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How long will 9s be available?
I've got a 9s group that I'm debating on installing. It got me thinking, how much longer will 9s stuff be available? Mostly thinking about new parts and not paying $80 for a cassette because it's hard to find.
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Campy or Shimano? You can still get 8 sp for Shimano, but Campy phases out quicker and e-bay vintage prices go up in accordance. I still run 9 spd Shimano on 2 bikes, I think it was their best DA set.
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Shimano. And yeah I agree with you, 9s DA is still the best group I've ever used.
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I suspect the cassettes will be available forever - probably eventually will be only a single quality level. Brifters too will probably go to a single product. Shimano gets put on a lot of bikes that aren't high-end and most of those medium and lower bikes aren't 10 or 11 speed.
But an $80 cassette doesn't sound like that big of a deal anyway... isn't that about normal? |
So many clone manufacturers for Shimano, plus you can use SRAM cassettes as well, so I'd bet you'll find the 9s stuff for a while. And I did like the way my 9s DA worked, but sold it because my feeble mind had enough going from down-tube to bar-end to Ergo, and adding STI in the mix was overload.
But I won't say 9s DA is the best I've ever used. I really like my 10s Record/Chorus stuff. |
What level group? What is your approach to upgrades on major things like shifter? i.e replace with 9 or when it dies move up to 10 or 11?
FWIW, I have ultegra 9 speed STI triple on my miyata and even a few years back when I built it is was getting hard to find ultegra 9 speed parts that were not used. Biggest concern for replacements for me are the shifters, crankset and bottom bracket (I ended up with a DA bottom bracket) |
I don't worry about this question.
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Mountain Equipment Coop, which is a place I frequent, still has 5 speed freewheels.
They carry 9 nine speed cassettes from Shimano, SunRace and SRAM. I'm not trying to shill for them, just a point of reference. I'm sure there will be plenty of choices for 9 speeds for some time to come. |
Even numbers...
8 or 10 take your pick. 9 is a death sentence like 650 wheels and tubulars |
Originally Posted by miamijim
(Post 18225195)
Even numbers...
8 or 10 take your pick. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 18225176)
I don't worry about this question.
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9sp DA is scarce because people actually didn't spend the rent money on components back then.
They got Ultegra and at ramen, or 105 and went to Mickey D's. The hoods are nearly non-existent. A clean crank set is likewise. The rings tend to flake the finish off. The long-cage RD is rare and expensive. Otherwise, there are tons of 9-sp Shimano pieces out there. 2 generations of Ultegra, 3 of 105. 9-sp will be around and fine long after I'm gone. |
I would have no worries about this at all. You can still get 5, 6, 7, and 8 speed stuff. 9 will be around for a while, I think.
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Just stock up before the prices get crazy at places like the NOS Bike Shop on ebay. You can get an HG50 9 speed cassette at Wiggle for $18.
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I agree 9 speed DA is great!
Anything 9 speed Shimano works great. It will always be available on ebay. |
The real issue is that the higher end stuff disappears quick. Look at 8 speed - there is already really only one 8 speed cassette, all steel, with a couple different gear ranges from both manufacturers. I bent a 9 speed SLX 9 speed derailleur and none of the mail order places carry them anymore. I can order from the LBS at almost double the price I could have ordered a couple of years ago.
I'm thinking this winter when the sales are on around Xmas I'm going to order a few good 9 speed cassettes. |
I believe we currently have more cassette options in 9 speed than ever before. It is great!
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7 speeds cassette is much difference in perfomance gaps between gears than 9 speeds or 8 speeds cassette. & speeds is affect the candence or 8 speeds?
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Quite frankly, I'm impressed by the options still available in 7-speed. Perhaps the finish level of the available HG50 cassettes isn't the same as the HG70 or HG90 cassettes of old, but they're the functional equivalent.
The 11-28 and 11-32 cassettes in 9-speed (or any group, really) will probably be available forever -- if you're worried about specific close-ratio "road" cassettes, maybe you could buy a couple extra. Future-proofing and voting with your wallet for continued production. :thumb: |
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
(Post 18225831)
Quite frankly, I'm impressed by the options still available in 7-speed. Perhaps the finish level of the available HG50 cassettes isn't the same as the HG70 or HG90 cassettes of old, but they're the functional equivalent.
The 11-28 and 11-32 cassettes in 9-speed (or any group, really) will probably be available forever -- if you're worried about specific close-ratio "road" cassettes, maybe you could buy a couple extra. Future-proofing and voting with your wallet for continued production. :thumb: |
Originally Posted by Slash5
(Post 18225689)
I bent a 9 speed SLX 9 speed derailleur and none of the mail order places carry them anymore.
Shimano SLX M662 9-Speed Rear Derailleur - REI.com |
Originally Posted by DiabloScott
(Post 18225067)
But an $80 cassette doesn't sound like that big of a deal anyway... isn't that about normal?
Originally Posted by miamijim
(Post 18225195)
Even numbers...
8 or 10 take your pick. 9 is a death sentence like 650 wheels and tubulars
Originally Posted by Wileyone
(Post 18226191)
The Srams are much lighter and shift just as well. What is really scarce is the BB's for V1 can't find an Ultegra anywhere.
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I have 9 speed ultegra on my tri bike. I think the shifts are way more solid than the shifts on my 11sp ultegra road bike. probably user error with tuning on my part.
9 ultegra cassettes are pretty cheap like $40? |
Originally Posted by fury413rb
(Post 18226472)
I have 9 speed ultegra on my tri bike. I think the shifts are way more solid than the shifts on my 11sp ultegra road bike. probably user error with tuning on my part.
9 ultegra cassettes are pretty cheap like $40? |
Originally Posted by shoota
(Post 18226368)
I think $80 for a cassette is a lot. I've never paid that much for one and I've had several Red and DA ones.
Oh yeah.. I forgot you always say that, even though I still don't understand why. I guess I'll have to get rid of my 11s Sram Red group ASAP! I wouldn't say Sram cassettes are lighter and I also wouldn't say they shift just as well. They do work though. I'm with you though, it's the consumables that I was concerned with like chains, BBs, cassettes, and hopefully not the lower end stuff. I'd like to get Ultegra level stuff for a while if possible. Shimano Ultegra 9-Speed 12-23 Cassette 202 Grams Both listed at around $70 |
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