Bicycle Mechanics - Ultegra 8spd shifter work on 7 speed?

I'm converting my flat bar commuter/touring bike to drop bars. Will a set of Shimano Ultegra 8 speed indexed bar end shifters work with a seven speed cassette?

Thanks,

ehenz

The spacing is different, so they will most likely not play nicely together unless you use the friction mode of the barcons.

I'm converting my flat bar commuter/touring bike to drop bars. Will a set of Shimano Ultegra 8 speed indexed bar end shifters work with a seven speed cassette?

Thanks,

ehenz

How picky are you? They'll work well enough to ride, but they won't index perfectly so you will probably have to "finesse" some shifts by shifting up two and down one.

Now here's the interesting part. One of my bikes has the opposite, an 8-speed cassette along with 7-speed Shimano bar end shifters. It would be nice to sweeten the shifting, but I'm not so dissatisfied with it that I'm willing to spend any money to fix it. If you are interested in making a trade email me and we'll talk. alanandcarolyn@prodigy.net.

How picky are you? They'll work well enough to ride, but they won't index perfectly so you will probably have to "finesse" some shifts by shifting up two and down one.

Now here's the interesting part. One of my bikes has the opposite, an 8-speed cassette along with 7-speed Shimano bar end shifters. It would be nice to sweeten the shifting, but I'm not so dissatisfied with it that I'm willing to spend any money to fix it. If you are interested in making a trade email me and we'll talk. alanandcarolyn@prodigy.net.

If I had them, I would. I was looking at this auction, perhaps it will help you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36140&item=3673559100&rd=1

I can't seem to find 7speed bar ends shifters anywhere (for a decent price).

I'm converting my flat bar commuter/touring bike to drop bars. Will a set of Shimano Ultegra 8 speed indexed bar end shifters work with a seven speed cassette? Thanks, ehenz

Well, I converted my LX 7-speed equipped rigid Mtb using moustache bars and Ultegra 8-speed barend shifters. I know there's a slight variation in the 7-speed cassette cog spacing, but it indexes almost flawlessly. Friction shifting the front triple is a joy.
I picked up a brand new old stock Ultegra barend shifters complete with cable & housing for $35 on Ebay several months back.

George

The spacing is different, so they will most likely not play nicely together unless you use the friction mode of the barcons.

Technically, yes, the spacing is different (5.0mm for 7-spd, 4.8mm for 8-spd). But they are close enough that it probably will work. I know folks who have done this.

If you're getting new shifters, you could instead go with 9-speed shifters, and get a new 9-speed cassette, but only put 8 of the 9 cogs on.

If you're getting new shifters, you could instead go with 9-speed shifters, and get a new 9-speed cassette, but only put 8 of the 9 cogs on.I don't think that'll work because I'm assuming his hub is an old 7-speed hub which will not even accept old 8-speed cassettes as was in my case.

I don't think that'll work because I'm assuming his hub is an old 7-speed hub which will not even accept old 8-speed cassettes as was in my case.

If the freehub body is really old (UniGlide), you're right, it can't take HyperGlide cassetttes. But if it's 7-speed HyperGlide, you can put 7 cogs of an 8-speed cassette, or 8 cogs of a 9-speed cassette on it.

If the freehub body is really old (UniGlide), you're right, it can't take HyperGlide cassetttes. But if it's 7-speed HyperGlide, you can put 7 cogs of an 8-speed cassette, or 8 cogs of a 9-speed cassette on it.Hey, thanks for that info..... Hmmm, in that case I wonder what my LX 7-speed hub is. I wonder if a new old stock 8-speed Hyperglide cassette will fit? How can I distinguish the diff?

Edit:
It's a LX M-560 hub.......just looked at it and the 7-speed cassette is Hyperglide. But I'm having a hard time imagining how an 8-speed cassette would fit. The freebody is barely long enough for 7 cogs, plus the lockring. I don't have an old 8-sp cassette laying around to try and see. I'll take my wheel to my LBS later on and see if works.

Hey, thanks for that info..... Hmmm, in that case I wonder what my LX 7-speed hub is. I wonder if a new old stock 8-speed Hyperglide cassette will fit? How can I distinguish the diff?

Edit:
It's a LX M-560 hub.......just looked at it and the 7-speed cassette is Hyperglide. But I'm having a hard time imagining how an 8-speed cassette would fit. The freebody is barely long enough for 7 cogs, plus the lockring. I don't have an old 8-sp cassette laying around to try and see. I'll take my wheel to my LBS later on and see if works.

The 7-speed freehub body isn't big enough for an 8/9 speed cassette. You have to remove one cog and one spacer. So you'd only use 7 cogs of the 8-speed cassette or 8 cogs of the 9-speed cassette. You'd also need the shifters to match the spacing of the cassette you put on. 8-speed for the former (although you're only using 7) and 9-speed for the latter (although you're only using 8).

The 7-speed freehub body isn't big enough for an 8/9 speed cassette. You have to remove one cog and one spacer. So you'd only use 7 cogs of the 8-speed cassette or 8 cogs of the 9-speed cassette. You'd also need the shifters to match the spacing of the cassette you put on. 8-speed for the former (although you're only using 7) and 9-speed for the latter (although you're only using 8).
So what you're saying is that 8 cogs of a 9 sp cassette will fit on a 7 speed freebody? Well it seems doable. I realize that I'll have to use a 9 sp shifter for proper indexing. I know the cogs in this case are spaced even closer to one another.

Alright just take the freehub off the rear wheel, put an 8spd freehub on there, get a 9spd cassette, 9spd shifters and voila, 9spd! Works great on my bike with a mixture of 600, Tiagra, Ultegra and 105. Investment is pretty minimal and the 9spd is definately a godsend after riding with 7spd.

Alright just take the freehub off the rear wheel, put an 8spd freehub on there, get a 9spd cassette, 9spd shifters and voila, 9spd! Works great on my bike with a mixture of 600, Tiagra, Ultegra and 105. Investment is pretty minimal and the 9spd is definately a godsend after riding with 7spd.I looked at that alternative. I believe the only reusable component is the rim since the new 8/9 sp hub flange diameter is different, I'll need a new set of spokes as well for a re-build.

Just change the cassette spacers (Replace the 7-speed spacers with 8-speed spacers - you may have to add a thin spacer to to enable the lock ring to tighten up). Any good lbs will be able to get you a spacer kit or it may have an old cassette that you can salvage the needed spacers from. I've done this on losts of shifter/cassette combinations and it works fine. In fact several of my bikes have some variation of this on them ('cross bike with 6-speed cassette & 8-speed Sachs Ergo shifters, mtn bike with 7-speed cassette & 9-speed XTR shifters, road bike with 8-speed cassette & Campy Record Ergo 9-speed shifters, etc). Good luck!

I think I'll stick to my 7-speeder for now.....

I looked at that alternative. I believe the only reusable component is the rim since the new 8/9 sp hub flange diameter is different, I'll need a new set of spokes as well for a re-build.

I just put a 8/9er on my 7 no problems?