Mountain Biking - 8-speed parts

I'm currently running an 8-speed setup and I was wondering if anyone knows of good outlets (preferably online) to buy 8-speed parts from. I realize they're getting harder to come by, but I'd like to put off making the jump to 9-speed for awhile, mostly due to the cost involved, but also because I'm more or less happy with the 8-speed.

Right now everything is running well, but I anticipate needing a new cassette next season, and possibly a replacement for my XTR rear derailleur somewhere down the line.

I'm hoping to stockpile some parts so that I have them when I need them. I'm looking for higher end stuff (XT, XTR level).

I'm currently running an 8-speed setup and I was wondering if anyone knows of good outlets (preferably online) to buy 8-speed parts from. I realize they're getting harder to come by, but I'd like to put off making the jump to 9-speed for awhile, mostly due to the cost involved, but also because I'm more or less happy with the 8-speed.

Right now everything is running well, but I anticipate needing a new cassette next season, and possibly a replacement for my XTR rear derailleur somewhere down the line.

I'm hoping to stockpile some parts so that I have them when I need them. I'm looking for higher end stuff (XT, XTR level).

I think you can pick up 8 spd stuff about anywhere online. I see a lot of it on Jenson and PricePoint etc. I really don't have a good reply but am curious about the future of 8 speed. I asked my LBS guys about 8 speed being extinct and they said, look out there on the floor there are a bunch of current year 8 speed bikes for sale. They say i won't have any trouble getting 8 speed stuff for my bikes.

I have to say that so far they haven't had any trouble as they simply just order it and replace whatever i break. So what is the deal? Can somebody say for sure what the future is? It seems odd that they would be selling 04 model stuff and not planning on having components available for it.

I think you can pick up 8 spd stuff about anywhere online. I see a lot of it on Jenson and PricePoint etc. I really don't have a good reply but am curious about the future of 8 speed. I asked my LBS guys about 8 speed being extinct and they said, look out there on the floor there are a bunch of current year 8 speed bikes for sale. They say i won't have any trouble getting 8 speed stuff for my bikes.

I have to say that so far they haven't had any trouble as they simply just order it and replace whatever i break. So what is the deal? Can somebody say for sure what the future is? It seems odd that they would be selling 04 model stuff and not planning on having components available for it.

There's still Deore-level stuff out there, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find higher end stuff (not really a surprise since they've stopped making it). I'd love to get my hands on an unused 8-speed XTR rear derailleur, for example, but I can't find one.

One good thing is that the 8-spd hubs are 9-spd compatible so you don't need a new wheelset when converting.

There's still Deore-level stuff out there, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find higher end stuff (not really a surprise since they've stopped making it). I'd love to get my hands on an unused 8-speed XTR rear derailleur, for example, but I can't find one.


How long will Deore level stuff be available in your opinion? It just seems screwed up that there are so many "8 speeds" being sold and supposedly they are not going to have replacement parts available. ANyone have any links to any reliable info?

9-speed rear derailers, front derailers, chain rings, chains all work fine with 8 speed, as I'm running all of these on an 8-speed. Only trick is shifters and cassettes. Currently I'm running Alivio shifters, and I think they work fine. In fact I can barely tell a difference between my friends bike with LX shifters. I pull the triggers, the bike shifts what more can I ask for? ;) For cassettes the SRAM 5.0 is ace, and for $30 bucks CDN an absolute steel!

9-speed is such a crock. I have a bike with each setup (8- and 9- speed), and it irks me that Shimano abandoned quality 8-speed parts. There's nothing discernably improved by the addition of ONE cassette ring. But having worked in marketing in a past life, I understand the market value in introducing something new. Kinda like Campy's 10-spd road stuff (egad).

As far as finding parts, EBay can make your life easier, providing you're patient. I can still find some 8-spd stuff at Jenson or Pricepoint, but it's getting harder to find at these outlets. I see a fair amount of NOS 8-spd stuff on Ebay, and like mentioned before, some of the mega-9 stuff is backwards compatible with 8-spd drivetrains.

I don't mix SRAM with Shimano but I hear a lot of folks have good luck with it. I tried a SRAM PC58 chain on my 8-spd rig, and it didn't like my Shimano drivetrain. I found an IG90 chain online and all is good again.

There's still Deore-level stuff out there, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find higher end stuff (not really a surprise since they've stopped making it). I'd love to get my hands on an unused 8-speed XTR rear derailleur, for example, but I can't find one.

Derailers aren't specific to the number of gears. The only thing you have to watch for is the cable actuation ratio. There is Shimano/Shimano Compatible (2:1) and SRAM (1:1). Both SRAM and Shimano come in 8 and 9 speed varieties.

The cassettes themselves are agnostic as to SRAM vs Shimano. However, the rear cassette DOES have to match the shifter in the number of gears.

Assuming your using Shimano equipment, just by your XTR derailleur and you'll be fine. Better yet, make the switch to the SRAM 1:1 cable actuation. It's pretty popular these days. SRAM derailers also have pullies built in to avoid that big loop of cable hanging off the deraileur and all the friction that comes with it.