Bicycle Mechanics - Are Shimano Mountain cassettes compatible with DA Bar-end shifters?

Are 9-speed Shimano mountain and road cassettes the same width? How do you find this spec?

same.......and your 9 sp. DA barend shifters will work.

Absolutely....With one exception: The pre 9 speed DA shifters of any kind or speed have a unique pull ratio and are compatible only with pre 9 speed DA RDs..... wWth 9 speed stuff mtb and road cassettes are same width,with same spacing and road/mtb rear shifters are totally compatible.

Absolutely....With one exception: The pre 9 speed DA shifters of any kind or speed have a unique pull ratio and are compatible only with pre 9 speed DA RDs.or did you mean the older 8 sp DA shifters/rd's...

What do you think pre 9 speed means?

What do you think pre 9 speed means?ooops...! :) It must be the smoke in the air...(from the fires)

I think you can still run 8s barends on friction to shift a nine speed cassette.

Thanks all-- I tried to use DA 9 speed on a SRAM 8-speed cassette, and it didn't have enough pull. Just wanted to make sure that if I ordered a new cassette it would be the right size.

Thanks all-- I tried to use DA 9 speed on a SRAM 8-speed cassette, and it didn't have enough pull. Just wanted to make sure that if I ordered a new cassette it would be the right size....with which derailleur?
Your DA 9 speed shifters won't index but it should friction across the entire 8-speed range (sram or shimano cassette) as long as you're using a Shimano or any other compatible RD.

...with which derailleur?
Your DA 9 speed shifters won't index but it should friction across the entire 8-speed range (sram or shimano cassette) as long as you're using a Shimano or any other compatible RD.

Whoops....is that the problem? First of all, it's on a Dahon, which uses a 'custom 8-speed SRAM drivetrain', whatever that means. The RD is an 8spd mid-cage. Is this what I need to replace to get more pull? It just looked to me like the cassette was significantly fatter (>1/2") than, say, the 7 speed I was using the shifters on.

If the dreailer is 8speed, the derailer isn't the issue.It certainly has enogh lateral travel range. The shifter will certainly pull enough cable to shift across an 8 or 9 speed cassette in friction mode, but wouldn't shift it in index mode.Your problem is somewhere else. If you have a nine speed shifter and want index,the you aslo need a 9 speed casette, and the RD should also work.

...with which derailleur?
Your DA 9 speed shifters won't index but it should friction across the entire 8-speed range (sram or shimano cassette) as long as you're using a Shimano or any other compatible RD.well, in friction mode, the RD compatibiliity issue goes out the window, but the RD does need to have enough lateral travel between the hi and lo limits. One labeled '8 speed', certainly would.

well, in friction mode, the RD compatibiliity issue goes out the window, but the RD does need to have enough lateral travel between the hi and lo limits. One labeled '8 speed', certainly would.....unless he's using one of those Sram derailleurs with 1:1 or some other odd pull ratio RD.....

Still does not matter.Unless the ratio is so different that shifter simply won't pul enough cable to get the derailer across the width of the cassette....Now, if that is what his problem really is and not something else, then a shimano or non ESP sram RD is a fix.

Thanks all-- I tried to use DA 9 speed on a SRAM 8-speed cassette, and it didn't have enough pull. Just wanted to make sure that if I ordered a new cassette it would be the right size.2 questions... Exactly what RD are you using and are your bar end shifters assembled correctly? Otherwise perhaps people over in the folding bikes forum can help you as they always seem to be swapping shifters and mixing Shimano parts on their Sram drivetrain.