Mountain Biking - Want to move up to 9spd...

Heya, So I'm thinking about doing some bike upgrades this summer, probably new front shock (either marz or rock), with the new shock i'd like to go avid mech disc up front, and I want to go from the 8spd i have now, to 9spd. What's involved with this?

I'd need a new cassette, new crankset, new chain, new front/rear derailleurs, new shifters, new cables (just because mine are original), and what else am i missing? New bottom bracket? New Rear hub (i'm assuming just get disc and use my v's, just incase i wanna change later)? Do i need a new headset?

I was thinking about buying all XT parts, but I see there are Race Face cranksets that look pretty nice, any ideas? I know for sure i'll go XT w/ for the derailleurs, but not sure what else is good. I'm not looking to spend a lot of coin on this either, but not go REAL cheap (ie lx, deore, not that there's anything wrong with that). If i can find some deals on XTR i'll go with that, but it is definately not needed.

I currently have a 95 or 96 specialized stumpjumper m2 and it's basically all original parts, minus the front/rear derailleurs and chain, and tires... Am I looking at a lot of work here? I'm not a great bike mechanic as i don't know much but I'm extremely interested in learning and this is partly why i want to do the upgrade myself. Anyways, lemme know what you guys think.

I don't have a lot of time to type so I can't get into what I would choose for components, but you are going to spend several hundred dollars by the end of this unless you can get some stuff real cheap. You made it sound as though you didn't want to go below XT level stuff, so you are alread talking about quite a bit of $. You wanted to go to discs, so you'll need wheels. That's a couple hundred more for a decent set. The Avid mech will run you close to $80 or $90, and a decent fork is going to add a couple hundred more to the equation. A crankset from Raceface will run you quite a bit as well. You could almost buy a very nice new hardtail for what you might spend on the upgrade, and with a little more saved up you could get yourself a decent FS.

If I were you, I would get a new BB with the new crankset, regardless of whether you would need one or not. If you want to go to discs front and rear eventually and don't have disc wheels now, you would be better off buying a decent set of pre-built wheels instead of having your current wheels rebuilt with new hubs and spokes unless you are running real nice rims now. If you do buy wheels, make sure you get them properly tensioned by a shop after you get them if you order them online. Make sure you get disc wheels that still provide a surface for rim brakes if you intend to keep running a V-brake in the back for the time being. You also need to make sure that your bike has disc tabs being 7-8 years old. If it doesn't, you could buy adaptors, but it would just be another reason to put the money towards a new bike in my opinion.

To change out all of these things will take a good chunk of time for someone who isn't to experience at it yet. You would also need to buy at least a few bike-specific tools to get some of these jobs done. You could avoid some tool costs by having the LBS do some of the bigger things like the headset and the BB. You would also know it was done properly. Other things will include installing the front and rear derailleurs and adjusting them properly. This will take you a little while, but can be done. Just don't get frustrated with it. Good luck!

-Moab

Just recently, I saw a complete grouppo package with XT and Race Face, but for the life of me, can't remember where.

Me, I'm not a big fan of the XT crankset. Purely based on looks.

Everything else XT is awesome. However, I would still rather have a full 8-speed drivetrain if I could continue to find parts. (that's getting more and more difficult as parts suppliers are running out of their inventory) I just "felt" the 8-speed stuff was as good as it needed to be. I never broke an 8-speed chain and have gone through numerous 9-speed. The gear ratios were fine with 8 for my style, not any better with 9. And total weight was less! I don't know why Shimano ever went to 9. Maybe for their racers, but for Joe Q public, 8 speed was great! Ah, perhaps it was TOO good!

As far as what you need, if you get a package deal on a complete grouppo, why not get everything new. If you try to piecemeal it, it'll end up costing more. Also, many mail order companies will only make you pay the difference if you want to upgrade a specific part (shifter for example).

My question for you is this,"if you're going to buy all new parts, are you sure you want to put them on an 8 year old frame?"

You're gonna spend around $1,000 for the groupo, (maybe slightly less), then you spoke of a new front shock. That'll be another $400- 500.

That's pretty close to $1,500.00. For that much, I'd buy last year's bike on close-out, or a slightly used bike that someone is getting rid of cheap!

I only spent $2,000, on a one year old full suspension bike, with full XTR and Hydraulic disc brakes. (MY DREAM bike!) If I wanted to upgrade my older frame, it would have cost me close to $1,800 to build it similarly to what I bought and I would've been using my old frame!

Just a thought. Then you could keep your current bike as a back-up or a spare when your buddies come visit and want to go for a ride!

L8R

To upgrade to 9spd from 8 you only need 9 spd pods, 9 spd cassette, and 9 spd chain...thats it. It is an easy upgrade. And places like pricepoint sell actual upgrade kits so there is no need to do research on places to buy them :)

If you wanna upgrade the cranks you will have to find out if you have a shimano BB. If so then you have to buy shimano compatible cranks. Raceface uses a standard spline crank which doesn't fit on shimano. (I would personally get a raceface bb and raceface crank but thats me)

No just a chainwhip and a cassette tool and possibly a lot of strength if it is seized. It is a pretty easy job. I don't know about the bb as my raceface has lasted a year after I blew my truvative within 1 week and got it warrantied. :)

Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about.

If you're interested in a full squish with full XT and a great fork and a rear shock, this is a great buy: Iron Horse (http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?parentid=21127&secid=7559&subid=7)

You want a freeride bike?:SGS (http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?parentid=21098&secid=7559&subid=7)

How about a sweet XC bike? Titanium Even: Zion (http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.asp?number=46110)

For around $1,500.00 the selection is WIDE!

L8R

man, you guys are saying a lot of money here, fork aside it sounds like it's guna run me ~$1000 just to goto 9spd. I don't really have the money to buy a new bike that i'd want simply because i have other things to buy. I'm thinking maybe I'll just buy new XT shifters, rear/front derailleur, all for 8spd, maybe a new crankset, that'd run me what... $300ish? Or maybe i'll leave my components as is and buy some new cables and the fork and be done with it until i have enough money for a new bike, shrug.

Nomy choice for a simple upgrade is simple 130 american I believe. Unless you wanted to upgrade the bb and crank :)

Man do I love that SGS. I just wish I could testride one. They don't sell on the west coast of canada.

I was suggesting a complete grouppo, because you basically listed all the components plus new wheels. If you want just a complete component package, you can get one for $500 or so. This one is Vee brake, so you'd have to swap out some stuff, but here you go: http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=XT+Group&vendorCode=SHIM&major=2&minor=5

L8R

You could also order something similar to this if you just want to upgrade your drivetrain. This is 9-speed, but your Front Derailleur will work. You said you wanted new cranks anyways: http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=X%2EO+Upgrade+Kit&vendorCode=SRAM&major=2&minor=2

L8R

Well I think for right now if i don't buy that complete grouppo (wtf is a grouppo?) I'm definately buying a new fork, and probably some new brake/shift cables and maybe shifters and rear derailleur. Man i really like that Zion and that Iron Horse is ok. I'm definately a XC person, i don't do insane drops or stuff like that, i just like all around trail riding, we'll see those, maybe a new bike is in the works for the spring. thanks for your help

what is the big advantage of 9sp over 8, besides the obvious 3 more gear possibilities? do you get a higher top gear, meaning you could potentially go faster, ro do you just get more gear combos in between the easiest gear combo and the hardest?

For me I dont use 1/3 of the gears on my 9speed, most of them feel so similar that theres not much use in shifting to them.

I don't really know honestly, i just kinda wanted new components cause mine are getting old and i figured the easiest way would be to just goto 9spd, i definately don't use all of my gear combinations. WHen i'm on the trails i mostly hit up the middle ranges of gears with the exception of going up big hills.

Originally posted by DrGonzo
I don't really know honestly, i just kinda wanted new components cause mine are getting old and i figured the easiest way would be to just goto 9spd, i definately don't use all of my gear combinations. WHen i'm on the trails i mostly hit up the middle ranges of gears with the exception of going up big hills.

I see what your getting at then. It just seems like replacing whole drivetrains is way overpriced most of the time. If you are going to do it you should seriously look at Sram, their systems are getting really good reviews and they havethe new trigger shifters as well. If you're a shimano fan then stay with them because you are sure to be happy. let us know what you get.