Originally Posted by
jonwvara
is it just a matter of Shimano wanting to pay for its tooling? Or is it a tax on people who feel the need to use up-to-date equipment? Or just plain highway robbery? Or what?
It sounds like your implying manufacturers aren't allowed to recoup R&D expences.!!!!
I think the answer is a combination of eveything. 9s ushered in the era of lightness with a complete redesign of the casstte. Prior cassettes were simple 7 or 8 cogs with 6 or 7 metal or plastic spacers. 9s switched over to a carrier design with groups of cogs riveted together which in turn lead to lighter cassettes and of course a higher cost.
That being said, I think $22 is reasonable for a cassette:
http://wheelworld.com/product/shiman...-hg50-4156.htm
http://www.blueskycycling.com/produc...te-9-Speed.htm
http://www.ebikestop.com/shimano_tia...?PARTNER=qbike
http://directbicycleparts.com/page.c...d=4261_e6dfef1