USAZorro

I am working on a bit of a puzzle. I am converting a MTB with canti brakes, and I want to keep them. The hub I am planning on using has a Shimano 7 speed cassette. I had the bike set with an upright configuration with friction thumbies. I don't want to use the thumbies in the new configuration, and I don't want to use a stem or downtube shifter. Here is the puzzle part.

Are there any brifters that would work with this configuration, or am I looking at having to use bar end shifters?

LesterOfPuppets

1999 RSX 3x7. With some patient eBaying I think you can still get nice ones for $60-70

Of course, you can probably get an 8 or 9-speed cassette on that hub, too, so more options open up.

striknein

You'll need a new front derailleur, but it's doable. I like the ird alpina.

USAZorro

Pardon my ignorance, but what is this RSX? Is it a bar end unit, or MTB brifters, or something else?

OTS 

RSX is Shimano group

From velobase:
RSX was introduced in 1995 and was positioned below the 105SC and the RX100 group sets. The original RSX series was 7 speed & later modified in 1999 as an 8 speed group. This only lasted until the end of 1999 when the RSX name was withdrawn & replaced directly with Sora.

VeloBase.com - Component Listing

LesterOfPuppets

Oh, they went 8-speed in 1999. Interesting. I had a 1999 bike with 3x7, guess they used some previous year components.

Looks like the only reasonable bid ones right now are 8-sp, gonna have to wait for some reasonable 7s to drop.

USAZorro

Thanks for the fill-in. Will be looking at 7's - 9's.

This project seems to get a little bigger each time I think about it. Part of the beauty of it I suppose. lol Think I located a good donor bike on CL - at least for rims and possibly brake calipers. $40.00 out of pocket up front to solve a rim problem, with a couple further options to recoup funds seems a much better deal than laying out $100.00+ on new rims.

On a side note, I think I have found a go-to LBS here. Velocity is a cool place (albeit with a very small portion of the floor space dedicated to products). It's half bike shop, half coffee shop, with about 60 or so used bikes for sale. I took my project frame in when I went to pick up nice bar tape. Getting the pressed on parts of the headset removed and a stubborn BB removed for an estimated $10.00 - with one day turn-around.

himespau 

There are probably some 2200 shifters floating around too, right?

Coop500

Everytime I visit this thread I start pricing what I need to convert my Rockhopper lol. I just worry about the reach, I may try to buy some super cheap drop bars and nothing else just to test it.

thumpism 

It's easy now if you use a quill stem adaptor, then you can try one clamp-on stem after another with the same bar setup until you find the one with the right reach. Sure beats having to swap quills.

kingston 

I didn't add it up until after I completed the conversion and was a little surprised by how much it cost.

wrk101

It really depends on whether you have a pile of parts or not. With a pile of parts, it can be done for $20 or less (kind of extreme thrift case), and the sale of the stock parts can more than offset the expense (thumb shifters and mtb brake levers). Just sold a set of Suntour thumbies and I have sold multiple sets of the Dia Compe 980 levers, found on a lot of vintage mtbs.

If you have to pay for all the parts, its easy to spend $150 on a conversion.

When you compare it to a full on touring bike, it still can be a bargain. And hey, its fun, right?


Certainly if you have a nearby co-op, some of the parts can be super cheap (drop handlebars and brake levers for example). In addition, you can buy generic aero levers on eBay for under $7 a set, cheaper than replacement lever hoods.

Coop500

I have an adjustable stem on it now so I can raise or lower it but adjusting length would be nice without making it taller.

This is what it looks like now (except I have lowered the stem since this picture). I also plan to change tires. I know this isn't a classic or vintage so I apologize if I hijacked this thread. I just really dig these conversions.

Tim_Iowa

Shimano Tourney A-070 3x7 STI brifters, $80. They're cheap, but okay.

Kobe 

Depending on how well a 25" road frame fits you I would say maybe. I ride 26\27" frames and could never get a 23" mountain bike to work for me. Even a 24" Univega did not work, and ends up looking really goofy with the 26" wheels. I think the Giant Rincon came in a 24" size also.

I have had much better luck converting a hybrid to drop bars. The stand over is higher and the head tube is a bit higher so it is not so far down to get to the drops. I have been riding a 23" (25"ctt) Mongoose conversion for 4 years now and still love it. It will only take a 40c tire but that is plenty for the trails I ride. A larger steel hybrid should be easy to find and very cheap. I think most hybrid\flat bar road bike crowd has switched to aluminum.

kingston 

I ended up right around $800 all in, but I didn't cut too many corners, and yes it was fun.

wrk101

+ Hybrid conversions work well too.

And old steel frame hybrids can be quite affordable. This one came out of a local flipper's scrap metal pile (just the frames). In this case, the goal was to make an XS conversion, so I started with a really small frame. This one has Tourney trigger shifters, mounted on the handlebar flats, to match the shifters I have used on flat bar MTBs. Wanted to make something for the wife to try out.


[IMG]1992 Schwinn Crosscut 16 inch by bill, on Flickr[/IMG]

Started with this out of the scrap pile. Obviously, the bigger your stash, the less $$ it takes to complete. But complete vintage hybrids are pretty affordable (but not free like this one).

[IMG]1992 Schwinn Crosscut by bill, on Flickr[/IMG]

USAZorro

Cool. Thanks

Crawford53

I recently converted my Rockhopper and I love it. I've already got two vintage MTBs for actual off-road stuff, so the Rockhopper was a perfect candidate for a conversion for utility/commuting. I paid $20 for the frame + wheelset, then probably spent another $100 to complete it. All told, $120 for a steel commuter capable of singletrack and beating my father's $1200 road bike on a ride has made it worth it.

I find that Rockhoppers make especially nice drop bar conversions, if it works with your geometry. You can't beat the versitility for the cost. Ultimate value, at least to me.

Note: I do usually buy used parts. I'm cheap and hard on bikes, plus the LBS has a pretty sturdy stock of quality lightly used bits for cheap.

Squeeze

Speaking of 3x7 Shimano RSX "brifters", I have a set on my 1996 road bike and they work very well. I really like them, and catch myself wondering why anyone would need more than seven rear gears. My MTB has eight, and that's just ridiculous.

I have spent more than that, but I don't mind. That's pretty cheap as far as hobbies go. I don't play golf and I don't own a boat, so I figure a few bucks spent on fun stuff once in a while is okay.

And the parts are usable on other bikes, so it's not like buying something for one bike only. I believe there is a lifetime supply of '80s and '90s rigid mountain bikes and hybrids on craigslist, and if I find a bike I like better than the one I have now, I can just swap over most of the parts.

I finally have all the parts together and will attempt my first conversion this weekend. I've never even changed cables before, so this should be a good learning experience and, hopefully, a lot of fun, too.

Coop500

Thanks for the post and info on the Rockhoppers. I have no issue with used parts either. I hoping to find some old road bars cheap so I can try it and see if I will like it will enough to continue forward.

9009000

Hello & thanks very much for the info on drop-barring an old MTB for a taller rider - I`ve got some cheap components & a 23" c-t Raleigh 531 `All Terrain` tubed frame & forks to play with. It`s been very helpful to have your advice & will eventually get some pics up when I`ve got close to completion! I like that Mongoose Kobe! Thanks again, Julian

wrk101

Two excellent points there.

1. My father was an avid golfer, and he did spend a ton of money (and time) on it. Myself, I didn't get the golf gene, so it was mostly frustrating, and not much fun.

2. Most of the drop bar conversion parts: bar end shifters, drop bars, dirt drop stem, are very rugged, should last a very long time, and right now, are increasing in value. So if you don't like it, you can recoup a lot of the spend when you resell the parts. Buy right, and you could make a little coin for your efforts.

+100 Check your LBS. I have found a lot of vintage parts at low prices, like a nice Deerhead RD for $6, a nice set of Suntour barcons for $5, and so on. Build a relationship with your LBS, and who knows, they might toss you an old bike or two. Mine gave me an incomplete late 1980s Trek 830 last week. It had a decent Deore triple crankset and nice Deore thumb shifters. Earn your keep by buying a few items from them, and recommending their shop to others. I'll be dropping the fork, frame, and headset off at the co-op.

The strange thing I am seeing right now is vintage mtbs get little to no market response, but the PARTS off these bikes can do very well: long cage RDs, triple cranksets, thumb shifters, etc.

mountaindave 

You can use an 8s brifter on a 7s cassette. Spacing is close enough not to have issues. I am currently running a '97 8s 105 brifter with a 7s cassette and it is lovely.

Vonruden

New shoes