so i have two early 90s cannondales that were both equipped with shimano 105sc downtube shifted 7-speed. i tore one of these bikes down mid-summer and was planning on getting ridiculous with it but have now decided i just want to ride the thing.

i have the opportunity to grab, on the cheap, a complete shimano RSX downtube shifted 8-speed group[95ish?] in near mint condition. hubs are laced to mavics. can anyone comment on the shift quality/component quality of the RSX group compared to the, IMHO, near perfect 105sc 7-speed?

i have read mixed review of the RSX group - some say its early sora[read: junk] and others say it was a great entry group?

im looking for experience here more than opinions based on things read on the internet.

thanks in advance.

Sora isn't junk - I have a great set of SIS Sora 7 speed brifters (2003) that work great, and have for years.

i never said that sora was junk, i was saying the implication based on review is that it is old sora and therefore junk, as in, not dura-ace/ultegra/600/etc...

I have 7 speed RSX, 8 speed RSX brifters on a mix īn īmatch Cannondale, 8 speed 105, 8 speed sora and 9 speed Tiagra, as well as various other mix īnīmatches.
In my humble opinion they all work very well. Sora most definitely is not junk - itīs just underrated, and therefore fantastic value second hand.

The single most important factor in getting them all to work crisply is setting them up right, taking the time to make sure everything is 100%, that comes from experience (hard won in my case.....and learning every day)

I would recommend going for that 8 speed RSX gruppo, if itīs cheap, as it will be a great source of spares in the future. AFAIK the current Shimano 2200 brifters are compatible too if you donīt fancy the DT shifters.

Hope this helps,
Barchettaman

I've had no problems with the RSX brifters I have and have had. What I like about them, over the Sora, is the lack of the thumb shifter, since I ride the drops and the Sora's aren't the greatest for folks who ride the drops.

My experience with RSX components is with a very smooth triple group. The FD/RD, and 48/40/26 crankset worked flawlessly with the 3x7 brifters. I've only seen RSX brake calipers with an 8-sp setup, and they were very similar to the 105 8-sp (dual pivot) calipers, only the finish wasn't quite as nice.

You'll never notice the between RSX and 105SC. There are differences between the 2 groups but its nothing you'll probably notice.

thanks for the input guys.

Make sure that your frame can accommodate a 8 cog rear freewheel/cassette. If the rear spacing is less than 130mm it cannot...

+1 I just passed on doing a similar conversion to a 1989 Cannondale.

early 90s cdales were 128mm rear spacing for that exact reason.
also: went to get the group tonight... yea, uh thats a RSX 7-speed group...

passed.

A 130mm 8 speed cassette rear wheel easily fit my old 126mm frame...

Each stay only has to deflect a mere 2mm. No need to cold set.


Greg

+1 on the Sora...

I'm a real cheapskate when it comes to components, and run Sora hubs, rear derailleur and Altus cantilevers on my road bike...

...they all perform flawlessly.


Greg