Can I Update Wheel From 7 Speed Cassette To 8, 9, or 10 Speed Cassette?

Thanks for the info... what happens to your shifter? If I have a 7-speed shifter, can I remove 2 of the gears (and place them in the back as spacers) and still use my 7-speed gear? I just want to have more range (highest to lowest). I don't mind losing 2 of the middle gears in between the range. it will also save me from buying a 9-speed gears and derailleur :D thanks

Hey guys I discovered you can build a budget 11-34 7 speed drivetrain.

You use a sunrace cassette 11-34
Or modify the 8 speed 11-40 by taking off the largest cog.

shimano 8 speed derailleur

and a 7 speed shifter works superb!

No wolf-link setup!

Thank you for this explanation really clear and helpful. I bought a 2nd hand mtb, with 7spd cassette, after I checked your video I go right away and checked mine and found no spacer. But then few months later, I found out that this model originally had 8spd. Not sure if there are other parts changed aside from the freehub and cassette.

I'd like to upgrade from 6 now I'm ancient and find mountains a bit tough. I'd like a 1-1. My bike was built for me when I used to race in 1988, and I love the 531c frame for touring which is all I do now. It used to be impossible to fit a 7 speed, but I guess chains have become narrower -- could I possibly fit a 7 speed (or more?). I cannot find a bike shop who even know what I am talking about! I used to be fairly competent at maintenance. This is the best advice I've found so far!

Is it applicable only for mtb or offroad bike?

Can you just change the wheel out for one that has more chain rings? And would you have to change the chain to a longer one? Or could you use the same one?

Thanks, needs 35 mm long ...

Hi RJ,

I have a 7 speed hub without the spacer (30mm). When I fitted a 10 speed cassette and removed the smallest (11T) cog, it will fit in the shorter hub. The lock ring is still pressing against the new smallest (now 12T) cog.

Question: will this set up work? What shifter do I need, 9 speed or 10 speed?

Came across this vid the second time because now I know the answer to converting a 7 speed to 1x7. You don’t have to upgrade to 8 speed. Take the 11-42T 8spd cassette and swap your old 12T gear ring into it, making a 1x7 compatible setup. Hope I didn’t confuse anyone.

Cassette vs free hub isn’t the terminology. Free wheel vs free hub is accurate. Cassette is used by manufacturers for both free hub and free wheel. And cassette is used more often with free wheels anyway.

Does this also come down to the fact that the total width used to be 126 mm while nowadays it is 130 mm or 135 mm?

Thanks

I know this is 5 years old but your explanation of if you can add gears or not was so simple, clear and easy to understand. Appreciate your video.

Will an 11 speed cassette fit onto a 7 speed hub if it has that spacer?

Can i convert 1x8 to 1x10 if i change hub?

Can anyone say

This is same for 6 speed?

RJ!! As per usual, you're the MAN!
A follow up question: As the selection seems to be vastly greater for 8 speed cassettes, in worst case, can you just buy an 8 speed cassette and throw out one of the cogwheels and fit on to your 7 speed hub??

Have a mongoose hitch. Can you give me the part number for a 8-10 free hub. That will fit on my bike.

this video is a god-send. you would think this information would be widely available on every cycling website or video. But noooooo.... everyone just says the 7 speed hub is different from the 8/9/10 speed hub. Thanks, what am I supposed to do with that lack-of-information?

Planning to upgrade 7 speed thread type to 9 speed cassette is it possible??

What is the best or compatible Cassette hub for 10 speed 11-50T?

Can you swap the whole hub?

what if there's a white plastic on the cassette? plzz i need help!

You mentioned spacing and dishing. Is building my own wheel with a new hub an option? I cant seem to find a comprehensive list of over-locknut-dimensions.

Very useful! Thank you! 👍🏻👍🏻

I recently bought an old mountain bike , it has 8 speed shifter but on the freewheel has 7 what can I do ? Can I just change it back to a 8 speed ? Will I be needing a new chain ?

just a question. 8 speed hubs i've heard by design can accept 9/10/11/12 speed is this true?

Can i install a 10 speed 32hole cassette ,on a 20 hole 16 inch rim

Nice video

So i take back what i said 1 month ago,
So today I've gone in the shop and said, "yo how much speed can i have on my hub"
They inspected it(remind that i had 8 speed pre installed with bo visible gap)and said "10 speed"
I said"yo thats awesome, gimme yo cassette"
They said we only have 9 speed available now,
So i installed it, without any hassle, and voila, it was worth it

Love all your videos

What about 10 to 12?

Right now I have a trek 3900. It has an 8 speed on the rear. I found a trek 3500 on ebay. The frame is just a different color. Thats the reason I wanted it. After a little more research I found that the 3500 came equipped with a 7 speed. As the 3900 came equipped with an 8 speed. My goal was just to swap all my parts from my 3900 to the 3500. My question is will the 8 speed rear wheel fit on the 3500? I dont have the 3500 yet. It's still in the mail. Thanks. Love the videos you make.

So i just wasted my money on 8speed cassette hub, now I need longer cylinder

thank you. this why now i am looking to update my wheels for an 8 speed cassette.

Hi looking @ bikes, is a cassette of eight with 7 gears, is that good?

I have an 8 speed cassette can I upgrade to a 9 speed without measuring my freehub

Thanks for this. Can a 7 spd (30mm) freehub body be replaced by a 10 spd+ (35mm) freehub body?

You are actually the only guy on web providing the 2 HG freehub body sizes existing : 30mm (for 7v) and 35mm (8, 9, 10v). A big thank you sir

Hello, thank you very very much for your information, and for taking time to do this video, sharing this knowledge. Thanks again. Sorry for my bad english.

Thanks for this in the process of upgrading my drivetrain from a 3x8 to a 1x9 and the cassette I'm using is a sunrace 11-42T 9 speed that will be going on to a 35mm hub which is exactly what I have
Thanks for this video very useful information 👍

Off topic are the old (retro) halo combat wheels good I have heard there heavy and sturdy

My hub already have 9 speed cassette. I want tp upgrade to 11 speed. Do you think it will fit? Please answer, i need help. Thank you.

I have been building a drop bar gravel bike from a 1994 KHS Summit Montana MTB. I changed the 7 speed cassette to 9 speed by changing out the rear hub to one that’s approximately 5 mm longer to accommodate the deeper 9 speed cassette. I also had to cold set the rear chain stays 5 mm wider. I now need a hallow axle that’s 5 mm wider then the 145 mmm axle that came with this old bike. Anyone know where I can find a hollow axle that uses a skewer that’s approximately 150 mm wide??

I have novatec hub and it says for 8,9,10 speed cassette. But i want to upgrade my drivetrain into 11speed. Do you think my stock hub can accomodate 11speed??

Grate video, thank you!

I dislike his accent