upgrading a 1985 raleigh's groupset
- Thread starter Hendo
- Start date
You can get a 6 speed freewheel to replace the 5 - Suntour made one that was designed to fit the same width as a five.
Do you want more gears because you"need"more or do you need different gearing? There are different answers to both questions.
This is depends on the width of the rear triangle(where the hub goes); to fit a freewheel with more gears than the 5/6 it'll need to be wider.
Simple route would be 6 speed freewheel instead of the 5 and different rings on your existing chainset, going triple will almost certainly require a longer bottom bracket axle and to handle the different/new additional ratios(if you didn't go"my"simple route)you'd need a new front and rear gear mechanism
If your bike is not a"good"one(i.e the correct size and at least 501/531 throughout), and you don't say what it is. Best buy what you want/need rather than spend money on the one you have.
Roadking - in the dark!
Do you want more gears because you"need"more or do you need different gearing? There are different answers to both questions.
This is depends on the width of the rear triangle(where the hub goes); to fit a freewheel with more gears than the 5/6 it'll need to be wider.
Simple route would be 6 speed freewheel instead of the 5 and different rings on your existing chainset, going triple will almost certainly require a longer bottom bracket axle and to handle the different/new additional ratios(if you didn't go"my"simple route)you'd need a new front and rear gear mechanism
If your bike is not a"good"one(i.e the correct size and at least 501/531 throughout), and you don't say what it is. Best buy what you want/need rather than spend money on the one you have.
Roadking - in the dark!
I have a couple of 6 speed freewheels here that are the same width as 5 speed (ie designed for 120mm OLD rear ends), IIRC they are a Suntour Perfect Ultra 6 and the other is possibly a Regina.
As far as I know they require a narrower chain, I think I was recommended something like a modern SRAM or KMC 8 speed.
Personally, I'd just fit a freewheel with a wider ratio of cogs on the rear end - maybe a 14-28 teeth if for example you currently only have a 14-24?? That would give you a much lower bottom ratio.
However, if the bike is not particularly special or original, you could fit much more modern kit to it with a bit of the aformentioned experimenting with BB lengths etc.
As far as I know they require a narrower chain, I think I was recommended something like a modern SRAM or KMC 8 speed.
Personally, I'd just fit a freewheel with a wider ratio of cogs on the rear end - maybe a 14-28 teeth if for example you currently only have a 14-24?? That would give you a much lower bottom ratio.
However, if the bike is not particularly special or original, you could fit much more modern kit to it with a bit of the aformentioned experimenting with BB lengths etc.
If it is original spec, in 1985, Raleighs better models would have been produced as 12 speeds, certainly anything in 531, other than the Classic 15 or a Royal in which case you would have the benefit of a triple chainset, therefore without information to suggest it is a better quality bike, leave it alone and look for a more suitable bike
there is the 84 catalogue here, could be worth a look for identifying?
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh84/
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Raleigh84/
Add up the cost of everything you will need, the 5 speed will be a screw on freewheel, the 8 speed you want will be a cassette, so probably as easy and cheap to buy a new rear wheel as rebuild with a new hub, so the shopping list will be:
Rear wheel
Cassette and lockring
chain
chainset
bottom bracket
rear mech
front mech (probable?
tyre, tube and rim tape?????????
Do you then wish to add sti levers?????????
Labour if your not doing the work yourself
If your still determined to give it a go, take it to your local bike shop ask for their advice and an estimate
Rear wheel
Cassette and lockring
chain
chainset
bottom bracket
rear mech
front mech (probable?
tyre, tube and rim tape?????????
Do you then wish to add sti levers?????????
Labour if your not doing the work yourself
If your still determined to give it a go, take it to your local bike shop ask for their advice and an estimate
