do 8 and 9 speed cassettes fit 7-speed retro bikes?
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Most bikes before about 1988 had a 130mm rear drop-out spacing while the move to 7 speed at around that time meant that most frames thereafter had 135mm spacing. This wider spacing remained the usual mountain bike standard for the next 20 years.
It's only recently that 150mm rear spacing has started to become common on modern bikes.
Anyway, as long as your bike has 135mm spacing then anything up to 10 speed will fit.
The next factor is the hub, or more specifically the freehub body. 7 speed bodies are narrower than the one used for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes.
You can fit a 7 speed cassette on a freehub body designed for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes using a spacer, but you can't fit anything other than a 7 speed cassette on a 7 speed freehub body. (except perhaps a 6 speed or single sprocket etc.)
With chains; 7 and 8 speed chains are the same width and can be used on 7 and 8 speed cassettes.
9 speed chains are narrower and can be used on 9 speed cassettes as well as 7 and 8 speed.
10 speed chains are narrower still and can only really be used on 10 speed cassettes.
Chainrings; despite being marked up as 8 speed, 9 speed or whatever, are generally compatible with any gearing set up.
It's only recently that 150mm rear spacing has started to become common on modern bikes.
Anyway, as long as your bike has 135mm spacing then anything up to 10 speed will fit.
The next factor is the hub, or more specifically the freehub body. 7 speed bodies are narrower than the one used for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes.
You can fit a 7 speed cassette on a freehub body designed for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes using a spacer, but you can't fit anything other than a 7 speed cassette on a 7 speed freehub body. (except perhaps a 6 speed or single sprocket etc.)
With chains; 7 and 8 speed chains are the same width and can be used on 7 and 8 speed cassettes.
9 speed chains are narrower and can be used on 9 speed cassettes as well as 7 and 8 speed.
10 speed chains are narrower still and can only really be used on 10 speed cassettes.
Chainrings; despite being marked up as 8 speed, 9 speed or whatever, are generally compatible with any gearing set up.
You can fit a 9 speed cassette on a 7 speed free hub body if you remove one sprocket- I.e you end up with an 8 speed block with nine speed spacing . I've done it on my mtb tandem...
Andy
quote="drystonepaul"]Most bikes before about 1988 had a 130mm rear drop-out spacing while the move to 7 speed at around that time meant that most frames thereafter had 135mm spacing. This wider spacing remained the usual mountain bike standard for the next 20 years.
It's only recently that 150mm rear spacing has started to become common on modern bikes.
Anyway, as long as your bike has 135mm spacing then anything up to 10 speed will fit.
The next factor is the hub, or more specifically the freehub body. 7 speed bodies are narrower than the one used for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes.
You can fit a 7 speed cassette on a freehub body designed for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes using a spacer, but you can't fit anything other than a 7 speed cassette on a 7 speed freehub body. (except perhaps a 6 speed or single sprocket etc.)
With chains; 7 and 8 speed chains are the same width and can be used on 7 and 8 speed cassettes.
9 speed chains are narrower and can be used on 9 speed cassettes as well as 7 and 8 speed.
10 speed chains are narrower still and can only really be used on 10 speed cassettes.
Chainrings; despite being marked up as 8 speed, 9 speed or whatever, are generally compatible with any gearing set up.[/quote]
Andy
quote="drystonepaul"]Most bikes before about 1988 had a 130mm rear drop-out spacing while the move to 7 speed at around that time meant that most frames thereafter had 135mm spacing. This wider spacing remained the usual mountain bike standard for the next 20 years.
It's only recently that 150mm rear spacing has started to become common on modern bikes.
Anyway, as long as your bike has 135mm spacing then anything up to 10 speed will fit.
The next factor is the hub, or more specifically the freehub body. 7 speed bodies are narrower than the one used for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes.
You can fit a 7 speed cassette on a freehub body designed for 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes using a spacer, but you can't fit anything other than a 7 speed cassette on a 7 speed freehub body. (except perhaps a 6 speed or single sprocket etc.)
With chains; 7 and 8 speed chains are the same width and can be used on 7 and 8 speed cassettes.
9 speed chains are narrower and can be used on 9 speed cassettes as well as 7 and 8 speed.
10 speed chains are narrower still and can only really be used on 10 speed cassettes.
Chainrings; despite being marked up as 8 speed, 9 speed or whatever, are generally compatible with any gearing set up.[/quote]
konahed":2st98zhh said:
All HG cassettes are pretty much equal in shift quality regardless of how many cogs
What it does give you is a choice of more ratios...
You would need 9 speed shifters tho..
Andy
p.s- Go see Steve at the Bike Station and tell him i sent you- he'll sort you out
66 triumph daytona
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Change the freehub body,7 speed is too narrow.I recently successfully changed a `91 105 eqipped bike to 8 speed.
