arimajol

I want to try out Microshift's 7 speed brifters. I think I will need a new derailleur, as my current one is an old Shimano 600 that runs on friction. Suggestions on derailleurs that will work with these shifters?

Also, impressions from those who've used the microshifts?
Thanks!

jeirvine 

I believe any Shimano SIS RD will work, with the exception of early Dura Ace. See Sheldon's chart on this:
Shimano Dura-Ace Compatibility
-J

fietsbob

Index is a co ordination of the lever detent spacing, the cable pull ratio of the RD ,

and the spacing between the cogs on the rear wheel

'Speeds' is how many cogs & the detents on the lever..



1st try the new lever with your existing RD, it does not have specific "speeds".


Get the dropout hanger alignment checked [LBS tool] klick shifting is fussy that way.





./.

ColonelJLloyd 

Yep. Currently using an RD-4600 with Shimano 7s indexing DT shifters. I've even used Deore ca. 1988 6s RD with 8s indexed shifters and it worked beautifully.

bulldog1935

You need Ultegra or 105. Shimano 600 is short cable pull and won't index

Slash5

Yes, any Shimano index road derailleur 10 speed or less or MTB 9 speed or less, with the exception of early Dura Ace.
Also should use modern cable housing.

ThermionicScott 

If it's an early generation of 600, yes. Any version of 600 from the indexing era (like my 6400 Tricolor RD) will work fine.

bulldog1935

that is correct about the tricolor, but a current 105 is a really nice RD
Tough to beat a 6500 Ultegra, as well

arimajol

Current 105 derailleur will really work with a 7 speed freewheel? The indexing is just in the shifter, you say? Hmmm. I assumed I'd need something newfangled with these shifters.

bulldog1935

my buddy's daughter is using the current 105 RD with a 6-sp SIS shifter and freewheel on her Shogun Selectra - replaced the cracked 300 RD.

What's important is the shifter matching the cable-pull requirement of the RD, and all Shimano indexing except Dura Ace matches.

Knet

I went to the MicroShift 3x7's this summer, shifting an old Deore MT-60, originally an SIS 6 speed. I swapped out to a 7 speed freewheel with the same range.

I like it. Alot. It isn't like the Ultregra 6500 setup on my other bike, but it's close enough.

Really, really good upgrade for me.

When you say "an old Shimano 600", how old are we talking?

bulldog1935

Microshift is great and will definitely shift the Ultegra 6500 (and current 105) -
my daughter has Ultegra 6500 RD (and FD) with Microshift 9-sp bar ends.

ColonelJLloyd 

Did you read my post above your question? Yeah. It will work.

mstateglfr 

My gosh there are a lot of difficult responses in this thread.
ANY non dura-ace indexed rear deraulleur will work that is 9speed or less. So basically anything from '87-04 will work and most up thru now will still work.
Anything thats indexed and 9speed or less- 600tricolor, 105, Tiagra, Deore, Deore XT, Sora, Exage, etc etc etc

The front derailleur just needs to fit the shape of your chainrings and be a double or triple depending on your crank.



I havent tried Microshift brifters. I came thisclose, but ended up getting some shifters that are rebranded Microshift bar ends mounted to the hoods. Not much time with them yet, but they look well build and function well so far.

mstateglfr 

A 5800 rear derailleur should not work with 7 speed shifters. the 5800 derailleurs arent back compatible, meaning they dont play well with lesser cog drivetrains.

ColonelJLloyd 

That's true. I didn't take the "current" to mean literally the latest model. What will work has been stated explicitly.

Not sure why you're stipulating 9s or less when Shimano 10s RDs have the same actuation ratio as 6,7,8 and 9.

bulldog1935

that may be true about the 11sp, but the 5701 10-sp 105 RD works with everything except Dura Ace

Grand Bois

A lot of people love the Ultegra 6500 and I'm one of them.

bulldog1935

agreed, and they look good

mstateglfr 

Because I included MTB derailleurs in my example and those need to be 9sp or less. Therefore, anything 9sp or less works.

Using a 9 or 8sp MTB RD seems to be pretty common when changing out a drivetrain since it often times allows for more chainwrap and/or a larger cassette.

Slash5

Not current 11 speed. Indexing is not just in the shifter. Shifter cable pull has to match the rear derailleur pull ratio across the cog spacing. However, until recently Shimano has been using the same pull ratio for years in most of their rear derailleurs - so they all work. Exceptions are old Dura Ace, 10 speed and higher MTB, 11 speed road and the new 10 speed Tiagra.

Grand Bois

Contrarian that I am, I use an Ultegra 6500 on my mountain bike.

arimajol

Thank you all for the responses!

clasher

Just to note that current 10 speed Tiagra, the 4700 series, has a different cable pull 6700/6600 and 5600. I don't know if it's the same as 11 speed or not but I would guess they went that way.

arimajol

For more specificity, here is a picture of the derailleur. It is on a 1985 Trek 620, though it does not seem to be what was spec'ed. Is this the standard cable pull that was mentioned above?
Edit: I think it is 600 EX (6207 GS)