Upgrading Shimano RSX

[zax]

I have an old LeMond Reno lying in pieces right now, like this one:

http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?...

Frame and most other parts are good, but the gearset (shifters/levers, front & rear mech, chainrings) are in quite bad shape with random missing cables/screws/cable guides. So instead of hunting around for bits & pieces for a presumably no longer produced groupset I thought I could replace the whole setup.

Any suggestions as to what I should replace it with? I'm not so familiar with what's currently available. I'll be using it on road for longer distance rides, prefer the "less is more" approach to gears, and I'm on a budget!

[yellowjack]

Newly announced Shimano Claris (2400) groupset might be worth a look. Not sure of prices and availability yet though. Set to replace the current (nameless) entry level 2300 kit.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gallery/article/shim...

[gazza285]

I would be tempted to try and keep as much of the RSX as possible, it was pretty good kit in it's day. I still have the slightly lower spec RX100 shifters on my cyclocross bike, still work fine.

If you are looking to get rid of the old bits please let me know...

[zax]

Thanks folks. I cleaned it all up last night and it looks like I can try to salvage it if I can get hold of a full set of cables, cable sleeves and a few bolts here and there. Had to junk the spd pedals unfortunately. How well it works when I reassemble is another story entirely Need to hunt for some service guides on the internet now, it's always harder to put things back together than it is to take them apart. Especially since I took this one apart a decade ago...

[Barchettaman]

If the STI shifters are a bit sticky and the pawls aren't engaging properly, try drenching them in WD-40 (having removed the rubber hoods first).
RSX is good stuff.

[frbock]

I recently bought a NOS (almost - there was no grease on the rear gears, or front ) 1999 Cannondale R500 triple with RSX. It missed once in a while, andf the thumb levers were kind of stiff. Since the bar height and width were wrong anyway, I had the brifters taken off, and I shipped them out for a professional clean and lube. The action is now feather light. If the temp ever gets above freezing, I'm looking forward to riding.
I suspect years of uneventful riding are in my future.
Now, I just have to deal with the rapid fire shifters on my wife, and my early 90s hybrid bikes (exage). Looks pretty straight forward, no disassembly (famous last words).

[frbock]

We've had a couple of rideable days, and the shifting on the RSX is actually pristine, even on the downshifts while hill climbing.
I have solved the rapid fire shifters on the other 2 bikes. WD40 to flush, work the levers a lot. Let dry, and blast them with tri-flow (or any other solvent based lubricant with teflon).

[gazza285]

They do get gummed up as the grease dries up, I flush mine out with GT85 and lubricate with TF2. My RX100 groupset is now on a steel framed late 80's Raleigh, still working great.

[uncinqsix]

When I got the RX100s that are on my bike, they were horribly gummed up. I partially stripped them, completely cleaned them with degreaser and brake cleaner and relubricated with Redline shockproof gearbox oil. The redline stuff penetrates everywhere, and stays put, so it's ideal for this kind of thing.

Net result is a pair of shifters that work flawlessly - very smooth.