Compatibility of brake levers/gear shifters between 2 bikes.

daniel_b

Hello chaps,

just in the process of getting my gf's 3 year old Ridgeback Bullit (recent ebay purchase) fully sorted for her commute.

Things fitted so far:
New tubes & tyres
SKS mudguards
Rear rack
New brake cables

Just ordered: new brake callipers, as the current ones are rubbing on the mudguards.

Also planning to swap the stem with that on my Carrera, which is adjustable, so will give her more scope for altering her weight balance on the bike.

I also have some other bits available, from my Marin Highway One, post drop bar conversion, and am unsure as to whether there would be any compatibility issues.

Namely the brake levers and gear shiters, which I am pretty sure will be better quality than those currently on the Ridgeback, and are currently sitting idle.

The Ridgeback is a 24spd bike, and the gear shifters that came with the Marin are:
Shimano SL-R440 - labelled up as 9spd (Is this an immediate no no, as the ridgeback is 8 spd, or can you adjust it internally to only shift 8 times?

The brake levers are: Avid Speed dial 7, and the brakes that these were fitted to were Avid Speed dial 7 with Shimano power mudulator. I'm only interested in fitting the brake levers, and feel fairly certain these won't have an issue working with the soon to be fitted Acera V brakes - am I right?!

Would defo be interested to hear about the gear shifters though, I have a feeling the only one that will be compatible is the left hand lever, but the rear cassette 9 might be a step too far?

Cheers

Dan

Belv

I can't think of a reason why the shifters wont fit. Set the high/low screws on the mech so that it doesn't shift off the cassette. Then one click (either 1 or 9 on the display) will simply do nothing.

Don't know anything about those brakes.

redddraggon

9 speed shifter WILL NOT work for 8 speed (without something like a shiftmate)

9 speed has a different amount of cable pull to 8 speed

Underscore

Of course, if the cassette and chain are worn, you replace them with 9 spd versions (provided the chainrings and mechs are compatible with 9 spd) since the 8 and 9 spd cassettes are the same width...

daniel_b

Thanks chaps,

after thinking about it, I imagine the shifter, or the right hand one rather, have little chance of working correctly with an 8 spd cassette, as the spacings of each 'click' will be narrower that for the currently installed 8.

Good call Underscore, don't see why the front mech should have a problem with a 9 spd setup.
Will hang onto the shifters, and when it does need replacing, go the 9 spd cassette/new chain route, and fit it with both shifters at the same time.

Have also just realised I have Avid 7 brakes as well as the levers off the Highway one sitting upstairs too, so have cancelled the V brakes I ordered from CRC.

Cheers

Dan

Belv

redddraggon wrote:

9 speed shifter WILL NOT work for 8 speed (without something like a shiftmate)

9 speed has a different amount of cable pull to 8 speed

Damn, good point.
I was thinking back to when i had to get my limit my 8spd to 6 cogs (because of a damaged mech) but, of course, it was the same cassette spacing.