8 speed levers with 7 speed cassette

[QUIST]

the rear wheels on my touring bike have a 7 speed cassette but the combined brake/gear levers need replacing and I cannot find a 7 speed combined for sal;e - has anyone any experience of using a 8 speed combined with a 7 cassette on a bike with drops/

Thanks,

toby

[meic]

Considering the relative costs of gear shifters and cassettes, I would consider updating your bike at this point.
Not saying that you should update but consider doing so before jumping in to buy new shifters.
The new rear hubs can be made to fit 7 speed cassettes as well as 8,9 and 10 cassettes by using a spacer. Cassettes are relatively cheap and a consumable item but I guess that you may have a hub that is not suitable for an 8 speed cassette.

Here is the CTC expert's information sheet to explain the issue.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3946

Personally I would be looking to buy a new 8 or 9 speed STI shifter and then get a new rear hub and cassette of the same type.
Nothing to lose by just doing the 8 speed shifter for now as many people quite happily run 7 speed cassettes with them. If you dont like how it changes then you can upgrade the rest of the bike.
Now is a good time to think if you want 8 or 9 speed as the obsolescence will be creeping along to the 8 speeds before too long.
In fact it may even have started, Sora shifter's now start at 9 and the others at 10 speed.
Fortunately 8 speeds are still available in old stock.

[QUIST]

Thanks for all the info the main reason I'm not thinking of upgrading is that I have several 7 speed cassetes which are unused.

In addiiton to wander from a 7 to an 8 and then back again when i changed bikes would be too much for my body to take - the way things are going we'll have electrically shifted changing with god know how many rings on a cassette,

Toby

[meic]

In that case I would hang out as long as possible looking for second hand 7speed STI units, they are out there somewhere.
You only need the right hand lever to be 7 speed the left can be any just dont forget to make sure it covers a triple if you have one.

As you may have seen on the info sheet a Campagnolo 9 speed will change your 7 speed cassettes but not the front deraileur unless you find the rare non-indexed left levers.
If you dont mind Campag on the right and something else on the left it is an option.

[Erudin]

These are the only 7 speed combined brake/gear levers (right-hand) i could find: Ebay link NOS Shimano Sora ST-3300 7-spd Right

[benjaminn]

I use 8 speed sora shifters with a 7 speed cassette. Shifting is excellent, and the extra click is not noticeable - it just feels the same as when you try and click past the last cog of any cassette.

I'd have no qualms

[andyh2]

You might find something here;
http://retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewforum. ... 87e45874a5

[matheprat]

I use 8 speed shifters with a 7 speed cassette. All works fine. The difference in shift distance between 7 and 8 speed is only 0.2mm/cog. Centred on the middle cog means only 0.6mm error at each end.

[MikewsMITH2]

8 speed Shimano shifters index perfectly with 7 speed cassettes. In fact the downtube shifters on my tandem are inscribed 7/8 speed. I used them for 3 years with a 7 speed freewheel and now I am using the same shifters with an 8 speed cassette.