Ultegra 9 to Rival 10 Upgrade
 

I am considering upgrading my old Ultegra/DA 9 speed to 10 speed. Looking at component prices, SRAM Rival is about at my price point, but I have a few questions that I'm uncertain about after checking SRAM's specs and Sheldon's site. I plan to replace the crankset (50-34), bottom bracket, chain, cassette (11-23), shifters, and probably rear derailleur.

1. Can I use my existing DuraAce front/rear derailleurs with the Rival shifters? (SRAM says use their rear)

2. The compact Rival crankset shows a chainline of 44.5 mm vs. the 43.5 mm of my Ultegra double. Will this cause any problems with shifting or the front derailleur?

3. The GXP external bearing bottom bracket diameter matches for the English thread at 68 mm, but that is the only spec SRAM shows. Is there a concern with BB length or is this covered in the chainline question?


I've never used any SRAM equipment other than chains. They seem to get good marks around here, but are there concerns I haven't considered?

You're all set for numbers two and three, but you need to get a Rival (or other Sram) rear derailleur. I had thought that you could get a ShiftMate, but after looking at their website, I don't think so.

That is part of what I was wondering, if there was an alternate cable routing or shiftmate type solution.

Thanks

I did almost this exact same upgrade. I kept my existing brakes and cranks/9sp rings, and upgraded everything else.

1. No to the rear, maybe yes for the front. The Rival FD is a noticeably different shape and sits in a different position than the Shimano FD, so it may not work, or may not work well.

2. No, a 9 sp crankset and chainrings work fine with 10sp equipment.

3. No idea, I kept my (Octalink) BB and cranks.

I would recommend getting a KMC chain instead of SRAM. SRAM has been having some issues with their quick links and I'm not sure it's all sorted out yet.

Honestly, if you're going to upgrade, do yourself a favor and get all the necessary parts - don't go creating a frankenbike for no reason that may frustrate you with how it works.

I'm pretty sure that the SRAM has a different RD pull ratio. If so you can't use your Shimano shifter.

Besides, when you re-sell your Ultegra group set, you want as much of it together as possible.

I too did this exact same upgrade and can confirm everything Crispy says with the exception of the chain. I bought the PC-1090R, one with the recalled link, and have ridden 4000km this year with zero problems (I've since replace it just in case. As an aside, I prefer the function and the feel of shifting using the SRAM system to the Ultegra 9spd.

1. +1 to swapping the rear derailleur for both reasons; function and selling the old stuff as a group. The Ultegra front would probably work but the SRAM part is shaped quite differently as mentioned above and made to work with only a trim position on the big ring as opposed to both rings with the Ultegra. The shape of the cage might be what makes this possible?
2. I'd swap the front as well. But I don't think this would be the limiting issue. It's also just about the least expensive part so why not!
3. Not sure, I'm using FSA Omega cranks (external bb) with zero problems. I can cross chain down to small ring/second smallest cog and big ring/largest cog without front derailleur rub.

Just my opnion but the Rival parts in general feel like better quality components than the Ultegra 9spd. I put about 15,000 km into the Ultegra stuff with the usual maintenance and replacement of wear parts with little or no problems so no nocks on Shimano but little things like the option of how to route cables out of the shifters, the position of the bar clamp bolt on the shifters, the aforementioned shaping of that front derailleur all seem to make the system work really well. This is particularly true when you consider the weight / price. This might relate to my mechanical skills (amateur) but both derailleurs shift like a dream with no adjusting over the season. Good luck whatever you do!

crispy, I'm not trying to create a frankenbike, just trying to figure out what works. This upgrade is nearly expensive enough to say forget the upgrade, just go n+1. I will quickly replace anything in the upgrade that doesn't work, but I do want to minimize expensive surprises and things that work poorly.

My bike is old enough that it has an Octalink v1 BB, which limits my options without buying a new crankset & BB. Keeping the 9 speed is an interesting option, but I'll likely have to forgo the compact (which wouldn't be a show stopper.)

The other part I didn't mention DMF & MBin, is that I won't be selling the old stuff, I want to move some of the 9 speed gear to my older 8 speed (besides the cogs & chain are worn and cranks badly scuffed). I have a new 105 Octalink v1 crankset I just bought from Jenson for $22. I bought it for the chainrings, but since my Ultegra cranks are scuffed, I will use it all on the older bike with a BB swap.


Thanks all. BS