What currently-available wheelsets are compatible with Shimano 8-speed?
 

I would like to get an aero wheelset for my bike, which is equipped with Dura Ace 8-speed. I have been holding off because the 8-speed stuff is long gone. Lately I've heard that certain Mavic wheelsets are compatible with 8-speed. Do any of you know details of this? What about other wheelsets?

Thanks in advance.

-soma5

8, 9 and 10 speeds all use the same hub. Dura-Ace is funky but you can always use a different cassette.

Do ALL use the same spacer?

I don't think any 8s stuff needed a spacer. Sheldon has an article on the tall spline hubs that would not be compatible. Most of the 8,9,10 are.

Generally, 8, 9, and 10-speed Shimano compatible hubs are designed to accept 8, 9, or 10-speed Shimano and Shimano compatible cassettes. 10-speed Shimano cassettes require a spacer on the back because 10-speed cassettes are narrower than 8 or 9-s. Those spacers are included with new Shimano cassettes. Some MAVIC hubs require a MAVIC spacer be used with Shimano cassettes because MAVIC cassettes are wider than Shimano's. Those spacers are included with those MAVIC hubs.


Al

Thanks, Al.

As I understand it (or as I understand Sheldon :) ), the cassettes are not the issue, it's the height of the splines on the freehub body. The 10-speed DA has higher splines. So you're saying that pretty much any other maker has the lower splines? That would be convenient.

-soma5

I have an 8-speed cassette on a pair of '05 Mavic Cosmos that were listed 9/10 speed. Has a thin spacer that, I believe, is because it's a Mavic hub...not because it's an 8-speed cassette (like Al stated). I also ran some Race X Lite Areos on that 8-speed set-up for awhile (with no spacer).