the type 2.1 X9 derailleur with clutch works with big cassettes up to 42T
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9speed 11-36 cassette
SRAM X9 Rear derailleur (carbon version)
Sugino crank shortened to 150mm with single 32T chain ring (BCD94) and nice bash guard
X7 Trigger
- Unfortunately 36T is the maximum size of cog (unlike you want to use a roadlink adapter etc., something i do not like too much) for older mech like this nice X9 derailleur, happly there are now cheap 11-39 9speed cassettes again available. I also do like the gear display on the Trigger a lot. Helpfull for Kids.
I've bought the bash guard from second hand and do not know this brand or type, it's very cool.
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one more

9 speed 11-32 cassette
LX RD-M565 rear derailleur but with short and much lighter cage from a 105er RD-M5800, also to have it all-black (decals cleaned with one4all marker)
Coda crank with single 38T BCD94 chain ring
Microshift 9speed thumb shifter (black version)
- The Microshift Thumbie is my absolute all time favorite when it comes to shifter, unfortunately not in stock any longer
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