I posted this in the Hybrid Forum, but thought I might try here as well, sorry if this is a stupid question, I am pretty new to this stuff.

Looking at Sheldon Browns Gear Calculator got me wondering about drive train and drive train components. My Fuji Absolute has a crank set with 48, 38, and 28 tooth chainrings and an 8 spead cassette 11 - 32. The crank set is sunrace, derailluers and shifters are shimano (low end). So if you upgrade some of your components, can you do it one at a time, or should you change the whole set? For example, many of the upgrade derailluers I see on JensonUSA are for 9 and 10 spead cassettes, can these be adjusted for an 8 speed or do you need to upgrade your casstte and shifter at the same time. Not very many shifter options either in 8 speed, so if you want to upgrade beyond Deore, will a nine speed shifter work on an 8 speed derailluer? I am not planning on making any changes on my bike right now, may just even upgrade bikes at some point as I am really liking riding and I am getting more of an idea of what I want, but it is possible I would eventually like to just upgrade components as I do like the frame, adjustable stem and forks on the Fuji.

Jimbo

8 speed is just about dead at anything above low end, yet there are plenty of options, not just from Shimano at the low end. There are shifters from Shimano Alivio down, and from brands like Sunrace.

If you are looking to get a 9 or 10 speed cassette, you will need new shifters, probably a new rear derailleur with 9 speed, and defiantly with 10 speed, you would also need a new crank / chainrings if going 10 speed and for both a new chain.

Would be easier if you posted exactly what you proposed, as there will be some area where you can run 8 or 9 speed with the same kit.

For changing all at the same time, or in bits, if you are looking to make an upgrade to 9 or 10 speed, would look at the cost of a complete bike, as you may find that it is better value for money to replace the whole bike, rather than the drivetrain.

Jimbo,

There are many different schools of thought regarding your questions; here's my take (for what it's worth)...

You can upgrade to a 9 speed R. Derailleur with no problem and adjust the limit screws for your 8 speed cassette; your existing shifters will work fine. You have the choice to use either a road or mountain DR depending on personal preference.

However, once you decide to make the jump to 9 speed you'll have to replace shifters, cassette, chain and either the freehub body, or buy a new 9 speed compatible rear wheel to accommodate the 9 speed cassette.

To be honest, I don't have enough experience with 10 speed systems yet to know whether or not a 10s R. DR will work on an 8 speed system. I'm sure others have tried and can chime in with their thoughts.

A query... what do you have on your bike right now?

I pretty much agree, however there is no need to buy a new wheel to upgrade from 8 speed to 9 speed (or ten speed for that matter); Shimano compatible freehubs are the same width for 8-10 speeds.

So Stock Components on my bike are as follows:

bottom bracket: FSA BB-7420STbrakes: Tektro MINI-V
cassette: Sunrace, CSM55 11-32 8-SPEED
chain: KMC Z72, 8-speed
crankset: Alloy 48/38/28 triple
fork: Hi-Tensile steel fork, 1 1/8"
frame: Aluminum frame, standard 1 1/8" steerer, 31.8 seat tube, double water bottle mounts, replaceable rear derailleur hanger
front derailleur: Shimano, FD-M191-3
rear derailleur: Shimano Altus, RD-M310-L
shifters: Shimano Acera, SL-M360
tires: Kenda K-176 / 700 x 28c
wheelset: Fuji 700c x 32H

So, I am totally new to biking and I know my bike is very entry level with pretty low end components. I like tinkering and working on things, as a kid I built a couple bikes from parts, but nothing very sophisticated. For now I plan on just riding this thing, I dont have aspirations of being a true road warrior, just something to do for fun and fitness, but as I have really enjoyed riding, I can see the need in the future to either upgrade the bike or some of the components. Now I am leaning towards changing components, because I think it would be a great experience to do learn how to do some wrenching on the bike myself and I can pick up components as I find them, either on sale or closeouts, etc, one or two at a time as I have the funds available. Now, by Sheldon Browns Calculator, my bike as equiped is pretty much capeable of speeds from just over 5 mph to 27 mph or so at a cadence of 80, I dont know that I need much more performance than that, but I would like to smoother shifting (right now, I need to get better at my timing during pedaling) and dependability as my wife and I are trying to get in longer rides as we get better. So say I want to go to at least Deore components eventually, it looks like it would be easier (but not cheaper) to upgrade my cassette, chain, rear derailleur and shifter, but if I wanted to go Alivio, I could probably just do the shifters and derailleurs. Would the Alivio components be a noticable upgrade to what I have? Would the Deore be that much more noticable than the Alivio? I do agree that it would probably be easier to upgrade to entire bike in a few months, if I really feal the need, but that may not fly with the wife as easy as buying a few components here and there to upgrade eventually.

Jimbo

you're riding a hybrid bike. these are generally lower-end machines that work fine/well. I'm still not sure what do you hope to gain by upgrading: lighter weight? "better performance"? Wider range of gears (or closer-spaced gears over the same range, given that you already have an 11-32 cassette)? I don't see any point in "getting to" Deore components for their own sake.

If you really like the bike and want more gears, you could switch to 9-speed cassette, rear shifter, and chain (which is slightly narrower than 8-speed chain) and leave everything else the same. The rear derailer should be fine - perhaps a bit less precise than an official 9-speed rear derailer, but it has the same cable-pull ratio.

If you simply don't like the shifting responsiveness but are happy with everything else, you could probably get better 8-speed shifters and leave it at that.

Probably 90% or more of cyclist do not ever upgrade their drivetrain. There is really no point to upgrading for the "experience" and you are going to gain very, very little in performance. Just ride the bike, learn how to keep it properly maintained and learn what you need as far as gearing, fitting of the bike to you, pedals, saddles, etc. Then when you really need a better bike you can upgrade the whole thing and sell the (well-maintained) currennt one - so that the net cost will not be that great. You will not only come out cheaper but you will be spending time on the bike instead of online and on the bike stand switching out components.

Hi,

I do just fine with the budget shimano stuff on my road bike.
(My folders shimano stuff is adequate, but bottom of the barrel.)

Upgrading stuff just for the sake of it is not cost effective.

A good question is why do you need an 11 to 32 rear cassette
with 3 front chainrings ?

You have loads of overlapping gears due the wide range of the rear.

Reducing the rear range will give you closer spaced
gears without changing the number of rear gears.

I'd go 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28 on the rear.

rgds, sreten.

My road bike is 52, 42 front and 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28 rear.

Lean to do a little bit of "bike tune up" and you can have your lower end shifters & DER's working just fine.
I have basically the same DER's/
I've upgraded to 9 speed and changed the chain rings from 28-38-48 to 22-32-36/38 on my 2 bikes, using the same DER's.
Rear shifts excellent. Front isn't pristine, but it shifts reliably enough for the rare times I'm out of the middle ring.

Proceed with much caution.
Are you sure your cog set is a cassette or is it a freewheel. Sunrace made both in 8-speed. Your hub will accept one or the other, but not both.
I would not change the rear derailleur unless it is broken.
To upgrade to 9-speed you will need 9-speed Shimano mountain type shifters and a 9-speed Shimano or compatible cassette. If your present cog set is a cassette the 9-speed should fit the hub, and new derailleurs should not be needed. A new 9-speed chain will also be needed. Do not try to mix 10-speed mountain parts with what you have. The Shimano 10-speed mountain shifters work only with 10- speed mountain type derailleurs and 10-speed chain.