I went to LBS for a tune up, She recommended me getting a new cassette and chain. After checking the order sheet i noticed the cassette only cost $24.95. I googled 9 speed cassettes i saw them ranging from $20 to up $150. What is the difference and should i tell them to upgrade the cassette?

2002 Trek 7500

**I'm sorry it is an 8 speed cassette 11-32 misstyped**

Weight and finish are the main ones, the more it costs, normally the less it weighs, also, the finish will be better, the shifting can improve the higher up you go, although to get the most out of improved shifting, you really need to get high end shifters, mechs and chain as well.

If you are just commuting / everyday riding, there really isn't much need to get a more expensive. For 9 speed, as this is becoming more and more obsolete there is less choice about than a few years ago. 9 speed cassettes will be available for years to come, but if it is anything like 8 speed, the supply of high end cassettes (especially Shimano) will dry up with in the next 5 years of so.

Take it that you have previously upgraded your Trek to 9 speed as this bike was 8 speed as stock?

I keep straight XTR mountain bikes because I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it for now. A while ago used to downgrade to XT here and there to save money. At my level of fitness there is no rational reason for XTR - particularly as XT is something like half the price.

I can tell you this from direct experience - new XT componentry works far far better than worn out XTR, in rational functional terms the more often you replace bits the better the bike will run. As you come down the component hierarchy you can afford to replace much more often.

Whether this is of relevance depends on where you ride the bike - if it's offroad in winter mud you'll grind your way through componentry really fast and it would be good to stick to the saner levels of spec. Summer roadbike transmissions last pretty well forever - so bling ones are less mad in this case.

I've been running 8 speed Acera cassettes for the last 4 months simply because I ride rain or shine 1500-2000km a month. You wear stuff out fast that way and the difference in price between XT/XTR and Acera is.... rather large. They are both going to wear out in about the same time so I just go with the cheapest. Bling to me something totally worthless.

I am considering shifting up to 9 speed when the current chain and cassette wear out. Even then though I think I'll stick with a Deore derailler, a $35 9 speed cassette and a mid range chain.

If it is a Shimano or SRAM cassette the lower models will shift just as well. The LBS is probably replacing with the same level you had. If you are 5 pounds over "racing weight" the weight of the cassette is immaterial.

+1. This is good advice. You are lucky that your LBS didn't try to "upgrade" (read $$$) your cassette unnecessarily.

Right.

Maybe. Steel Campagnolo 10 speed cassettes used _identical_ cogs except in the least expensive offering which got a galvanized finish instead of nickel chrome (this moved from the Xenon level through Veloce).

Usually not. Tooling to stamp lower quality shift ramps and truncated/twisted teeth would cost the manufacturer more and put them at a competitive disadvantage "this year's Shimano Tiagra does not shift as well as SRAM Apex."

All the compatible shifters pull the same amount of cable for each click. Small parts are often shared. More expensive shifters do get you less weight and goodies like carbon brake blades.

You might not like the user interface of less expensive shifters though - some Shimano riders don't like the Sora thumb buttons, many Campagnolo guys do not like Powershift and Escape levers which are limited to one cog smaller per lever push versus the 5+ all the other Campagnolo levers have managed since 1992.

Only incidentally. A more expensive derraileur is more likely to be built for the racing market and have geometry designed for a smaller large cog (like a 26 instead of the 34 pie plate sized parts on entry level bikes) so it runs closer to the big cogs on a tight cassette (which may end in a 21-23 cog) and shifts a little better although a less expensive one with the same geometry will do as well. In the 10 speed era when triples were last popular Campagnolo sold both real short cage derailleurs (maximum sprocket size 26) and long cage (a little different for a 29) at most price points from Xenon through Record Titanium.

Unlikely. Usually you get the same side plate shape. Spending more might get a nickel-chrome finish which looks prettier, hollow pins which weigh less, and drillium side plates.

IME each manufacturer uses the same tooth profile and shift gate cuts on all cassettes throughout their line, except maybe the lowest of the low end. So if you stay with the same company, more money won't buy better shifting, just a prettier, lighter cassette.

My 10-speed Chorus bike came with a real "Chorus" level cassette and when it was replacement time I got a Veloce due to the huge cost difference. Shifting quality changed not at all. The Chorus cassette was a bit prettier and slightly lighter since the larger cogs were spider mounted while the Veloce's are all individual and full plate, but other than that, they perform identically.

thanks guys i just went with what my LBS gave me. i forgot the model name but it was $25 Shimano cassette