Ultegra 6500 exage 500 cantilever question

heavymetal
heavymetal Posts: 5
edited January 2017 in Workshop
Hi
I'm considering building a tourer with old but serviceable components but with a new cheap frame
I have a group set compatibility question which somebody may be able to answer
Are Ultegra 6500 sti levers (brake lever part) compatible with the old Exage 500 cantilever brakes?
Is it an efficient combination or will it be spongy and weak
I'm sure I have seen this combination on some touring bikes in the past.

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 5&Enum=117

Comments

  • stanthomas
    stanthomas Posts: 265
    Yes. Shimano brake cable pull was maintained across road groups until the second generation 10-speed (6700). But, IIRC, the Exage group caliper brake was single-pivot, so you might find those cantis feeble anyway.
  • heavymetal
    heavymetal Posts: 5
    Ah yes - thanks, but in the post before I mention Exage 500 "cantilever" brakes not Exage 500 caliper brakes they are totally different . There is a link to a picture of the type I'm talking about - cantilever are used on some road bikes
  • stanthomas
    stanthomas Posts: 265
    My intent was to suggest that the power of the cantis should be measured against the single-pivot caliper in the goupset.
  • heavymetal
    heavymetal Posts: 5
    Thanks - I have used single pivot before and they are feeble but I don't understand why you think that cantis should be be the same as they work on a different mechanical principle
  • stanthomas
    stanthomas Posts: 265
    Standards of the time...
  • heavymetal
    heavymetal Posts: 5
    I have made a mistake in that the cantis are actually mbr454 not 500 but they are exage. However I have realised that another bike which own used for winter riding is equipped very old exage 500 dual pivot brakes ( not single pivot although they may have made single pivot in that range at some point). The 500 sticker on the fronts have fallen off but it is stamped 500 on the back. These are used with shimano 600 sti and and seem to work as well as contemporary shimano.

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