Changing Shifters
 

I have a 18 speed MTB with grip shift. If I wanted to upgrade to ez-fire can it be done? Do they still even make 6spd ez-fire shifters?

Get 7 speed shifters an don't use one stop.

Question:

I know chain width varies as the number of speeds increases. Is this only between 7 and 8?

As long as chain width (therefore cog separation) is the same between systems, a 7 speed shifter should work for a 6-speed.

A 7 & 6 are compatible, a 7 & 8 are NOT!, an 8 & 9 are, but will suffer slightly in precision.

Other things to remember. Quality 7-speed items are difficult to find, you'll be restricted to lower level components unless you can find some N.O.S. items on E-Bay!

If you decide to jump up to 8 or even 9 speed, you will need to replace the freehub and change the dish of your rear wheel. BUT, with close-out prices available, it may be worth the additional hassle!

It all depends on how much $$$$ do you want to spend on upgrading. For the cost of improving an older 6 speed, you could probably get a complete bike with 9 speed, vee-brakes, suspension forks, new wheels...etc. I've seen people spend good money ($150-250) to upgrade an old bike only to still have an old bike! A brand new entry-level bike is as little as $300, and will have a much better frame and components.

L8R

It's a brand new bike with FS.

What exactlly do I have to replace to upgrade to 8 or 9 speeds? And how much does this usually run. I don't think i'm gonna go this route but it would be nice to know.

The complete drive train and the shifters: Several hundred dollars.
If it is 6 speed now, you may have to change the frame width and the rear wheel. (6 speeds are freewheels, 8/9 speeds are cassettes.) Save your money.

Whoa forget that. 18 speeds is fine for me anyway I just don't like the shifters :)

So I can get 6 or 7 spd ez-fire and that will work correct?

can i use 7sp rear derailer with 8sp shifter and 8sp cassette?

norelec, here's an option:

• $20 Shimano HG-37 7-speed Hyperglide freewheel, 14-28 teeth
• $30 Shimano ST-EF28 (for V-brakes) or ST-EF20 (for cantilever) EZ-Fire Plus shift/brake lever set with new shift wires
• $15 Sachs PC-41 chain

Your present derailleur should work with this setup. If you don't have the tools and/or expertise to take the freewheel off and set up the brakes and derailleurs with the new controls, having your LBS do the work will probably run you $30 to $40 (where I come from, anyway). If you just needed them to pull the old freewheel so you can thread the new one on, that would probably set you back $5 or less.

Ok last question I promise :)

This would be an upgrade to a 7spd correct cause of the 7spd freewheel?

I would have to get an LBS to do the work as i'm very bad at installing bike stuff myself :D

That's right :) You'd have 7sp in back. The EZ-Fire shifters have been very reliable too, nice value for the money. Your LBS should make sure that they pick the right type for your style of brakes, since it's important to use V-brakes with V-brake style levers, and cantilever brakes with cantilever-style levers. There is a big difference in the cable-pull ratio.

Ok thanks for all the info.

I have V brakes so I'll make sure to get V-brake levers