Bicycle Mechanics - Are my RSX shifters 7 or 8 speed?

Not sure if this is the right place to post, sorry if not. I bought a used Novara Randonee and quickly found it came with a non-stock wheelset. Instead of the 700c wheels and cassette it had 27" wheels with a 6 speed freewheel. It has RSX brifters and I'm hoping to get a freewheel or cassette that matches the shifters (either 7 or 8 speed). The problem is that I have no idea of how to determine how many "speeds" the bike was initially. Is there a simple way to do this? This is my first bike with STI shifting and it's pretty confusing to me.

Here is a pic:
http://i53.tinypic.com/260ykwj.jpg

Remove the back wheel. Count the # of clicks. Add 1. That's how many "speeds" it is.

for some reason I was thinking that RSX didn't do brifters in 7 speed (or they were very different than 8 speed), but I don't really remember where I got that (probably faulty) information. If there's a model number on them, there are many websites you could look it up on (I think even Sheldon Brown had a chart of all the groups, so you could figure it out from that).

hamm23, The STI model number will tell. Google the number or ask on this forum. If it's too difficult to read and you don't want to remove the levers from the bike do this... Shift to the smallest gear in back, remove the cable from the derailleur, use the big lever to shift until the lever stops moving, shift the small lever one click at a time. Six clicks and it's a 7S, seven clicks and it's an 8S.

himespau, I had a set of 7S RSX STI levers.

Brad

RSX=7.

And those shifters had major issues if not lubed/used regularly.

RSX=7.

And those shifters had major issues if not lubed/used regularly.

In my reading it seems as though the RSX came in both 7 and 8 speed.

Where can I find the model number?

I'm pretty torn on what to do with this bike...it fits me great and rides well. I'd like to be able to optimize it without adding to much money to it as my budget is really tight. Do I try and find 700c wheels and go back to stock? Should I just put a 7 speed freewheel on? Maybe go to bar-ends and ditch the RSX altogether? Too many options.

In my reading it seems as though the RSX came in both 7 and 8 speed.

Where can I find the model number?

I'm pretty torn on what to do with this bike...it fits me great and rides well. I'd like to be able to optimize it without adding to much money to it as my budget is really tight. Do I try and find 700c wheels and go back to stock? Should I just put a 7 speed freewheel on? Maybe go to bar-ends and ditch the RSX altogether? Too many options.

Another option is to leave it as is if everything's functional. My guess is the shifters are 7S since they're working (are they?) with the 6S.

Brad

Yeah they seem to work pretty well with the 6 speed freewheel...I'm sure I'll just go with this setup for now but every few weeks I get kind of antsy to change it.

In my reading it seems as though the RSX came in both 7 and 8 speed.

That looks to be true, but I don't think I've ever seen a pair of 'em......

Peel up the hood. The model number is usually on the shifter body.

I think RSX only very briefly went to 8 speed shortly before becoming sora. Again, I don't know anything other than that I have an RSX 8 speed triple crankset I'm about to install on my bike and when I was reading (I think on Sheldon's site) about it they made it sound like it was a brief unpopular run. Maybe it was only the 8 speed triples that were unloved. Since I'm the same guy who was all screwed up earlier don't listen to me, but I think 8 speed was only in 97-98 or 99 right before Sora, so if it's older than that, I'd guess it's 7 spd.

Another option is to leave it as is if everything's functional. My guess is the shifters are 7S since they're working (are they?) with the 6S.

Brad

+1, my Daddy always told me, "Don't fix it if it isn't broke."

+1, my Daddy always told me, "Don't fix it if it isn't broke."

but upgrading is so fun...

I think RSX only very briefly went to 8 speed shortly before becoming sora. Again, I don't know anything other than that I have an RSX 8 speed triple crankset I'm about to install on my bike and when I was reading (I think on Sheldon's site) about it they made it sound like it was a brief unpopular run. Maybe it was only the 8 speed triples that were unloved. Since I'm the same guy who was all screwed up earlier don't listen to me, but I think 8 speed was only in 97-98 or 99 right before Sora, so if it's older than that, I'd guess it's 7 spd.

fwiw my 98 Klein Stage is 7spd RSX equipped

Make sure it's 7spd by checking the number of clicks (it prolly is, or it wouldn't shift too well on 6), and get a 7spd freewheel. The extra cog is handy; I hate not having a 16t.

I have RSX 7 speed brifters. I had to rebuild the left one and replace a broken spring with one I made myself. THey work great otherwise.

For now, ride the bike as-is. When you have $30 to spare, get a 7 speed freewheel and a new chain, and new cables. It will run like a new bike.

FWIW, every time I see a bike with badly mismatched components for sale, I think "STO-LEN."

I have RSX 7 speed brifters. I had to rebuild the left one and replace a broken spring with one I made myself.

Nice work.

It looks like it's a 7 speed, there are 6 clicks of the derailleur. So now the question is do I just upgrade to a 7 speed freewheel or find a set of 700c rims and go for a 7 speed cassette? Obviously the former is the cheaper upgrade but tire options are limited on the 27" rims.

On a side note the chain rubs on the front derailleur when in the smallest gear in the back, anything I can do there?

FWIW, every time I see a bike with badly mismatched components for sale, I think "STO-LEN."[/QUOTE]

I always think "nice work"

I'd go to 700c and cassette myself, but you may also need longer reach brakes for that.

You didn't mention which ring you're in to get the chain rub. If it's the small ring, you shouldn't really be using that combination anyway... I can't remember if RSX has a trim position for the front derailleur, but many indexed shifters do allow you to move the FD slightly to eliminate rub while in the small ring on smaller cogs.

Brakes won't be a problem as the bike came with 700c originally, I'd just have to move the brakes down again. The chain rub is on the middle chainring. It's seems as though there is no trim either.

If the shifter has no trim position, then it's a case of much fluffing about with front derailleur adjustment.

It's easy to make it worse if you don't know what you're doing though... Park Tools has a page about it I see lots of folks dropping links to that may help.

Even if you do know what you're doing, it may still prove to be impossible to eliminate rub without a trim position... in which case you may be tempted to engage in some judicious tweaking of the cage. If so, think hard before bending - you risk ruining the derailleur by either tweaking it too far from spec, or breaking the cage; higher quality ones tend to use a quite brittle steel that can only be bent once before cracking. However, done right it can work a treat... remember though, it's a last resort.