Derailleur Hangers 25 Years Later
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Derailleur Hangers 25 Years Later
Just wondering if derailleur hangers used on bikes today will still be available 25-30 years from now, particularly for no-name online bikes. It will be a miracle enough if Wheels is still making them for name brand bikes 25 years old or more, but for no-name stuff?? Or small makers of custom or limited production frames? Just wondering how we will deal with it when the need arises.
#2
Senior Member
no-name bikes and big-name bikes use the same specs (mostly) as far as hangers go. And as long as a rear derailleur (in its current form) is being used, then all hangers will be pretty much similar and will work for no-name or big-name bikes. I don't see this changing anytime soon, not even close.
#3
Senior Member
No name bike is more likely to have used a "standard" or more common hanger than one of the brand names. i have no proof, but the brands that like to introduce their own standards (i.e. Cannondale) i suspect more to use their own designs than one of the shelf. Again, i have no evidence of that, just a suspicion.
Assuming you ask about your specific bike, look up at wheelsmanufacturing if one of their 280+ hangers matches yours and buy a spare. My fatbike came with a spare and I have it with my tools just in case.
General bike industry rant:
Why do we have so many hanger types? There is probably an engineering reason to have 5 different ones, but not that boatload of hanger types. No store can keep them in stock and even if you find one they are relatively pricy for what hey are (some soft aluminum)
Assuming you ask about your specific bike, look up at wheelsmanufacturing if one of their 280+ hangers matches yours and buy a spare. My fatbike came with a spare and I have it with my tools just in case.
General bike industry rant:
Why do we have so many hanger types? There is probably an engineering reason to have 5 different ones, but not that boatload of hanger types. No store can keep them in stock and even if you find one they are relatively pricy for what hey are (some soft aluminum)
#4
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The best bet would go to https://derailleurhanger.com/shop and find the closet match. They have like over 450 of them. The bike I bought a few months ago came with a spare one. I'm keeping that under lock and key.
#5
Senior Member
no-name bikes and big-name bikes use the same specs (mostly) as far as hangers go. And as long as a rear derailleur (in its current form) is being used, then all hangers will be pretty much similar and will work for no-name or big-name bikes. I don't see this changing anytime soon, not even close.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I am thinking more about restorations in 25-30 years. Will those who restore bikes be screwed or required to replicate them from sheet aluminum(nice and flexy)? Kind of like restoring a Cord or Duessy?
#8
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While not easy, I was able to find a current-production replacement for a 20+ year-old Giant frame that uses an obsolete system. I would say fears are likely unfounded.
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In 25 years, there will be a database of every one ever made and you'll spit one out of a 3d metal printer.
#10
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OP was wondering about generic no-name bikes being sold online today. That means generic bikes from online sellers like Nashbar, Bike Direct, et al. Chances are, all these no-name bikes come from China or Taiwan, all coming out from a few large factories, and all using the same spec hangers, or maybe two. I'd be very shocked to see if each of those no-name bike models would use a a totally different off the beaten path hangers. These marginal-profit bikes don't make a profit by a 100 different specs hangers. OP has absolutely nothing to worry about.
#11
Senior Member
I ride a Gios Compact Pro, which I have had for 20 years, and which is still in production today. I once had the derailleur get caught in the spokes, bending the hanger, but as the Compact Pro is steel, I simply bent the hanger back into position. I have a spare just in case I ever need it.
#12
Senior Member
OP was wondering about generic no-name bikes being sold online today. That means generic bikes from online sellers like Nashbar, Bike Direct, et al. Chances are, all these no-name bikes come from China or Taiwan, all coming out from a few large factories, and all using the same spec hangers, or maybe two. I'd be very shocked to see if each of those no-name bike models would use a a totally different off the beaten path hangers. These marginal-profit bikes don't make a profit by a 100 different specs hangers. OP has absolutely nothing to worry about.
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Generics (Pacific Cycles for example) are very ubiquitous, and should be available for a good long time. On the other hand, big name brands might introduce one for a couple of years, the move on.
On the bright side, many replacement hangers are not OEM, but rather copies. And, long as Wheels Manufacturing and similar companies have the CNC templates, they'll likely to continue to support them.