Are new Shimano shifters compatible with old 600 Arabesque derailleurs?

Asked by: Tatiana Gulliver

Do shifters and derailleurs have to match?

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best not to mix and match drivetrain components from different brands. While things such as cranks, chains and cassettes are mostly inter-compatible between brands, generally speaking, shifters and derailleurs aren’t.

Will any shifter work with any derailleur?

No, different maker or different model with different number of “speed” shifters have different pull ratio (i.e. the length of cable pulled by a single shift). Usually it’s safe to use different model with same number of gears from the same maker.

Will any Shimano shifter work?

Shimano shifters, whether for 6, 7, 8, or 9 speeds are compatible with all the Shimano RDs for 6 to 9 speeds, and with Shimano 10 speed road RDs (not with 10 speed MTB RDs). Update: a new exception are Shimano Tiagra 4700 road 10-speed shifters, and Shimano GRX gravel series shifters.

Can you use a Microshift derailleur with a Shimano shifter?

Yes, it has to. If the shift ratio is the same it will work both ways. Microshift also make grip-shifters.

How do I know what model Shimano shifter I have?

The shifter can be identified by model number, which is stamped on the plastic perch (under the rubber hood).

Can you mix and match Shimano components?

It is possible to mix and match as long as you get components from the same generation. For example: 9000 Dura Ace, 6800 Ultegra, and 5800 105 are all cross compatible. Each have 11-speeds in the rear, use the same cable pull per shift and use the same front derailleur design.

Can you use friction shifters with any derailleur?

Any derailleur will work with a friction shifter.

Can I use an 11 speed derailleur on a 10-speed shifter?

Can An 11-speed Derailleur Work With a 10-speed Cassette and Shifter? Condensed Answer: Shimano’s 11-speed derailleurs have a different rear shift ratio than 10-speed derailleurs and are therefore not compatible with 10-speed indexed shifters.

Are Shimano 10 and 11 speed compatibility?

A 10-speed Shimano or SRAM cassette can still be fitted to an 11-speed body, but a spacer will be required to make up for the difference in width. There is another, more subtle, incompatibility that affects different brands of hubs and wheels, but it will only have an impact on those riders using multiple wheelsets.

Can I use a 9 speed shifter with a 7 speed cassette?

If you used a 7 speed cassette, with a 9 speed shifter and 7 speed derailleur you would not pull enough cable and the shifts will get mangled.

Can I use 12 speed derailleur with 11 speed cassette?

So you can’t use a 12 speed derailleur on an 11 speed setup or vice versa but you can you an xtr 12/11 speed shifter on an 11 speed drivetrain.

How long do rear derailleurs last?

Good quality rear derailleur can last between 3 to 5 years, when unbranded or low-quality ones can last for 2 years, no matter what the durability of the rear derailleur the jockey wheel will wear after time and it can be replaced very cheaply with new ones, on the other hand, front derailleur can last almost

What does Shimano SIS mean?

Shimano Indexed Shifting

Every Shimano equipped multi-gear bicycle includes Shimano S.I.S – Shimano Indexed Shifting. It’s the technology behind that “click” you hear and feel everytime you shift through your gears. That “click” captures the light, precise, and consistent shifting bikes equipped with Shimano deliver.

How do I identify my Shimano derailleur model?

Shimano stamps the rear derailleur model number on the underside/lower plate of the parallelogram.

How do I know which Shimano derailleur I have?

Simply look on the back of the derailleur body. The model number should be stamped there. It should read RD Mxxx. I’ve never seen a Shimano derailleur that didn’t have the model stamped there.

Can I use 11 speed derailleur with 10 speed shifter?

Can An 11-speed Derailleur Work With a 10-speed Cassette and Shifter? Condensed Answer: Shimano’s 11-speed derailleurs have a different rear shift ratio than 10-speed derailleurs and are therefore not compatible with 10-speed indexed shifters.

Can you use friction shifters with any derailleur?

Any derailleur will work with a friction shifter.

Are SRAM derailleurs compatible with Shimano shifters?

The SRAM rear derailleur (mech) will not work with a Shimano shifter as is; the cable pull and shift activation ratios are not the same between the two systems.

Can you use a 7 speed shifter on a 6 speed bike?

Re: Can you use a 7 speed shifter on a 6 speed cassette? The “numbers” say they don’t match. The cable pull of a 7 speed is less than a 6 speed so, though a couple of cogs might work, the rest will gradually not. You’ll never know if you don’t try it.

Can a 6 speed derailleur work on a 7 speed cassette?

So yes, a six speed rear derailleur will work correctly with 7, 8 or 9 rear speed systems.

Can I replace a 6 speed freewheel with a 7 speed freewheel?

If your bike currently has a regular-spaced 6-speed freewheel, you can generally upgrade to 7-speed with little trouble. Since the sprockets are closer together on a 7-speed freewheel, the overall width is only very slightly wider than a regular-spaced 6-speed.