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Shimano Gearset History and Specs

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Shimano Gearset History and Specs

Old 02-17-23, 07:57 PM
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IcySwan1 
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Shimano Gearset History and Specs

I followed the long thread about retrofitting a vintage bike with STIs or Ergo shifters. The thread contains amazingly beautiful bikes and some incredibly talented forum members. It got me thinking about doing something similar, but I have never built up a bike from a frame. I am game, but overwhelmed about going about the component selection process. I had earlier inquired about any simple source explaining the various differences of Campagnola gear of the years and learned no such thing exists, which was consistent with my search efforts.

I have now tried to find similar information regarding Shimano and have had no luck. It would help me to know what years/groupset models would work with 126 or 130 mm frames, how many speeds for each model, etc. My guess is I would likely acquire parts piecemeal and want to make them compatible with the frame and each other. The folks on the retro thread speak with confidence about what they bought and used on their projects. Experience can't be beat; I am just trying to see if I can get it figured out without too much backtracking.

My search skills apparently are lamentable. Thanks for any guidance.

Mike
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Old 02-17-23, 08:04 PM
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Start by telling the group what you want to accomplish.
A 30-speed Sting Ray? A bar end shifted IGH wIth a flip flop hub?
Miracles of information will follow.
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Old 02-17-23, 08:06 PM
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Sounds like you need to head down these rabbit holes.

​​​​​​https://velobase.com/

​​​​​​https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/home.html
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Old 02-17-23, 08:13 PM
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Dr, you are correct. I would like to find an Italian steel lugged frame, hopefully with a fork. I would the like to buy everything needed to get it on the road. I doubt I would spread a frame, so I would be looking at hubs and grupos that would work with the dimensions of any frame I get. I guess I could go about the other way and buy wheels, hubs, crank, shifters, etc and then get a fram that would fit.

I do have some Campy bikes, but I figured I might have better luck getting Shimano parts for this first effort. If it works ok then I could look at better frames and grupos.

In brief, no Stingrays. Just a nice steel Italian road bike.

Mike
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Old 02-17-23, 08:15 PM
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Dedhed, will do. Thanks for the direction.

Mike
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Old 02-17-23, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by IcySwan1
Dedhed, will do. Thanks for the direction.

Mike
If 126, Shimano tri-color is a nice bullet proof 7 speed group though the brifters are harder to come by sometimes.
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Old 02-17-23, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by jdawginsc
If 126, Shimano tri-color is a nice bullet proof 7 speed group though the brifters are harder to come by sometimes.
Brifters weren't made for 7 speed. The Dura-Ace STI levers big debut at the 1990 TdF. Officially came out to the public a year later. Ultegra got the brifters a year or two after along with moving to 130mm spacing with 8 speed.
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Old 02-17-23, 09:55 PM
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Retools, this is what I am trying to sort. How did you come by this information?

Mike
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Old 02-17-23, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by IcySwan1
Retools, this is what I am trying to sort. How did you come by this information?

Mike
I lived it. Got into cycling in 1990.
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Old 02-18-23, 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Retoocs
Brifters weren't made for 7 speed. The Dura-Ace STI levers big debut at the 1990 TdF. Officially came out to the public a year later. Ultegra got the brifters a year or two after along with moving to 130mm spacing with 8 speed.
There were 7 speed RSX brifters, ST-A410.
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Old 02-18-23, 05:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Retoocs
Brifters weren't made for 7 speed. The Dura-Ace STI levers big debut at the 1990 TdF. Officially came out to the public a year later. Ultegra got the brifters a year or two after along with moving to 130mm spacing with 8 speed.
they are now
​​​​​​https://www.performancebike.com/shim...8aAlTQEALw_wcB
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Old 02-18-23, 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by C9H13N
There were 7 speed RSX brifters, ST-A410.
I've got a couple of sets of the 7 speed RSX brifters. They are easier to disassemble and clean up than the later Ultegra shifters. They require more lever effort and lack the trimming functions on the left shifter that the Ultegra's have.
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Old 02-18-23, 09:32 AM
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IcySwan1 My advice, get a frameset that tickles your fancy and then many will be able to assist you. “Nice Italian” is vague so it’s tough to lend a hand. I have a “nice Italian” bike from 1960 (2 actually) and those have unique challenges just trying to keep the original stuff working.
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Old 02-18-23, 09:35 AM
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Ok. If you wind up with a frame with 126 rear spacing, there are ways to modify 8-9-10 speed Shimano hubs to that spacing and then use 8-9-10 speed STI levers.
Rather than go into detail on that right now, let’s see what you buy.
For a frame with 130 rear spacing, literally any modern 8-9-10-11 speed Shimano or Campagnolo group will fit.
So, buy the frame first.
Please keep us posted.
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Old 02-18-23, 10:37 AM
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Rusty and rccardr, thanks. I will focus on a 130mm frame. 8-10 speed groupsets will be the sweet spot. I am interested in 90s to 2000s bikes like Mondonico.

It looks like there isn’t just one source for the information, other than dedhed’s suggestions, so I will come back here for recommendations once I snag a
frame.

Thanks one and all.

Mike
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Old 02-18-23, 10:41 AM
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What size do ya need?
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Old 02-18-23, 10:46 AM
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56cm is where I am at now. I am getting shorter as my shelf life is getting shorter. I have a 57mm Torelli that fits great, though.

I am away from home for a bit, and it likely will be about April before I can get the wicks trimmed and burning again.

Mike
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Old 02-18-23, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by IcySwan1
56cm is where I am at now. I am getting shorter as my shelf life is getting shorter. I have a 57mm Torelli that fits great, though.

I am away from home for a bit, and it likely will be about April before I can get the wicks trimmed and burning again.

Mike
I’ve shrunk in height with age - now 73YO and 6’0”, used to be 6’1-1/2” tall. One of my two bikes is the 62cm/25” Miyata 912 that I purchased new in 1979 at 30 YO. The frame still fits, but the cockpit has gotten shorter in reach with higher bars over the decades. BTW, the other bike is just as tall. Fit setup on them is identical, since they both have relatively short (58cm) top tubes.

And back to the original question, the Miyata has gone through four major updates over that time, aided considerably by having its rear triangle properly spread and re-aligned to 130mm along ago (had the fork drilled for a modern brake caliper at the same time). It’s now 3x8-speed using essentially Campy Ergo shifters, but it also had Shimano Sora 7-speed STI in one of those upgrades.

I’ve also updated a 1985 Miyata 312, older than my daughter who loves it, to 3x7 using Shimano bar end shifters. Brifters would have been a possibility had she been using drop bars. No rear triangle spread or fork drilling was required.

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Old 02-18-23, 01:59 PM
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My zero bike in Arkansas has 7sp RSX brifters. Taiwanese - Wheeler

Chrome socks, nice sharp ride, flat roads, small cogset

Hasn't been ridden in years.
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