Originally Posted by joner
... looking to replace my rear derailleur which is now too thrashed to continue. The problem is that I have a 7 speed cassette and most new derailleurs seem to be 8 or 9 speed. Anyone know which current models would be compatible with my 7 speed?
When you see a rear derailer listed as "[n]-speed" that's just marketing talk. Derailers don't care how many speeds you have. That's an issue for the shifters and the cassette, also the chain.
With front derailers it gets more complicated, but it's a 2- vs 3 issue, the number of sprockets in back doesn't matter.
Assuming your bike uses Shimano stuff, any Shimano rear derailer will work as long as it has a cage designed to clear your largest rear sprocket. ("Road" models with short cages may have problems with rear sprockets larger than 28-30)
Sheldon "Speed" Brown
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| Never worry about theory as long as the |
| machinery does what it's supposed to do. |
| --Robert A. Heinlein |
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