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How long will Shimano 9-sp parts be around?

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Old 03-13-07, 10:06 AM
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How long will Shimano 9-sp parts be around?

Specifically, brifters and cassettes -- the better models like 105, ultegra, DA.

Should I stock up on cassettes now?

I'm wondering if some of you mechanics have past experiences that will shed light on this.

Thanks.
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Old 03-13-07, 10:15 AM
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Who knows?

Why not upgrade to 10-speed when your shifters wear out, they're the most expensive part and won't last forever? All you need for an upgrade are shifters, cassette, chain, and handlebar tape.

Al
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Old 03-13-07, 10:16 AM
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There's still cassettes available for 7 and 8 speed, you can still get freewheels, I wouldn't be putting out the money to stock up on 9 speed cassettes anytime soon.
Brifters are likely to get hard to find sooner, try searching up 7 brifters, but I'm too cheap to buy something that expensive and just have it sit around in case my current one dies.
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Old 03-13-07, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Al1943
Who knows?

Why not upgrade to 10-speed when your shifters wear out, they're the most expensive part and won't last forever? All you need for an upgrade are shifters, cassette, chain, and handlebar tape.

Al

Al -- you don't need a new RD for that?
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Old 03-13-07, 10:24 AM
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Another thing to consider is that SRAM 9-spd cassettes are cheaper and work just dandy.

I agree that the time to upgrade is when the brifters wear out. The supply will outlast your brifters. My 9-spd DA brifters are 7 years old, and work just great -- but when they go, I'm probably going with SRAM 10-spd...

My 8-spd Ultegra brifters are still doing great, even though I haven't ridden them in a while. They probably have eight years/80K miles on them, and shift fine.
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Old 03-13-07, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Specifically, brifters and cassettes -- the better models like 105, ultegra, DA.
I wouldn't worry about cassettes, but I do have a concern about Ultegra level brifters. for example.

I own two 9-speed Ultegra equipped bikes. Changing them to 10-speed does not particularly appeal to me. I recently acquired a set of new Ultegra brifters, in the box, just to keep as spares.
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Old 03-13-07, 11:01 AM
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I just bought a NOS 5 speed freewheel. I don't think the 9 speed stuff is going anywhere for a while. It is a good time to stock up though, since the price on 9 speed stuff is lower due to a lot of people upgrading to 10 speed now.
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Old 03-13-07, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Al -- you don't need a new RD for that?
No.
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Old 03-13-07, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets

I agree that the time to upgrade is when the brifters wear out. The supply will outlast your brifters. My 9-spd DA brifters are 7 years old, and work just great -- but when they go, I'm probably going with SRAM 10-spd...

My 8-spd Ultegra brifters are still doing great, even though I haven't ridden them in a while. They probably have eight years/80K miles on them, and shift fine.
Sorry, what is a brifter?
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Old 03-13-07, 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by MIN
Sorry, what is a brifter?
(Br)ake lever + Sh(ifters) = Brifters

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Old 03-13-07, 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Al1943
Who knows?

Why not upgrade to 10-speed

Al
Well, because 10-speed represents progress for progress' sake?

For the road, i suppose 10-speed is fine. But i ride offroad, cyclocross. 10-speed is a waste there.
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Old 03-13-07, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by i_r_beej
Well, because 10-speed represents progress for progress' sake?

For the road, i suppose 10-speed is fine. But i ride offroad, cyclocross. 10-speed is a waste there.
Does a 10-speed give you any gear inches that a 9-speed couldn't give you? Or is it strictly for tighter ratios?
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Old 03-13-07, 12:08 PM
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Brake / Shifter combination
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Old 03-13-07, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by xB_Nutt
I just bought a NOS 5 speed freewheel. I don't think the 9 speed stuff is going anywhere for a while.
I hear what you're saying but I kind of think that brifters are different. Shimano's history is only producing components with lower numbers of speeds in the lower component groups. If you want 8-speed today, you pretty well have to put up with Sora. Brifters are also a component that I'm not comfortable buying on the used market.

The bottom line is that, working part time in a bike shop, I get the opportunity to talk to lots of bicycle people, dealer reps and the like. They might tease me about being a retro-grouch, but nobody argues that "Of course, 9-speed Ultegra brifters will be available next year."
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Old 03-13-07, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by i_r_beej
Well, because 10-speed represents progress for progress' sake?

For the road, i suppose 10-speed is fine. But i ride offroad, cyclocross. 10-speed is a waste there.
I agree.
I guess 10 speed clusters are an advantage for road racers. For everyone else 10 speed stuff is actually worse- the gears are so close that shifting is a lot more finicky, especially in wet conditions, and there is no weight advantage. Its a shame that 10 speed stuff was just automatically accepted as the new standard. I am loathe to place 10 speed equipment on my cyclocross and commuter bike but I may be forced to when they wear out.
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Old 03-13-07, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Al -- you don't need a new RD for that?
Most Shimano derailleurs are upgradable from 7-speeds to 8, 9, and 10-speeds, except D-A pre-9-speed. Campy derailleurs are compatible from 9 to 10. Retro fitting 10-speed derailleurs to older drivetrains may be problematical depending on the specific components.

Al
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Old 03-13-07, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
How long will Shimano 9-sp parts be around?
Longer than Campy 8 speed I hope. Seriously, Shimano still is using 9 sp in some of it's lower groups. SRAM still has 9 sp that is Shimano compatible. You aren't in any danger except for the Brifters. Good luck

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Old 03-13-07, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by i_r_beej
Well, because 10-speed represents progress for progress' sake?

For the road, i suppose 10-speed is fine. But i ride offroad, cyclocross. 10-speed is a waste there.
That was the excuse I used for years to justify keeping my old Campy 8 sp parts. Eventually, I just sold it off. Now I'm using Campy 10 sp. It doesn't perform better either. It is easier to buy replacement parts though. Good luck


Tim
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Old 03-13-07, 01:48 PM
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I was able to get a screamin' deal at the LBS for my DA9 drivetrain a couple years ago when DA went 10 speed. I think I'll just wait until DA goes 11 speed and repeat the process.
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Old 03-13-07, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
I was able to get a screamin' deal at the LBS for my DA9 drivetrain a couple years ago when DA went 10 speed. I think I'll just wait until DA goes 11 speed and repeat the process.
+10 the "latest" and "greatest" is much more "latest" than "greatest." Nothing wrong with 10spd, but it's not worth even one extra penny, IMO.
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Old 03-13-07, 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
+10 the "latest" and "greatest" is much more "latest" than "greatest."
And you'd better act fast because, by October, it will no longer be either "latest" or "greatest".
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Old 03-13-07, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
And you'd better act fast because, by October, it will no longer be either "latest" or "greatest".
Oh? Do tell.
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Old 03-13-07, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Specifically, brifters and cassettes -- the better models like 105, ultegra, DA.

Should I stock up on cassettes now?

I'm wondering if some of you mechanics have past experiences that will shed light on this.

Thanks.
no. 7 and 8 speed cassettes are still available.

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Old 03-13-07, 03:48 PM
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How long with the 10 speeds be hot? Are 11 speeds on the horizon yet?
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Old 03-13-07, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
I hear what you're saying but I kind of think that brifters are different. Shimano's history is only producing components with lower numbers of speeds in the lower component groups. If you want 8-speed today, you pretty well have to put up with Sora.
Not quite: https://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycl...=1173824109039

They aren't DA, but they are certainly not Sora either.
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