jcatalanello

So I have an old Raleigh bike that I am turning in to my commuter/road/touring bike. I was just given a pair of old Shimano RSX STI 7x3 shifters that I wish to put on. I have a Deore XT rear derailer, with a 7 speed freewheel, and in the front I have a triple Shimano crank, which is 52, 42, and I think 30. I have been asking and reading around, an I keep getting different answers. Are the RSX shifters, compatible with a shimano mountain front derailer, and for that matter, the XT too. I went to both the LBS in town, and got different answers. One guy said, "oh yeah, Shimano is Shimano. It will be fine." Another said he wasn't convinced that the suntour that I had wouldn't work, and then another said they are not compatible. My original understanding is that Road shifters need a road front derailer, and that mountain shifters needa mountain front derailer, because the trow is different, even if everything is shimano. Any input? I don't have a shimano front triple, so before I go get one, I need to know what type to get. Thanks

stedalus

This is correct. You're going to want a road FD anyway to shift that triple crank, otherwise the FD will have to sit up too high to clear the big ring. The rear shifting will be fine.

At one point the RSX group did have a FD with the right cable pull for road shifters, but curvature that matched a mountain crank, so this might be why there's confusion. Also, the cable pull mismatch is kind of arcane trivia unless you're trying to build a touring or commuter bike.

stedalus

As for the Suntour, that's anybody's guess. I would try it and see if it works, and if not, get a Shimano road FD.

opn2itsd

I have an old Myatta frame that I commute on and had to replace the rear sun tour cassette (finally just locked up...). LBS put on a shimano cassette with no other changes but we couldn't use the bigger mtb cassette without changing the RD.

Gee3

Not sure if this will help but my buddy ran an XTR RD and cassette on his road bike with DA shifters.

jcatalanello

So I'll probably try and find a used one on ebay. Any suggestions for a good one. Would it be best to try and find a RSX FD. Or would it be better to go with like an old 105 Triple FD. I don't really want to spend more than $20, so it will have to be used, or NOS. I hate junk. So any suggestions would be great. Thanks again, and also for the responses.

jzsoup

I'm in the same position you are right now. I've been told that the road derail will work with a mountain crank, so if I were you I'd find a 105 on ebay, likely less than $20. The rear derail isn't an issue and what you already have will work.

stedalus

Not much experience with RSX, but the stuff I've seen seems kinda crappy. For $20-$30 you should be able to find a 105 or even Ultegra FD on ebay or craigslist.

Phantoj

For your chaninrings, I would be thinking used 105, RX100, or Tiagra FD. I think a lot (all?) of the RSX stuff was designed for small chainrings - 46/36 (?)