Future of 8 speed?
#1
Mostly harmless ™
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,430
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1107 Post(s)
Liked 216 Times
in
130 Posts
Future of 8 speed?
Recently wend shopping for new chains. 10 speed road bike chain is some 40 euros, while an 8 speed MTB one is 8 euros. 10 speed road cassette is about 50 euros, while MTB 8 speed one is half the price. I've regreted getting a bargain price 105 10 speed groupset. Just because of the replacement parts cost.
However, looking for new STI brifters, I can't find any for 8 speed. Road cassettes also harder to find in that range. I find many MTBs now come with 9, even 10 speeds. Road components are going to 11 speed also.
Are the producers of bike components pushing out the cheaper longer lasting 8 speed equipment? What's your prognosis?
However, looking for new STI brifters, I can't find any for 8 speed. Road cassettes also harder to find in that range. I find many MTBs now come with 9, even 10 speeds. Road components are going to 11 speed also.
Are the producers of bike components pushing out the cheaper longer lasting 8 speed equipment? What's your prognosis?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 2,243
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite/Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Ti/'85 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I don't now why there are so few 8 speed road bike brifters. I assume its because when they came out with 8 speed road bikes, 9 speed came along very very soon thereafter hence they just stopped making them and went right to 9 speed stuff. There are a LOT of 9 speed brifters and components. If price is important, I would go for 9 speed stuff. Most 9 speed consumables aren't that much more than 8 speed stuff.
I would just go for 9 speeds and look at it as the good balance between parts availability and cheapness.
I would just go for 9 speeds and look at it as the good balance between parts availability and cheapness.
#4
Senior Member
Slaninar, Shimano still manufactures 8S parts. https://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont...road/2300.html . Loose Screws has carried discontinued parts of all sorts. www.loosescrews.com .
Brad
Brad
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
On the mountain-bike side of things, currently-made eight-speed parts are low end. Eight-speed gets used on entry-level bikes.
I'm sure the profit margin on chains is quite high. I doubt it really costs *that* much extra to make a ten-speed chain versus an eight-speed one.
You can do better than 40 Euros, btw. Here is a 105 10-speed chain on sale for only EUR 16.39:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=50457
I'm sure the profit margin on chains is quite high. I doubt it really costs *that* much extra to make a ten-speed chain versus an eight-speed one.
You can do better than 40 Euros, btw. Here is a 105 10-speed chain on sale for only EUR 16.39:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=50457
#7
Mostly harmless ™
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,430
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1107 Post(s)
Liked 216 Times
in
130 Posts
On the mountain-bike side of things, currently-made eight-speed parts are low end. Eight-speed gets used on entry-level bikes.
I'm sure the profit margin on chains is quite high. I doubt it really costs *that* much extra to make a ten-speed chain versus an eight-speed one.
You can do better than 40 Euros, btw. Here is a 105 10-speed chain on sale for only EUR 16.39:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=50457
I'm sure the profit margin on chains is quite high. I doubt it really costs *that* much extra to make a ten-speed chain versus an eight-speed one.
You can do better than 40 Euros, btw. Here is a 105 10-speed chain on sale for only EUR 16.39:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=50457
#8
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,608
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1660 Post(s)
Liked 1,814 Times
in
1,054 Posts
Three and four speed freewheels are still made. Eight speed will be around for a while.
#9
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
The ever increasing number of gears on the free wheel is rather silly and costly for 99% of cyclist. It is the old sales ploy of bigger and better, when in fact it is a waste of time and money. But what the heck the manuf can always count on the nuts that want the latest and greatest, and are quite willing to take their money.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 2,243
Bikes: Specialized Sequoia Elite/Motobecane Fantom Cross Team Ti/'85 Trek 520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Slaninar, Shimano still manufactures 8S parts. https://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont...road/2300.html . Loose Screws has carried discontinued parts of all sorts. www.loosescrews.com .
Brad
Brad
#11
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1526 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
IMO we're getting suckered by Shimano on one hand going, oh look, you can bolt a brand-new DA derailleur on your old 6spd bike, isn't that nice, while on the other we're getting boned because they should have changed the actuation ratio when they went to 8spd (yeah, I know they did for DA for a bit, but meh).
I wonder why they haven't...
Say, have you seen that new electronic gear? Wowee.
Holy crap, 1/8"!
Damn straight - it can't; eight is enough.
I wonder why they haven't...
Say, have you seen that new electronic gear? Wowee.
Three and four speed freewheels are still made.
Eight speed will be around for a while.
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,689
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5772 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,420 Posts
The 8s tooling is all paid for so I expect that they'll continue making 8s in low to lower mid quality ranges, just the same way they still make 6&7s low end stuff. However the numbers are driven by OEM sales, and no manufacturer will spec a decent bike 8s when 9s cost him about the same.
There's an assumption that more = better, and while experienced users may differ, they're not the ones mid level bikes are aimed at.
There's an assumption that more = better, and while experienced users may differ, they're not the ones mid level bikes are aimed at.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#13
Keepin it Wheel
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,245
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Liked 3,424 Times
in
2,532 Posts
Is the advantage of the paddle-style just that you can reach all the controls from drops and tops?
Last edited by RubeRad; 09-12-12 at 12:20 PM.
#14
Banned
8 speed is alive and well in the moderate price point range,
its the upper priced lines , 105, & etc that you have to seek old stuff at online auction ..
all else go back to bar end shifters..
its the upper priced lines , 105, & etc that you have to seek old stuff at online auction ..
all else go back to bar end shifters..
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jwKeithO
Bicycle Mechanics
1
06-23-15 10:30 AM