kingajo

What can y'all tell me about Shimano STX 7 speed Rapidfire shifter/brake levers, I am looking at buying. They have cantilever brake levers, and are said to be in great shape. I am going to use them to upgrade my Gary Fisher. Also the current shifters are suntour, and the r/dr and shifter seems to be indexed. I am guessing this since it clicks when shifted. The f/dr and shifter seem to be friction, no clicking. So does that mean that I have to change the f/dr but not the r/dr? Let me know if I have this right or not please.

Thanx
kingajo

demoncyclist

I believe that you will be fine without changing anything. The indexing is in the shifter, not the derailleur.

Retro Grouch 

Shimano doesn't talk to Suntour very well. It seems like the freewheel spacing is just off enough that it doesn't index. My experience has been that I've had to change both derailleurs and the freewheel to get everything to work to my satisfaction. Sorry.

kingajo

Thanx for the info. I expected that I would have to make a few changes to the rest of the drive train. But I am also itnterested in which is better STX, LX, Alivio? These are the only models in Shimano that I have found in 7 speed that are fairly new and available.
Thanx

Gonzo Bob

I agree - with a slight difference. I've used Suntour freewheels with Shimano shifters/derailers with good results. But I've never been successful with mixing shifters and derailers of the two manufacturers. The cable travel requirements of Shimano and Suntour derailers must be just a little bit different.

If you get the new shifters, you probably will have to change the rear derailer but not the front.

Retro Grouch 

In descending order of quality LX, STX, Alivio.

kingajo

Thanx all.

Rev.Chuck

Unless you can find some old stock the STX will be the best seven speed you can find.

Sometimes you can dirty trick your suntour der into working with the shimano shifter by running the cable on the back side of the der binder bolt. It changes the ratio of pull. Good Luck

kingajo

Thanx Rev.

Gibbygoo

So will LX shifters and derailleurs work to replace STX if both are 7 speed???

Retro Grouch 

Yeah. The key is that the shifter and cassette have to match in number. As the number of cogs on the cassette has increased over the years, the cog spacing has also changed so you have to have a shifter that pulls the right amount of cable for that cassette.

I'm also thinking that, when you make the move to Rapid Fire shifters, you may also have to upgrade your front derailleur to get it to work with the indexing.