Need vintage Shimano gearing advice

[dddd]

Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd

He said 6s and it's original 600EX so he has a FW hub.

OP should be able to use a 7s FW if he wants to get 7s DT shifters or put his current shifters in friction mode. And long cage (GS) RD from 6-10s era (excluding Tiagra 10s and Dura Ace 7/8s era) will index perfectly with Shimano 7s indexing shifters.

New Hyperglide 7s freewheels are available in 12-28 and 12-32 at pretty low cost from Shimano and Sunrace. IRD may make a 12-30, but higher cost.

I agree that a 13-28t 7-speed freewheel would be perfect here, but the current HG freewheels are not offered in 12-28 or 12-32t. Might you be thinking of cassettes(?), I sometimes forget which type I am dealing with when pondering a gearing crisis.

I kind of like how a 52/42t chainset allows such a smooth downshift without disrupting my pedaling, especially when using DT levers.
Perhaps the OP might find that the four extra teeth in back, alone, might cure the gearing woes(?).

Unless these are the rounder "HP", "SG" or "II" BP rings, I would probably ditch the BioPace myself.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by dddd

I agree that a 13-28t 7-speed freewheel would be perfect here, but the current HG freewheels are not offered in 12-28 or 12-32t. Might you be thinking of cassettes(?), I sometimes forget which type I am dealing with when pondering a gearing crisis.

I kind of like how a 52/42t chainset allows such a smooth downshift without disrupting my pedaling, especially when using DT levers.
Perhaps the OP might find that the four extra teeth in back, alone, might cure the gearing woes(?).

Unless these are the rounder "HP", "SG" or "II" BP rings, I would probably ditch the BioPace myself.

Sure they are
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Tou...sAAOSwhBNdvLCa

I'm betting that 12-28 freewheel and a 39t inner, small ring, with DT shifters and proper chain length, would work fine. On that Nishiki, you can also move the wheel back if you are having difficulty if the b limit screw is all the way in.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by dddd

IMight you be thinking of cassettes(?)

I'm not, no. I just typed 12 where I should've typed 13.

DNP Epoch may make the freewheels with 12t small cogs. They make them with 11s small cogs (require a thin wall tool).

[rccardr]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

I would suggest changing the rings to 38-39/50 with a 13/14-28 freewheel.

This. That RD will easily handle a 28 tooth rear cog. If you need even lower gearing, it will also work nicely with a vintage compact 50/34 crankset.

Like so:

[dddd]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Sure they are
[url]https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Tourney-CS-HG200-7-7-Speed-Cassette-12-28T-12-32T-OE/352840565739?hash=item5226efc3eb:g:KmsAAOSwhBNdvLC a[/url...

Yeah, but those are cassettes.

SRAM was first to market with their clever 12-32t, 7s cassette that wasn't MegaRange. Shimano promptly copied it!
Can't patent gear ratios apparently(?).

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by dddd

Yeah, but those are cassettes.

SRAM was first to market with their clever 12-32t, 7s cassette that wasn't MegaRange. Shimano promptly copied it!
Can't patent gear ratios apparently(?).

oopsieHow about a 13-28

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimension-7...8AAOSwQOpe4p55

[warren128]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for going quiet for a while. I needed some time to think over my decision with regard to this bike. So every time I take it for a ride, I get all nostalgic and I think that maybe I should keep it around, and then maybe with a few tweaks, I can get the bike into my regular rotation of bikes (that get ridden).

After my fit of nostalgia subsided, I have decided to finally let this one go. It's hard because N-1 is not in my nature, but I need to make room in the garage for something else.

Thanks again to the generous forumers who offered to help me with the parts. I really appreciated all the offers and advice.

[Rudy]

"After my fit of nostalgia subsided, I have decided to finally let this one go. It's hard because N-1 is not in my nature, but I need to make room in the garage for something else."

Someone's gonna luv all over this bike. Nearly noble of you to pass it along!