Originally Posted by
scooterfrog
I am kind of expecting to have to replace the whole drive train but I won't know till I see it. The front chain rings are probably riveted and I think the large is a 42 according to bikepedia so I would need a new crank set. 42 seems really small anyways.......
changing to 8 speed is at this point would be cheap too. just a new cassette which I probably need and new shifters. I assume 9 speed and above is where it gets expensive
......
Since the bike has an 11T small cog, a 42T big ring isn't small.
Also, you would have to make sure you had adequate chain stay clearance for a larger ring.
Going to 8/9 speed would require a longer Free Hub Body. That and shifters are the major expense.
IF you go to a longer FH body, you may as well go to 9 speed. Cassettes & shifters aren't that much more
IF you do a little shopping around (prices change daily on shifters it seems, so check over multiple days). Chain will be about $12ish more depending on what you get.