Vintage Components - Shimano Rear Derailleurs
On another page, we also have: Shimano front derailleurs
Shimano rear derailleurs on this page: Dura-Ace 7401 6/7speed SIS | Dura-Ace 7700 | XTR M951 Rapid Rise | XTR M950-GS | Deore XT mid-cage | Deore XT long-cage | Deore DX M650 | Deore long-cage | Ultegra RD-6400 | 600 SIS short cage rear | 600 EX (short cage) | 600 silver short cage | 600EX Arabesque GT | 600 (Model 6100) | Santé short cage | Positron 333/Lark W rear derailleur w/twist-grip double-cable shifter | Positron II | 500 long-cage | 400 CX medium/long cage 7-speed | 105 5800 11-speed short-cage | 105 5700 10-speed long-cage | 105 GS 9-speed | RSX A410 GS | Tiagra RD-4700 10-speed | Tiagra 4400 GS 9-speed | Altus C20 7/8-speed clamp-on | Crane GS (long cage) | RD-AL11 friction long-cage
Also: Shimano derailleur ads from the 1970s
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Shimano Dura-Ace 7401 6/7-speed SIS compatible rear derailleur. Lightly used $120.00
The Dura-Ace rear 7401 was made in 1987-88. It's index (SIS or STI) or friction compatible. Weight is about 210 grams.
This derailleur will deliver crisp, accurate shifts in both friction and indexed modes.
The back shows it has had very little use.
Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 Rear Derailleur. Used, $200.00/each
This derailleur has cartridge bearing pulley wheels.
Beautifully finished
Back of the derailleur
From the front
From behind
From underneath
And it is a Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 rear derailleur.
Shimano XTR M951 Rapid Rise rear derailleur. Used, $100.00
A Rapid Rise rear derailleur has the spring action reversed. On this derailleur the spring wants to return the chain to the freewheel's largest cog. By pulling on the rear derailleur lever the rider puts the bike into ever higher gears (smaller cogs), the opposite of most derailleur actions.
You can see that the derailleur in its relaxed position (as shown) would put the chain in the biggest cog.
The back of the derailleur
From underneath
From yet another angle
Shimano XTR M950-GS Rear Derailleur. Used, $80.00/each
Though this derailleur has a few scratches, a look at the pictures below will show that it has had very little use.
Side view
The back of the derailleur. The pulley show very little wear.
The front of the derailleur
From behind
From underneath
Certainly a nice touch.
The other pulley is sealed as well.
Shimano Deore XT mid-cage rear derailleur. Used, $90.00
- Shimano part# RD-M735
- Produced 1992 - 1993
Shimano SIS, STI & friction compatible
The back side. Note that it has sealed bearing pulleys.
Another view
Shimano Deore XT long-cage rear derailleur. Used, $50.00/each
- Produced 1992 - 1993
A little scuffed, but works perfectly
The back side
From behind
Shimano Deore DX M650 Rear Derailleur. Used, $50.00/each
- Pulleys have rubber seals.
- Produced 1990 - 1993
- Will handle 32-tooth rear cog.
Side view
The back of the derailleur
From the front
The back of the derailleur
And from underneath
Shimano Deore long cage rear derailleur. Used, $40.00
- Shimano part# RD-MT60
- Produced 1987 - 1988
- 311 grams
- 6 or 7-speed index as well as friction.
- Maximum cog size: 32
One of the first indexed Shimano derailleurs.
From the back
Another view
Shimano Ultegra RD-6400 rear derailleur. Lightly used, $35.00/each
- Produced 1988 - 1991
- Shimano SIS, STI and friction compatible.
Front view
The back of the derailleur
Close-up, from the top of the derailleur
From behind
It is really, really nice of Shimano to stamp part numbers on most of it components. This way we know it is a 6400 rear derailleur.
Shimano 600 RD-6208 (SIS) rear derailleur
- This is the first generation indexing Shimano 600 derailleur. It was produced 1986 - 1987.
- Though designed for 6-speed, it will work on 7 & 8-speed SIS systems as well.
- It is designed to work on freewheels as large as 26 teeth,
Shimano 600 RD-6208 (SIS) rear derailleur #1. Used, $125.00
This derailleur weighs in at about 205 grams.
Another view
The back of the derailleur
It's in great condition as this photo shows.
Shimano 600 RD-6208 (SIS) rear derailleur #2. Used, $100
The original pulleys are in nice shape.
And from the back
Shimano 600 EX (short cage) rear derailleur. Used, $30.00
- Full component name: Shimano RD-6207
- Produced 1984 - 1986
- This is a friction derailleur, we think the last 600 model before indexing was introduced.
- This model was produced with several variations, with silver and black parallelograms.
Though a bit scuffed, the pulleys don't show a lot of wear.
Another view
Shimano 600 RD-6207 short-cage silver rear derailleur. New, $100.00/each
- Friction rear derailleur
- Produced 1984 - 1986
- This is a friction derailleur, we think the last 600 model before indexing was introduced.
- This model was produced with several variations, with silver and black parallelograms.
- This derailleur sat new, unused, so long that it became frozen. We re-lubed it and now it works freely and perfectly.
New and ready to shift.
The back of the derailleur
Front view
From behind
Close-up. It is indeed an RD-6207.
Shimano 600EX Arabesque GT rear derailleur. Used
- Shimano part # RD-6210
- Produced 1978 - 1984
- This is a friction derailleur
- Maximum cog size: 34 teeth
Shimano 600EX Arabesque GT rear derailleur #1. Used, $65.00/each
Still looking good after all these years.
A closer look
The back of the derailleur
Looking down on the top of the derailleur
From behind
Shimano 600EX Arabesque GT rear derailleur #2. Used, $65.00/each
This a friction derailleur, not an index-compatible derailleur.
The back of the derailleur
From behind
Front view
The back of the derailleur
Shimano 600 (Model 6100) rear derailleur. Used, $50.00/each
- Completely overhauled.
- Produced 1976 - 1982.
- Friction only.
- This derailleur is an important part of bicycle history. The 600 (Model 6100) is the first generation Shimano 600 rear derailleur. Shimano continued to produce this derailleur after production of the 600EX line had begun. With the introduction of indexed shifting, this derailleur was discontinued.
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Still looking good after all these years.
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Top view
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The back of the derailleur
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From behind.
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Made by Shimano in Japan.
And here's an early brochure for Shimano 600 rear derailleurs.
Shimano Santé short-cage rear derailleur. Used, $70.00/each
Disraeligears writes: Look beneath the lustrous hype and the Shimano Santé is one of the most innovative and influential derailleurs in recent history. Its all-over-painted look set the tone for Shimano’s road derailleurs for the next decade, and marked the road product out as looking distinctly different from the mountain bike equipment. It dispensed with the external Allen bolt head on the front knuckle for the first time. It had ceramic bushings in its pulley wheels, and was the first Shimano derailleur to support seven speeds (even before Dura-Ace). It had a plastic ‘pusher plate’ on the flange of the outer pulley cage plate to make changing smooth and silent. It is tiny in a way that previous Shimano road derailleurs were not, but Ultegra most certainly was.
You can read the entire post here.
It's had a lot of use and is ready for a lot more.
The back of the derailleur
From the front.
Another front view showing how a limit screw is hidden and protected.
And from behind.
This Santé derailleur has been disassembled, cleaned and overhauled. It is ready to go to work.
Shimano Positron 333/Lark W rear derailleur with twist-grip double-cable shifter. Used, $75.00/set as pictured.
- The set has been fully cleaned and serviced.
- Disraeligears.co.uk notes: The Shimano Lark-W is a Skylark adapted for Shimano’s twin cable ‘W’ twist grip system.
Here's the system, including the special two-cable tube clamps.
The Lark rear derailleur Shimano modified to be a Positron-capable derailleur.
The back of the derailleur
Side view, showing the two cables anchored.
From the derailleur's front.
The grip shifter
Another view of the shifter.
Close-up
End view.
End view of the left grip.
The special two-cable tube clamps.
Shimano Positron II rear derailleur. Used, $40.00/each
This derailleur has been completely overhauled.
The Disraeli Gears site writes: For 1977 Shimano tried a new approach to indexing - ditching the twin cable and introducing a single core ‘piano wire’ cable that was flexible enough to negotiate the route from lever to derailleur, but rigid enough to ‘push’ as well as ‘pull’. This cable came with special outer cable that was highly incompressible and even resisted tension. The derailleur itself was a Skylark adapted to include a built-in indexing system based on a sprung ball bearing running over series of notches. The lever was also indexed. The final pieces of the jigsaw were the 5 speed Uniglide freewheel with twisted teeth (and an occassional ‘low’ tooth), and the Uniglide chain with bulged outer links.
You can read the entire Disraeli Gear explanatory post here.
The derailleur, completely overahuled.
The back of the derailleur
Front view
From behind
The Positron ratcheting mechanism
The derailleur turned around to show the other side of the ratcheting mechanism.
Shimano 500 long-cage rear derailleur. Used, $40.00
- Shimano part# DC-110, 500GS
- Produced in the mid 1970s
- Friction only
- Shimano's catalog says this derailleur will handle up to a 34-tooth rear cog.
Velobase.com says: 500 was Shimano's first "famous" touring group in the 70's. It was the forefather of the 600 full group, which was introduced in 1976. But they still produced 500 as a cheaper alternative of 600.
It comes with the hanger.
And the back of the derailleur
Shimano 400 CX medium/long cage 7-speed rear derailleur. Used, $36.00
Part# shimano-rear-400cx-u77
- This derailleur is an index 7-speed changer.
- It has a "Centeron G" top pulley
From the front
And from the back. The long cage will allow it to handle a big freewheel
Shimano 105 5800 11-speed short-cage rear derailleur. New, $75.00
This is a new, unused derailleur taken off a new bike in our shop. It does have a few scratches.
Here's what Shimano had to say about this derailleur: Setting a new bar in the trickle-down technology trend, Shimano 105 5800 brings uncompromising 11-speed road performance to the more budget conscious rider. With a foundation set firmly on the success of Dura-Ace and Ultegra, Shimano's 105 5800 group is a workhorse component package that can hang with the best the industry has to offer. Powerful improvements across the range deliver optimized drivetrain and braking performance that will instantly take your riding to a whole new level. There are lots of flashy, distracting contenders out there, but if you're main focus is getting down to business, the new Shimano 105 group is ready to log some overtime.
Shimano didn't just limit their redesign of the RD-5800 to increase the gear range, but while they were at it, they added a new spring balance and cable pitch, increasing potential for adjustability. With the RD-5800 rear derailleur, shifting is crisp and predictable and adjustment is as simple as it gets. The SS (short-cage) version allows for use with cassettes up to 28t. The Shimano 105 RD-5800 rear derailleur offers reliability and workhorse performance at a price point that won't even get close to breaking the bank.
- 11-speed
- Improved shift accuracy
- New spring balance and cable pitch
- Lighter action
- Will handle 28-tooth large cog
There are a few shop-wear scratches, but it is a new changer, taken off a new bike.
View from the bottom
And here's another look at it.
Shimano 105 10-speed RD-5700 rear derailleur. Used, $35.00/each
- Designed with triple systems in mind, but will work well on wide-range double systems as well.
- The 10-speed SIS 105 rear derailleur integrates the wide link design prominently featured in both Dura-Ace and Ultegra derailleurs to not only promote quick shifting but to preserve the pivots for greater durability and long-term crisp shifting performance. Shimano's 105 group is perfect for riders who are looking for performance components but don't have a race-level budget.
Lightly used
The back of the derailleur
From behind.
Front view
From underneath
Close-up of some damage at the mounting pivot.
Shimano 105 GS 9-speed rear derailleur. Used, $50.00/each
- Shimano part# RD-5501
- We have completely overhauled this derailleur.
Overhauled and ready for the road
Top view
The back of the derailleur
From behind
And from underneath
Shimano RSX A410 GS Rear Derailleur. Used, $35.00/each
- 7 & 8-speed compatible
- Produced in the 1990s. At the end of 1999 Shimano replaced the RSX name with Sora.
Ready to move your chain across a wide-range gear cluster.
Here's the back of the derailleur
From behind
Front view
Shimano Tiagra RD-4700 10-speed rear derailleur. New, $50.00/each
- This derailleur was taken off a new bike in our shop.
- It will handle a 34-tooth rear sprocket when coupled with a double front crankset and a 32-tooth rear sprocket with a front triple.
Tiagra offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Front view
The back of the derailleur
From the back
A modern derailleur is a complicated thing.
Shimano Tiagra 4400 GS 9-speed rear derailleur. Used, $45.00/each
Side view
The back of the derailleur
From behind
Front view.
Shimano Altus C20 7/8-speed clamp-on rear derailleur. New, $30.00/each
- This is a new derailleur, taken off a new bike.
- This derailleur is 7 & 8-speed indexable.
The derailleur must be mounted with the hanger on the top pivot in the bike's drive-side rear wheel slot.
The back of the derailleur
From behind
Front view.
Shimano Crane GS touring derailleur. Used
- We believe this is the first version (round holes in pulley cage arm) of this legendary derailleur, produced in 1971.
- Shimano part# DR-102
- Maximum cog: 34 teeth (Sutherland's 4th)
- Weight: 238 grams
- Both pivots are sprung
Disraeligears.co.uk says of this derailleur: With the Crane, Shimano pulled out all the stops in an attempt to make a truly world-class derailleur. It was an all aluminium design with a dropped parallelogram - a world first. The finish was excellent with that anodised ‘glow’ that Campagnolo had perfected. The chromed parts were bright and polished. The pulleys had a two part bushing system so that bronze rotated on bronze. Even the springs seemed to have less of a tendency to lose their tension.
Shimano Crane GS touring derailleur #1. Used, $150.00
Shimano's first big leap into top-end components.
Rear view
Another view.
Shimano Crane GS touring derailleur #2. Used, $150.00
We have completely rebuilt this derailleur.
The derailleur that put Shimano on the pro parts map
From above
From behind
The back of the derailleur
We really did rebuild this derailleur. Here it is part-way through the job.
Here is another shot of the derailleur getting lots of love. We made the pictured round spacer as the old one was missing.
We really break down a derailleur when we overhaul it.
The pulleys come in for their share of attention.
Here's an old Shimano Crane ad
Shimano RD-AL11 long-cage rear friction deralleur. Used, $35.00/each
- Produced in the years around 1984.
- This is a friction, slant parallelogram rear derailleur
- It will handle up to a 34-tooth rear cog.
A highly-functional, economical rear derailleur.
From underneath.
The back of the derailleur
Here are a few Shimano derailleur ads:
A Shimano Crane ad from the early 1970s
Here's another Shimano Crane ad from the early 1970s.
Ad for pre-indexing mid-range Shimano rear derailleurs
Here's another ad from the 1970s.
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