theK00L_AIDman

Hi folks, so I picked up a gorgeous 1989 Trek 830 in intense blue with white and pink graphics (super 80's!) in fantastic condition for a song. It has the original drivetrain which includes Suntour XCE components and Accushift thumb shifters. The thing is, I really don't like thumb shifters very much and prefer fully indexed Shimano style rapid fire shifters.

About the same time I also came across a 2012 Diamondback Clarity with no wheels that the owner gave me for 5 bucks. I has all components on it except the wheels, so all 7 speed Altus including the rapid fire style shifters. The frame is far too small, so it will be a donor bike.

I'm aware that I unfortunately cannot just swap the shifters due to Suntour vs. Shimano, but my question is more, which groupset would you personally prefer?

I have put 1.75" urban tires on the bike and will throw a rack on the back to make it a shopping/commuter rider. I don't know enough about either groupset to know if I would actually be downgrading components by switching to the 2012 7 speed Altus stuff. Making the switch would cost me $15 for a 7 speed Tourney freehub to replace the Suntour one. Other than that, I have all the other components on hand.

So...Suntour XCE with Accushift thumb shifters, or Altus with rapidfire shifters ignoring my personal preference of shifter type.

bargainguy

Go with the Shimano. SunTour indexed shifting just never worked as well IMO.

If those RapidFire shifters haven't been used in awhile, they're ready for a flush & lube, as the Shimano lubricant tends to gum up over time if not used. If you use WD40 as a solvent (I don't), be sure to follow with an actual lubricant. I like CRC PowerLube in the red can, contains PTFE (Teflon), so flush & lube all in one.

tiredhands 

If it's a freewheel you're talking about, then you're good to go. According to the catalog on Vintage-Trek.com, it should be a freewheel if your stuff is stock.
But if the hubs are Suntour, and you want to replace the cassette with a Shimano one, bad news. If I'm not mistaken, the freehub bodies are incompatible, and you're pretty much stuck with your cassette unless you want to shell out for a NOS specimen. I've run up against this problem in the past with an old Trek 750 and the solution was new wheels. But disregard that if we're talking about freewheels.

theK00L_AIDman

I'll double check but I'm pretty sure the 830 has a freewheel. I should just be able to buy a suntour freewheel tool for $10 to remove it and replace it with a Shimano Tourney. right?

tiredhands 

Yep! Or take the wheel to a coop and use theirs, if there's one near you.

theK00L_AIDman

There is one not too far, but I'm not a member (yet), and a day pass is $10, the same cost as the tool haha.

The Golden Boy 

I'd go with Shimano if the Suntour stuff doesn't offer you something special that you want. Especially because you don't like the shifters- I'd switch. However- lots of people prefer thumb shifters- so keep that drivetrain together- someone will buy it.

As it's been mentioned- Suntour Shifters go with Suntour derailleurs- Shimano with Shimano; if it's 6 speed, the freewheels are the same spacing so you can use either/or. Seven speed is where it gets goofy.