Bicycle Mechanics - Will 10 speed shifters work with 9 speed group?

I have 10 speed Ultegra shifters and wanted to know what problems I might have if I used them with a 9 speed Ultegra group. Anybody have any insight into this? Thanks for the help. RON

My understanding is that it should work fine. Just make sure your limit screws are set properly because otherwise you'll shift off the end of your casette. The cable movement is the same for 8, 9 and 10 speed as far as I know.

The spacing is off, 10spds are closer together than 9spds so the brifter expects the next cog to be closer than it is and at some point it may be cumulatively off so much that it miss-shifts. Shifts will be noisy prior to that because of der cage mis alignment with the chain. Sheldon Brown's site may discuss this,
www.sheldonbrown.com

It will work fine if you replace the cassette and chain with 10-speed, as well as the shifters.

Al

My understanding is that it should work fine. Just make sure your limit screws are set properly because otherwise you'll shift off the end of your casette. The cable movement is the same for 8, 9 and 10 speed as far as I know.
This isn't correct. The spacing is different between 9 and 10-speed cogs and the cable movement has to be different too since the same rear derailleur works for 7 through 10-speed groups. Shifters are speed-specific.

I have 10 speed Ultegra shifters and wanted to know what problems I might have if I used them with a 9 speed Ultegra group. Anybody have any insight into this? Thanks for the help. RON
Yes.

If you are using a 9-speed cassette, you'll need to use the "Alternate Cable Routing Trick." (http://sheldonbrown.com/alternate)

I was running my Raleigh Cadent this way for a while, worked fine.

Then when you are ready you can just get a new 10-speed cassette and chain and you'll be ready for ten speeds.

Some folks will tell you that you need other stuff for 10 speeds, but they're mistaken.

Sheldon "Versatility" Brown

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| Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, |
| you are usually right." |
| -- Henry Ford |
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Then when you are ready you can just get a new 10-speed cassette and chain and you'll be ready for ten speeds.


Sheldon,

Thanks for the advice, but would you also need to change your large chain ring over to a 10-speed chain ring? Or is that just for Campagnolo? Or am I mistaken?

Thanks,

Greg

9 and 10 speed rings work interchangeably for Shimano.

Sheldon,

Thanks for the advice, but would you also need to change your large chain ring over to a 10-speed chain ring? Or is that just for Campagnolo? Or am I mistaken?

See previous message. The "need" to change chainrings is mainly invented by the marketeers. True of any brand.

Sheldon "Yep" Brown

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| You can fool some of the people all of the time, |
| …and those are the ones we're after! --Anon. |
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Excellent! Thanks Sheldon.

Thanks for the help Sheldon. I will put the shifters on today :)