Raleigh mirage upgrades!

[cmmolloy1]

Evening all

Well I've gone and got myself a sweet Raleigh Mirage (while waiting patiently for a small Raleigh Moonshine or White Lightnin' to turn up...)

It's my first foray into retro for sometime - My AlMega DX was already complete- and I want to upgrade the shifters and front and rear mech on the mirage to make to gears dependable.

I understand 300LX was fairly low down the shimano range in those days? My question is can I just replace with Deore XT from that era and it will work or are shifter spacings different? Which XT shifters do I need to look for from back in 1990 or are there any other suggestions? Some nice amber walls would go down a treat if anyone can point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

The early IG 7 speed was a slightly different spacing to the later HG, but 1990-onwards 7 speed should all be the same. 300LX is way down:

100GS
200GS
300LX
400LX
500LX
Deore DX
Deore XT

You can go for a 7 speed XT shifter and a 6,7,8 speed mech, the pull ratios are the same, but the mech plates are slightly different width on 8-speed I think. For best performance I'd go for M737 series XT throughout, for looks then M735 is better and more period correct. I replaced my own 300LX-equiped bike, a 1990 Kona Fire Mountain with M730-series mechs and chainset and M735 shifters.

I'd start with the brakes though, 300LX is shocking compared to XT! I run DX levers with M730 calipers, but the later, low-profile DX/XT ones are also good, I use them on my Dawes Galaxy.

SP

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

Cheapest amber-ish walls are Charge Splashbacks, re-issue Panaracer Smokes are now available:

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/pana ... 6tpi-66167

 

[cmmolloy1]

Re:

Thanks ever so much for the replies that's really helpful.I shall begin my search for some kit nearer Xmas.