Shimano 8Sp MTN Shifter ID
05-22-20, 07:53 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Shimano 8Sp MTN Shifter ID
Can anyone identify these shifters? Date codes say they're from 1996. I looked at all the catalog pages from around that time but didn't see these. Most of the groupsets show the combo brake/shifter assemblies rather than just the shifter. Bought in a bag of mostly LX stuff but I LX components usually are ID'd as such. Just trying ot figure out what they are to help decide what type of project to use them on.
Last edited by jdave5917; 05-22-20 at 07:55 PM. Reason: correction
05-22-20, 08:11 PM
#2
Senior Member
They are below LX level, 8spd LX stand alone pods have an alloy top, not just the clamp. The red 8spd logo makes me think STX RC, but could be Alivio or something.
05-23-20, 12:59 AM
#3
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
These are "non-series" 8s Rapidfire-Plus shifters.
Look for the part number on one of the castings like the clamp. Very tiny molded text should read SL-M4xx or similar.
Embossed date code UD would be 1994 or 2000, making these quite old or new for a Rapidfire-Plus shifter!
Great parts btw.
Look for the part number on one of the castings like the clamp. Very tiny molded text should read SL-M4xx or similar.
Embossed date code UD would be 1994 or 2000, making these quite old or new for a Rapidfire-Plus shifter!
Great parts btw.
Last edited by dddd; 05-23-20 at 01:07 AM.
05-23-20, 01:47 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,039 Times
in
1,877 Posts
Date code would be April 1996. The only separate RFP shifters in 1996 catalogue were Deore XT, ST-M008. However, these look more like STX-RC, SL-MC38, which first appeared in the 1997 catalogue, so maybe they were a mid-year introduction.
05-24-20, 09:42 AM
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
They were removed from a mid 90s Klein but may not have been original eqpt since other components were pretty much consistently LX. SL MC38 looks correct. Thanks!
05-24-20, 01:32 PM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Finally found the SL-MC38 model imprint on the inside of the clamp. So this aroused my curiosity as to what the "RC" stood for. Snooped around but couldn't find an answer. Anyone remember?
05-25-20, 06:43 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,039 Times
in
1,877 Posts
Shimano introduced STX for ther 1994 model year, replacing Exage ES. It came in a standard version and an STX-SE anodized version. STX-RX was introduced for the 1995 model year. There is nothing in the 1995 catalogue that specifically mentions the meaning of the RC suffix. However, Shimano considered it it be "high performance", grouping it with XTR, Deore XT and Deore LX, whereas STX was the top "recreational " ATB group. One of the new features introduced in 1995 that was exclusive to the four high performance ATB groups was the removable cartridge brake brake shoe. I'm wondering if RC = Removable Cartridge"?
05-26-20, 01:16 PM
#8
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
Shimano introduced STX for ther 1994 model year, replacing Exage ES. It came in a standard version and an STX-SE anodized version. STX-RX was introduced for the 1995 model year. There is nothing in the 1995 catalogue that specifically mentions the meaning of the RC suffix. However, Shimano considered it it be "high performance", grouping it with XTR, Deore XT and Deore LX, whereas STX was the top "recreational " ATB group. One of the new features introduced in 1995 that was exclusive to the four high performance ATB groups was the removable cartridge brake brake shoe. I'm wondering if RC = Removable Cartridge"?
I've known people to seek out exact replacements of the RC shifters in particular, at considerable premium cost.
I am recalling a perhaps partially riveted chainring assembly, can't say if RC improved on that though.
It sure gave the bikes an upscale look to the eyes of a newbe.
05-26-20, 04:45 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,810
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1944 Post(s)
Liked 2,170 Times
in
1,324 Posts
I still run a STX-RC trigger on one mtb bike (plus Suntour thumb for the double chainring). They are pretty bombproof and
What is really cool about them is that I read an account, with pictures, of someone who bored out ID of the thick aluminum mount and installed them on the tops of drop bars. I'm not planning to do that, but for someone who wants to move from stem or downtube index shifters, without going to brifters, it was brilliant.
John
What is really cool about them is that I read an account, with pictures, of someone who bored out ID of the thick aluminum mount and installed them on the tops of drop bars. I'm not planning to do that, but for someone who wants to move from stem or downtube index shifters, without going to brifters, it was brilliant.
John
05-26-20, 07:09 PM
#10
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
I still run a STX-RC trigger on one mtb bike (plus Suntour thumb for the double chainring). They are pretty bombproof and
What is really cool about them is that I read an account, with pictures, of someone who bored out ID of the thick aluminum mount and installed them on the tops of drop bars. I'm not planning to do that, but for someone who wants to move from stem or downtube index shifters, without going to brifters, it was brilliant.
John
What is really cool about them is that I read an account, with pictures, of someone who bored out ID of the thick aluminum mount and installed them on the tops of drop bars. I'm not planning to do that, but for someone who wants to move from stem or downtube index shifters, without going to brifters, it was brilliant.
John
I got GripShift shifters to fit onto a steel (22.2mm) road handlebar, had to slit the inner barrel to go around bends but it worked fine as installed. It turned out to be a good hybrid-to-road conversion that brought a somewhat better price on the market.
05-27-20, 10:19 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,039 Times
in
1,877 Posts
"RC" designated the upscale chrome embellishments, all cosmetic as far as I can recall.
I've known people to seek out exact replacements of the RC shifters in particular, at considerable premium cost.
I am recalling a perhaps partially riveted chainring assembly, can't say if RC improved on that though.
It sure gave the bikes an upscale look to the eyes of a newbe.
I've known people to seek out exact replacements of the RC shifters in particular, at considerable premium cost.
I am recalling a perhaps partially riveted chainring assembly, can't say if RC improved on that though.
It sure gave the bikes an upscale look to the eyes of a newbe.
