Bicycle Mechanics - Cheap way to 9 speed - 105 Shifters? Woth it?

I'm trying to make an economical jump from 8 to 9 speed.

I've got 9 speed Shimano 600 Ultegra right now.

It is time for a new cassette and chain, so that is a given (cost wise).

I'd like to have a 9 speed bike, but I don't want to blow a lot of $s since 10 speed is on the way. If my cassette and chain were cool now, I'd wait.

That said, the missing link is a 9 speed shifter. Do 105 suck too much to use? They are obviously the cheapest, but going from Ultegra, will I be so disappointed I pull them off after a few rides?

That said, the missing link is a 9 speed shifter. Do 105 suck too much to use? They are obviously the cheapest, but going from Ultegra, will I be so disappointed I pull them off after a few rides?

Heres my setup:

1989-ish Paramount (7spd shimano 100 orig.)
Araya wheels 7spd now with a 8/9spd freehub
Ultegra 600 rear
new Ultegra STI front
Tiagra STI shifters
105 cranks
...in other words very similar to your setup and pretty "ghetto rigged"
but its smooth like butter

Despite what anyone says, a shifter is basically a shifter. One might be one iota smoother or one nanosecond faster, and a few grams lighter, but they all do the same thing. According to my superior, a former GF team mechanic, the 600 STI's are some of the worst STI shifters ever made. I was going to use them on my bike but he actually recommended the Tiagra over the 600's. See if you can maybe find some good used Tiagra/105ers... I think you will be pretty happy with either.

105 works fine for me. My bike came with it and I have had no problems with them. If I had to buy new shifters I would probably buy Ultegra or Dura Ace though. The ultegra shifters are only about $20 more than 105.

I got mine downtube shifters for about $2! and its shifting my ultegra 9 speed cassette.

I got mine downtube shifters for about $2! and its shifting my ultegra 9 speed cassette. In friction mode, I presume... (or do they actually make a clicky 9-spd downtube shifter?).

In friction mode, I presume... (or do they actually make a clicky 9-spd downtube shifter?).

They do.

I liked my old down tube shifters. Be tempting, and at $2, the shipping is the painful part!

If I end up with 105 and they crap out quickly, I may just go back to brake levers with the downtubes.

Thanks for the input. I'll be getting some handlebar wrapping practice soon!

I have 105 on 1 bike and Ultegra on 2 others. Outside of the logo on top, I can't tell the difference.

55/Rad

Check your LBS. I dont remember what I paid for my 9-speed STI Ultegra but it was a good deal. They were new levers taken off of a new bike. They didnt have the packaging etc. but they did give me cables. Check, you never know.