bike question....

[Hmann]

i have an old shogun bike that my dad just found in our shed. it is an old 12speed with a 6speed casset rear. the bike needs new rims, so my qestion is, can i upgrade to a 7 or 8speed casset? 6speeds are no longer made therfore the hubs cant be found, but will a 7 or 8 still fit back there?

[msk]

The short answer is no.

If the hubs are still good, you can get the wheels rebuilt with new rims. Otherwise, converting to 7 or 8 speed (and getting everything to work properly) will require some significant upgrading, including getting the rear of the frame spread and re-aligned. To do it right, besides the new wheels, you'll need new shifters, front derailleur, possibly a new rear derailleur, cassette, chain, possibly new chain rings or crank, and get the rear spread...

*edit* If your existing shifters are friction, and not indexed (or have a friction option), you might be able to get away with just using new wheels, cassette, and chain, but you won't have indexed shifting. Because 6 speed had wider spacing, you could still run into shifting problems up front due to wider chain ring spacing and a wider front derailleur cage, and then you'd have to replace those as well...

[sk8norcal]

in general, like msk suggersted, its not worth the trouble or $, unless you have a bunch of old parts lying around...

and that's why i think these old bikes are not worth the effort..


but you can try to find a 6 speed hub on ebay....
or
Freewheels (Thread on Type) for Bicycles from Harris Cyclery

they are 126mm wide...
i think yours is freewheel instead of cassettes..