Bicycle Mechanics - 8 speed longevity

I am in the process of upgrading my bike. I am quite happy with my current 8 speed set up. I have some brand new parts to do the upgrade. I was wondering if anyone had any input as to how long quality 8 speed parts will still be around. I noticed that Sram seems to still support 8 speed. A good sign.

I went to nine when I upgraded my drivetrain just for that reason. I think eventually it will all gon nine.

Honestly, I don't think much longer. 8sp is coming up on 10 years old now, just try to get 7sp stuff which was really only 3-4 years before 8.

In about 2 years it will go the way of the dodo, IMO.

Well, 8-speed has one big thing going for it: 8-speed cassettes fit on the same freehubs as 9-speed and 10-speed. If it won't cost you much extra to upgrade to 9 or 10 speeds, do it. But otherwise stick with 8 - there will always be stuff on eBay.

Campy 8-speed components are getting very difficult to find and are reaching collectors item status.

Shimano is doing a bit better. Chains and cassettes will be available for quite a while but shifters are getting hard to find. I've got 8-speed 105 on two bikes so I'm aware of the growing scarcity first hand.

Fortunately, Shimano 9-speed hubs and derailleurs will accept their 8-speed cassettes and work fine with them.

The difference with 8sp is that it uses the same frame, hub spacing, unlike 7sp. I have no interest in 9sp. The overall gear range doesn't change. I think the continuous movement toward more gears is so people think they have to keep buying new parts, and shimano gets richer.

Wait is this for a road bike or mtn?

I think the continuous movement toward more gears is so people think they have to keep buying new parts, and shimano gets richer.
Well, Campy made the first move to 10-speed so Shimano isn't the only one trying to get richer. :)

Yes, the constant changes do obsolete parts and eventually you have to upgrade since you can't replace the old components. However, I have found the increase from 5 to 6, 7,8 9 and now 10-speed to have given me a continually better choice of cogs while allowing me to increase the overall range. I can get a 13x26 Campy 10-speed cassette that is a straight block from 13 to 19T and still gives three lower gears. A 6-speed freewheel/cassette with that range has some huge holes in the internal gearing.

If you want to keep your 8 speed running, the time is now to start stockpiling spares. I've got enough spare cassettes, chains and shifters to last me the next 20 years. :D

Yeah, I thought this was a mtn bike question. On a road bike I can understand more than 8. If I remember right, campy just about skipped 9 and went right to 10 to beat shimano.

If you want to keep your 8 speed running, the time is now to start stockpiling spares. I've got enough spare cassettes, chains and shifters to last me the next 20 years. :D

+1. I just bought a bit of XT 8s gear for a really good price for the sole reason that I want to stay on 8s on the MTB. It is an old bike and to move it to 9s seemed a bit wrong somehow. I think 8s stuff will be around for a bit longer yet, but definitely do what Svr says, stockpile for your life!

Here's a related question: since many people have reported that Shimano 9-sp brifters eventually fail and are not rebuildable, I anticipate having to replace mine eventually. Any chance I will actually be able to buy 9-sp Shimano brifters in the near future, or will I be forced to upgrade to ten-speed?

If you want to keep your 8 speed running, the time is now to start stockpiling spares. I've got enough spare cassettes, chains and shifters to last me the next 20 years. :D


+2. I have five 8-speed bikes in the house. With the arrival of a new frame, I'll soon be building up another 8 speeder - I have that many 8 speed parts/spares, mostly new, lying around. So stock up, no real need to move to 10 speed today, absolutely no benefit to go to 9.

Here's a related question: since many people have reported that Shimano 9-sp brifters eventually fail and are not rebuildable, I anticipate having to replace mine eventually. Any chance I will actually be able to buy 9-sp Shimano brifters in the near future, or will I be forced to upgrade to ten-speed?
The shifters will be "available" for a long time but will get harder to find and be more expensive. Currently they are a bargain since they are relatively recently been made "obsolete". The longer you wait, the worse and more expensive the situation will get.

If your 9-speed brifters fail, you might as well upgrade to 10-speed since the only other components you will have to replace are the cassette and chain.