Mountain Biking - 8 speed to 9 speed

If I change to that, will the 9 speed cassette be to wide to where I would have to change the hub perhaps? Or something else... other than the shifters.

Hub is the same.

wtf are you talking about?

I hade the same question and called my lbs. They said I need a new shifter, derailer and cassett. Then the guy told me I don't really need 1 more speed, that I would never know the difference. Once I thought about it, he was right (just saved about $225).

The hubs are the same, but you would have to change the chain, rear derraileur, and shifter, which you know.

I hade the same question and called my lbs. They said I need a new shifter, derailer and cassett. Then the guy told me I don't really need 1 more speed, that I would never know the difference. Once I thought about it, he was right (just saved about $225).

+1000

i'm still 7-speed. 12-14-16-18-21-26-32 cassette, 49-40-28 crank. how many gears does one really need?

Ok I probably wont change then:D

Yeah, there is no need for 9, the high and low will still be the same, just closer ratios. Its a scam to get people to buy parts they don't need.

8 speed derailleur will work on 9.

to go from 8 to 9 you will need the following new parts:

- 9-speed cassette
- 9-speed rear shifter compatible with your existing derailleur
- 9-speed chain (narrower than 8-speed)

If you are already replacing worn out or broken parts and you REALLY want the extra cog, then go for it. That said, I'm also of the opinion that your $$ can be much better spent on parts other than those above if you are considering going from 8 to 9 speeds just because. Keep the parts you have and if you find yourself wanting a gear higher than one and lower than another, shift into the higher one and push a bit harder.

I hade the same question and called my lbs. They said I need a new shifter, derailer and cassett. Then the guy told me I don't really need 1 more speed, that I would never know the difference. Once I thought about it, he was right (just saved about $225).

A new derailleur is only necessary if you're switch actuation type (rapid rise or SRAM 1:1).

Yeah, there is no need for 9, the high and low will still be the same, just closer ratios. Its a scam to get people to buy parts they don't need.

For some reason, they don't like making 12-34, 11-34 cassettes in 8 speed. They only make those "Mega-Range" cassettes. I'm not sure if it's a shifting interval thing or just marketing.

I'm sticking with 8 speed. But if I build a new bike, it will be nine speed.

The main reason I upgraded was due to the fact that I had hand-me-down parts left over from bumping up the component spec on my trailbike