Decathlon Cobra 520. 6 x 3 shifters. Help please!

[Jezd123]

Hi all,

I’m completely fresh to cycling, so any advice you can give is gratefully received!

I bought this (old) bike and need to replace the shifters. I took it to Decathlon, but ironically they don’t stock the shifters it needs. They told me the teeth are likely worn on the inside and don’t catch the levers anymore. The guys in the shop told me to search for 6 and 3 speed shifters, but I can’t find them. Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

As it’s my first road bike, I don’t want to spend all that much if I can get away with it.

If anyone knows anything about the history of this bike, I’d be keen to hear about that too! Any ideas on how old it is?

Thanks in advance.

 

[uphillstruggler]

First of all welcome to the site

I cant help with info re the bike but......

you may have the option of changing the rear cassette to an 8 speed, it may make it easier (and cheaper) to get the shifters that will work. 8 speed triple shifters may be rarer now but still available on auction sites etc. you may even get some offered on here. you could always post in the wanted section in the classifieds area.

just a question about the handle bar stem, it seems to be pretty high. is it an extra long stem or have you passed the 'minimum insert' lines? if you have, be careful as stem failure could hurt a lot!

best of luck with the search

 

[Jezd123]

Thanks for your reply. You’re right about the minimum insert lines. Definitely going to lower that before I get on it again! I told you I was new to this haha!

I also just took the bike to another bicycle shop and he told me to look for 7x3 Shimano shifters. That makes more sense to me because there are 7 cogs on the rear wheel. Is there any reason Decathlon would’ve told me to look for 6x3? I know they said 6 because I wrote it down so as not to buy the wrong thing...

Thanks for the advice on posting in the wanted section! Great idea.

 

[Nibor]

Count your rear sprockets they look like 7 speed.

 

[Nibor]

if it is ahimano I suspect these would do https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICROSHI...357420&hash=item33bec0e1f6:g:PREAAOSwubRXMfIL

 

[uphillstruggler]

Count your rear sprockets they look like 7 speed. View attachment 426322

your eyes are better than mine

 

[midlife]

Are the shifters just gunked up and sticky or actually broken?

 

[Nibor]

your eyes are better than mine

No i took a closer look as 6 speed with brifters did not compute lol

 

[Jezd123]

if it is ahimano I suspect these would do https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICROSHI...357420&hash=item33bec0e1f6:g:PREAAOSwubRXMfIL

Thanks so much for this!

 

[Jezd123]

Are the shifters just gunked up and sticky or actually broken?

The left hand brake lever won’t move to change gear at all and the little one doesn’t feel like it catches anything.

The right hand brake lever works to change gear but the little one only catches sometimes (when it’s pushed forward).

 

[Ajax Bay]

The sprockets look like a 7 speed cassette on a freehub (30 OLN). Disappointed the Decathlon guy inferentially couldn't count (though their fault diagnosis is probably close). The 'teeth' on the inside may be just a bit 'bunged up' not worn down. First of all I'd give the innards of both STIs a good squirting with GT85/WD40, wipe off outside, leave to soak and see if the shifting improves.
If the OP sticks with 3x7 speed, then these STIs would do:
Shimano Tourney Road Bike STi Gear Shifter Brake Lever Triple 3 x 7 21 Speed Set
Could go 8 speed but new cassette and chain would be required, as well as 3x8 STIs which would cost more. Would have some concern that this expense would be disproportionate on a bike of this standard, though it looks in good nick.

 

[GuyBoden]

New STi shifters will cost more than what the bike is worth, you could cheaply convert to band on downtube shifters.

Used Suntour power shifters are about £10 - £20 on ebay.

 

[midlife]

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/comp...MIv4mr-4qB3QIVTrXtCh2OeQvUEAQYASABEgLfNfD_BwE

Or £9.99 for the true friction experience

 

[Nigelnightmare]

Have a look here:-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lAdo_vUX4

 

[Jezd123]

Have a look here:-

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49lAdo_vUX4

Thanks for this! I am definitely going to give this a go. The lack of movement/not catching is exactly the same!