Gear shifters - a couple of questions.

Tinlad

Hi,

I've got a 2007 Mongoose Tyax Elite, which has 24 gears and fairly rubbish cable discs.

The shifters and levers are integrated, so if I decided to go for hydros I'd need new shifters. Bikes seem to have moved on to 27 gears now, so there aren't as many 8 speed shifters around (it seems to me).

Can you use 9 speed shifters on an 8 speed bike? Do you just get an extra 'click' that does nothing? Or is the cable travel different?

Also, are gear shifters something that are fairly easy to fit yourself?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Guy.

ride_whenever

I think, as the spacing is different then it wont work. You can still buy 8spd shifters and will probably be a better option cash wise. Look for alivio or xt 8spd ones from merlin cycles. Fitting gears is relatively easy if you follow park tools closely and take your time. It is also much easier if you suspend the bike, either with a workstand or just lift the rear wheel a little off the floor with rope in a door frame etc.

BlackSpur

I am in a simialr predicament: I have integrated STI shifters on a 24 spd bike.
These http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7806 are the only 8 spd I can find, but they only seem to have a LH front shifter, which entirely removes the point of their being advertised as an 8 sp, no?

supersonic

Looks like they have ran out of RH ones. You must use a 8spd RH shifter on an 8sp cassette, as the cable pull is different. Its not essential for the front derailleur. Alivio can be got elsewhere, but I have sptted some XT:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=10278

Tinlad

Thanks for the replies.

Are XTs considerably better than Alivios?

nicklouse

yes. 3 steps up.

ride_whenever

both xt and alivio can be got from merlin cycles, as i said before.

Anonymous

There's very little difference. I've used both and do not prefer one over the other. I think the XT allows you to shift more than one cog on each push, but the down shift is one cog per shift. Can't remember, but that sounds right.

nicklouse

bikers46 wrote:

There's very little difference. I've used both and do not prefer one over the other. I think the XT allows you to shift more than one cog on each push, but the down shift is one cog per shift. Can't remember, but that sounds right.

Mmm there is a big difference.

and multi shifts are possible on both.

Anonymous

The multi shift was all I saw as different. Mount was pretty much the same as well as tension and response. I tried grip shift for a year, but found no real advantage. 'Forget the brand. Been a few years.

Anonymous

The system I use now shifts lower to you and higher away. Backwards form everything I've used. Took a month to get used to.

loughor

On a similar note, (apologies if I'm hijacking), I have accquired a set of old-ish Shimano v-brake integrated 8sp shifters, which I hoped I could use with an old set of Avid mech discs. Is this possible ? Cheers.

mr mangos

If you do go for hydraulics, I can recommend SRAM Attack Triggers (8sp). CRC do the pair for £35 and they're absolutely different class compared to the tyax's standard integrated jobbies.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13206

dav1

I just bought a brand new set of alvilo shifters as im upgrading my breaks which have integrated levers.

It all depends on how you are going to do things IMO. As I plan to go up to 9 speed when my rear block and chainset are wrecked I couldn't justify spending the extra on XTs or SRAM attack.

The XTs will be better, I have no doubt about it but it depends on how much you are willing to fork out and how long you expect to keep things for. I have kept my gearing smooth as hell by giving my bike some good old TLC over the past year so I don't foresee any big problems with alvilo in the interim between now and 9-speed.

@ loughor. I would have a look at the specs on them. As far as I know most cable brakes work with liner pull levers. My hays MX2 run on shimano 8sp V-brake levers.

supersonic

loughor wrote:

On a similar note, (apologies if I'm hijacking), I have accquired a set of old-ish Shimano v-brake integrated 8sp shifters, which I hoped I could use with an old set of Avid mech discs. Is this possible ? Cheers.

Yes, no probs!

loughor

Supersonic, many thnx. In that case Tinlad, if you're struggling to find 8sp shifters, I've two right hand side and one left hand side. Yours if you want them, 15 quid the lot... although I'll have to mail them from HK (cheap enough). Cheers All.

BikerBaz

Hey Loughor,

Just wondered what you did about your brakes in the end? I too want to upgrade to hydraulic brakes on my Tyax Elite, although I am happy to stick with an 8spd shifter. I just need to choose a good set of dual controls, or an appropriate disc brake set and some compatible shifter pods.

If you or anyone else has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Cheers.

Baz

supersonic

Not sure there are any 8spd hydraulic dual controls - and I hate them anyway lol, try a pair first!

I'd just get some pods and a set of cheap hydros.

loughor

Tinlad. I used an old set of integrated V brake levers and 8sp shifters with an old set of Avid mech discs. Seem to work fine. As Supersonic points out, they are restrictive in that I am now stuck with an 8sp, but they're on a hack bike anyway, so it doesn't matter. If you are building a 'best' bike, I wouldn't bother as they lack flexibility and interchangeablity.

365punter

I've also got a Mongoose Tyax Elite. I reckon it's a great bike for the money, but the brakes are the most obvious place where they had to cut down on costs. I went through my front pads just before xmas and spent 2 weeks talking to a number of LBS's (with them having to call the Mongoose importers) before I could get replacement pads. And they're not perfect either! (Replacements are same as Magura Louise/Clara pre-2000 if anyone's interested)

I'm upgrading my front brake to hydros now too (reckon the back is fine as I can lock it easily). Bought myself some Hope Original Mini's on the cheap off ebay and some SRAM Attack shifters from chain reaction cycles. Looking forward to playing about with setting all this new stuff up. Probably won't be long until I get some 180 rotors either!

BikerBaz

Hi all,

I was following this topic and my question is along similar lines so I hope you don't mind me using this thread.

Daft question perhaps but i'm new to this mountain bike game. Before I fork out the cash I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any reason I couldn't/shouldn't put Shimano XT Shifters and Avid Juicy 3's on my Mongoose Tyax Elite. Are they compatible with each other and with the bike?

Thanks for all the help.

B