Old Equipment on Modern Frame?

[Mr Weirdo]

Hello

Time to kill...so was wondering...I know you often get people asking can I install modern equipment on an old frame? How about the other way round? I have a Shimano 105 set of components and was wondering could they be easily(?) attached to a fairly modern aluminium frameset? Has anyone done this? Or is it such a common and occurrence and that's why I haven't found any other posts about it? Or is the reason being why on earth would you do that!?

All answers tolerated

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Can't see why not. 8 speed 105 will be 130mm spacing so straight in. If seven speed you'll need a 3mm spacer for your cassette on a 130 mm wheel.

 

[Jonny69]

It does fit. Up to a point, a lot of frames even had cable adaptors on the downtube shifter bosses to route the cables from these newfangled brifters. Which means you can still fit downtube shifters to a lot of frames.

I’m 100% ok with fitting newer components to an older frame, but I seem to have a slight allergy to going the other way round. From a weight weenie perspective it probably totally makes sense. But it makes my eye twitch

 

[Woz]

Yup. If it fits it goes IMHO. Neo-retro and all that.

 

[Mark Manley]

I am not sure if it counts but I have just converted this 2014 Rohloff hubbed, disc brake Roberts Roughstuff expedition bike into what I hope looks like a 3 speed drum braked roadster from the 1950s. Don't ask why it won't make sense.

 

[Canuk]

I've nearly got the complete group of a Shimano Sante, in pearl white. I'm thinking of putting it on a C40, just to see what it would look like. It's a really cool group, supposedly the plush version of Shimano 600.

 

[Attempted Mustache]

My new Bassi Le Montreal, featuring Stronglight 80 chainset (the third of my bikes this pair of cranks have been on!), Avid Single Digit 5 v-brake calipers (the originals from my 2006 Lava Dome), jumble Regal, hand me down Tektro drop v-brake levers, 9 speed Dura Ace bar shifters, jumble £1 Tiagra rear mech, well used Velo Orange zeppelin fenders…

 

[bikeworkshop]

This question throws something interesting into the spotlight.

Historic frames offer quite a few advantages over modern ones, bizarrely often including ride quality.

Historic components do not - although some last for ever.

There's a beauty and quality to many historic parts though, but they dont necessarily look their best on a modern frame with modern design details and components.

 

[novocaine]

guess it depends on the cut off. my commuter/tourer is from around 2018 and runs XT from the 00's. I don't think this is what you are talking about though really.

 

[Jonny69]

Actually, scrub everything I said earlier. I just remembered I built my cargo bike, which is a 2012 frame, with red Shimano DX brakes which are early 90s, Race Face cranks and SRAM X0 9-speed which must be mid 00s.

And yes, before you ask, my left eye has now developed an annoying twitch.