Shimano IG compatibility
05-15-06, 11:32 PM
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Shimano IG compatibility
Does anybody know how compatible an IG chain would be with an HG cassette?
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05-16-06, 04:43 AM
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They're not supposed to be compatible. I never tried combining them, but I'm guessing it would mess up the shifting or maybe get stuck.
05-16-06, 05:06 AM
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I've seen them used together a lot, back in the early 90's when Shimano still had IG chains sitting around that it needed to get rid of. IG chains were designed for 7-speed cassettes, max, but might work on 8-speed (modern 7- and 8-speed chains are the same width, not sure if they were back when 7-speed first came out). The short is, it should work fine. I remember the IG has having very similar outer plate profile as HG.
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"c" is not a unit that measures tire width
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05-16-06, 07:27 AM
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They work perfectly together. I've been using IG90 chains on various HG 7 and 8-speed cassettes for years and tens of thousands of miles on several road bikes and the combination works great.
Shimano says that HG chains aren't a good match for IG (i.e. MTB) cassettes but that IG chains work fine with HG (road) cassettes. They sure do.
Shimano says that HG chains aren't a good match for IG (i.e. MTB) cassettes but that IG chains work fine with HG (road) cassettes. They sure do.
05-16-06, 08:40 AM
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Thanks, HillRider. And my guess is that the other direction (the one that Shimano doesn't recommend: HG chains with IG cassettes) probably works fine too. Just based on Shimano's typical recommendation set, and things like saying that their bar-end shifters, which are labeled Dura Ace (even though they're Shimano's only bar-end shifters) must be used with Dura Ace rear derailler. What a joke.
05-16-06, 09:27 AM
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As recently as a couple of years ago, Shimano specced their Alivio (lower-end mtb group) as IG. I built up a bikepath cruiser for my wife, and got a new Alivio crankset for it. I had an HG chain, put it on, and it runs fine. I believe they're saying Alivio is now specced HG, but the next step down, Acera, is still IG. Whatever, it all seems interchangeable to me. I honestly don't know what the eight speed cassette I've got on my wife's bike is, IG or HG, but it works great with the HG chain and IG crankset. 
