The 7-speed is used in cheap road bikes and hybrid bikes, and we have compiled a list of ways to upgrade from 7-speed to higher grade gears such as 8-speed, 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on cyclabo. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Table of contents
Sponsored Link
Let’s check the hub type of the wheel.
The hub type of a bicycle wheel with multi-speed capability is
cassette free
boss free
There are two types of wheel hubs.
In the case of 7-speed bicycles, the cheaper the model, the more likely it is to be equipped with boss-free type wheels, so check the wheel type carefully first. If it is a boss-free type wheel, we recommend replacing it with a cassette-free type wheel in order to upgrade to 8-speed or higher.
For this article, we will assume that you are using a cassette-free type wheel.
Are you using an 11-speed wheel or a 10-speed wheel?
If your current road bike, hybrid bike, or MTB is a 7-speed bike, then you have two types of wheels.
11-speed wheel
10-speed (8, 9, 10-speed) wheel
7-speed dedicated wheel
Either of the following is true.
The way to determine which is which is by looking at the spacers on the low side.
5.45mm spacer on low side => 11-speed wheel
3.6mm spacer was installed on the low side => 10-speed (8, 9, 10-speed) wheel
no spacer on low side => 7-speed wheel
There is no problem in judging that. The possibility is not zero, but it is very unlikely that a 7-speed bike is equipped with an 11-speed wheel.
Converting a 7-speed wheel to an 8-speed
An 8-speed sprocket is 3.6 mm taller than a 7-speed sprocket, so if you try to install an 8-speed sprocket on a 7-speed wheel, the lock ring that holds the sprocket in place will not tighten. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the wheel with an 8-speed wheel or higher.
If your current wheels are 10-speed (8, 9, or 10-speed) wheels, they should have low spacers to match the 7-speed sprockets, so you can install 8-speed sprockets simply by removing the spacers.
Of course, you will also need to prepare the 8-speed sprocket.
Shimano's 8-speed sprockets are persistently popular as entry-level sprockets. Here is a summary of the differences between the many types and grades.
Converting a 7-speed wheel to 9-speed
The sprocket of the 9-speed wheel is the same height as that of the 8-speed wheel, so it can be converted to 9-speed using the same method as for the 8-speed wheel.
The 9-speed sprocket is used in Shimano's SORA compo for road bikes and ALIVIO compo for MTB. In this article, we summarize the types and differences of 9-speed sprockets.
Converting a 7-speed wheel to a 10-speed
Since the 10-speed sprocket is designed to be 2.5mm higher than the 7-speed sprocket, a 7-speed wheel cannot be fitted with a 10-speed sprocket.
If your current wheel is a 10-speed wheel (8, 9, or 10-speed), you can convert it to a 10-speed wheel by adding 1mm spacers to the low side.
If you have a 7-speed-only wheel, it is not possible to upgrade to 8-speed or higher, so you should simply buy a new wheel. If you have a 10-speed wheel with spacers (8, 9, or 10 speed), you can upgrade to 8, 9, or 10 speed with or without spacers and in combination.
From entry-level road bikes and hybrid bikes to higher grade road bikes, we have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of standard road bike and aluminum wheels.
Carbon wheels are popular for their ability to reduce weight while producing an aero effect with deep rims. The following is a summary of their merits and demerits.
It is easy to get confused about which wheels are compatible with which Shimano sprockets, as there are many different combinations. In this article, we will explain sprocket and wheel interchangeability in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-remember manner by looking at the evolution of wheels and sprockets.
Disc brake bicycles require wheels specially designed for disc brakes. In this article, we will discuss what is the difference between disc brake-specific wheels and rim brake-specific wheels. What is the difference between a disc brake wheel and a rim brake wheel? Or rim brake only? When selecting a wheel, it is important to know how to tell the difference.
Some manufacturers include the "C+ number" format, such as C15 or C18, in the product name of their bicycle wheels. In this article, we will explain the "C+ number" of wheels.
We have compiled a list of ways to upgrade the 8-speed model wheels, which are often used for entry-level road and hybrid bikes, to 9, 10, or 11 speeds.
The 9-speed wheel is used on mid-low range road bikes and hybrid bikes. We've put together a guide on how to upgrade your current 9-speed wheels to 10 or 11 speeds.
The 7-speed is used in cheap road bikes and hybrid bikes, and we have compiled a list of ways to upgrade from 7-speed to higher grade gears such as 8-speed, 9-speed, 10-speed, and 11-speed.
TPU inner tubes are gaining attention as the third force in bicycle tires. We summarize its features, advantages and disadvantages of using it on Road bikes and MTBs, and major manufacturers.
Shimano mechanical brake levers are now few and far between. The following is a summary of the current model lineup, specifications, and compatible components.
The dropper seat post is becoming a "must-have" part for MTB. Here we summarize the lineup, specifications, and features of dropper seatposts for MTB from major manufacturers, as well as a comparison of each manufacturer and points to consider when choosing a dropper seatpost.
This section summarizes the grades, features, and compatibility of SRAM's Eagle series of components for MTB, as well as the electric component AXS and the latest component, Eagle Transmission.
SRAM components are being increasingly adopted in entry-grade MTB. In this issue, we summarize SRAM's sprockets for MTB and points to consider when choosing one.
We have put together a 12-speed sprocket that is not part of Shimano's 12-speed lineup for MTB. With this one, it is possible to convert to 12-speed with a conventional Shimano Free Hub (HG spline) without upgrading the wheels.
When it comes to serious MTB customization, suspension fork upgrades are the way to go. However, there are various standards for MTB suspension forks, and if you choose the wrong one, it may not work at all.
This section summarizes the compatibility of Shimano's sprockets and wheels (free bodies) for MTB, which are a mixture of old and new standards, the latest Micro Spline and the previous HG spline, and what to look out for when purchasing.
Detailed explanation of MTB end standards! What is the boost standard? What is the end width that fits your MTB, points to keep in mind when buying an MTB, etc.
This section summarizes what tire inserts are and the advantages and disadvantages of using them, which have been attracting attention along with the spread of tubeless tires and have recently been used in professional road racing.
When looking for items to upgrade your road, MTB, or gravel bike tires, technical terms such as TPI, compound, and pattern appear in the descriptions. At first glance, tire specifications may seem difficult to understand, but if you keep only the important details in mind, your tire selection will be enhanced.
A torque wrench is a useful tool to have if you want to properly maintain your road bike or MTB. The following is a summary of what a torque wrench is and the advantages and disadvantages of torque management.
Bead raising is an essential task with tubeless tires. However, there are times when it is easy to raise the bead, and other times when it does not raise at all despite your best efforts. In this issue, we will introduce a method to raise the bead of a tubeless tire that will not raise, considering the cause.
If you hear a strange "shuffling" noise coming from the disc rotor area of your disc brake bicycle, it could be disc rotor distortion. This section summarizes why disc rotor distortion occurs and how to correct the distortion.
The booster simplifies bead raising, which is the most difficult part of tubeless installation. We have compiled a list of air pumps with booster(boost functions) that are reassuring to have one.
Many "hookless rim" wheels are lightweight and cost-effective. What is hookless? We have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of hookless, as well as points to keep in mind when choosing.