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08-09-11, 12:20 PM
So what are everyones opinions about 9 speed vs 10 speed?
I'm upgrading an old MTB piecemeal, and I'm down to the last change I want to make: upgrading from 7 speed. I had originally settled on 9 speed because I figured that's the current standard for MTB/Hybrid parts, so they'd be cheaper and around for a long time. However, talking to a guy at one local LBS, he kept trying to convince me that 9 speed was going to go the way of the dinosaur relatively soon, and that parts would start to become very scarce, like how 8 speed is now.
On the other hand, 10 speed parts are more expensive right now, and I have heard concerns from some people that since the chains are smaller they are weaker and will need to be replaced more often. I'm not really interested in increased maintenance.
But I am interested in the extra gear combinations I'll be able to use, as well as future-proofing my upgrade. So what does everyone think? Will 9 speed be good enough and around long enough that it won't matter too much? Or is going 10 speed worth it?
I'm upgrading an old MTB piecemeal, and I'm down to the last change I want to make: upgrading from 7 speed. I had originally settled on 9 speed because I figured that's the current standard for MTB/Hybrid parts, so they'd be cheaper and around for a long time. However, talking to a guy at one local LBS, he kept trying to convince me that 9 speed was going to go the way of the dinosaur relatively soon, and that parts would start to become very scarce, like how 8 speed is now.
On the other hand, 10 speed parts are more expensive right now, and I have heard concerns from some people that since the chains are smaller they are weaker and will need to be replaced more often. I'm not really interested in increased maintenance.
But I am interested in the extra gear combinations I'll be able to use, as well as future-proofing my upgrade. So what does everyone think? Will 9 speed be good enough and around long enough that it won't matter too much? Or is going 10 speed worth it?