8spd to 9sdp.What's the min I can get away with ?

[the great roberto]

OK. So, I'm on the slippery slope from changing the Zaskar from 8sp to 9 spd.
But what is the minimum I can get away with ?

Is it rear shifter, cassette and chain ? Or do I need to chage teh front mech as well. And will my 8 spd Chainset still work ?

The reason for the change ? Well, the cassette is worn and trying to find 30-11t XT quality is almost impossible.The shifters are worn(ish) and again trying to find XT quality that is not worn is becoming harder. I've bought 8speed off ebay only to be disapointed with the quality/worn outness. And people are selling 8speed stuff for more than 9speed stuff.
The Karakoram will stay 8 speed, but the Zaskar ( that is always my first choice bike) will go 9. I just need to start with the minimum and change as funds allow.

So, based on experience , what shoud I start with first..................

 

[iveto1983]

9sp conversion

In my experience you only need to change the shifters, chain and cassette. That's all I did on my Kona and the gears all work fine. My bikes only get light use but I've never had a problem with the Kona in the 5 or so years it's been 9 speed.

Cheers, Pat

 

[sancho]

Ideally you would want to get new chainrings if you are getting a new chain and cassette so they all wear evenly.

That said, iveto1983 is correct: all you really need to jump from 8 to 9 speed is the shifters, chain, and cassette.

 

[bwhsh8r]

Re: 9sp conversion

In my experience you only need to change the shifters, chain and cassette. That's all I did on my Kona and the gears all work fine. My bikes only get light use but I've never had a problem with the Kona in the 5 or so years it's been 9 speed.

Cheers, Pat

these are the only essentials, unless your front chainrings are worn, in which case its highly recomended to switch those too or else ittl shift like poo.

& *TECHNICALLY* you only have to swap the left shifter (& cassette & chain) if you want the bare minimum

 

[Augustus]

might get away with shifters and cassette.

i'm running 8spd mechs, chain, c'rings with 7spd thumbies on friction and 9 speed cassette and it all works fine.

on another bike, 9spd casette, mechs, shifters - 10spd chain and c'rings. works fine. also worked fine with 10 spd shifters.

 

[lingus75]

Hmm, interesting. I decided to stay 8 speed as wanted to keep XC pro shifters. Have you considered the Sram cassettes? The ones I have used are very good, okay there is no 'spider' type XT cassette but they last fine.

I ended up with 9 speed chainset and chain with 8 speed cassette, works well.

 

[the great roberto]

Thanks chaps
Shifter(s) ,chain and casette it is.
I've just discovered a M960 front mech in my garage as well. So that should help with the front end shifting duties.
I'm still using a M567 ? LX chainset that is far from worn out, so that will stilll do I hope. I did read somewhere that only the granny ring is different on 9spd from 8spd.
I've been living in the past with 8spd,paying silly money for second hand worn out bits as well. (Bought a knackered M739 chainset from Ebay last year-Junk). Even XT bottom brackest are getting harder to find.
There are some good (ish) deasl on 9 spd cassettes (£40) so the move to 9spd is happening !

 

[Augustus]

picked a bad time though given the price of new shimano.

 

[legrandefromage]

I successfully used 1988 Deore mechs with 9spd shifters without problems

 

[Anthony]

I'm still using a M567 ? LX chainset that is far from worn out, so that will stilll do I hope. I did read somewhere that only the granny ring is different on 9spd from 8spd.

It's the big ring that differs - 44t instead of 42t, but not really worth updating, especially as a retro fm might have a fraction more trouble reaching down to a 22 inner if set up for a 44 outer.

As has been said, SRAM cassettes are fine anyway and they've kept faith with retro needs where Shimano haven't.

In theory you need the thinner 9-sp chain or you might get snagging as the cassette sprockets are closer together, but some people don't find that. But in fact 9-speed chains are probably better than 8-speed anyway, even on 8-speed applications, as they still fit on the teeth perfectly and the shorter pins make them slightly stiffer/stronger.