10sp v 9sp

[BrindiCruiser]

Anyone every regret stepping up to a 10sp bike after having a 9sp?

I do purely because the costs of replacement parts seem to be higher. I wonder if any of the more experienced folk think that the 10sp stuff is less durable as well.

[Lanky Love]

well ive heard that the becuase there are mor egears the chain needs to be thinner which means its weaker and more likely to break. but i dont think it would make that much of a difference.

[BrindiCruiser]

kinda makes sense that thinner = less durable, but I suppose that arguement has been run every time that Shimano moved from 7sp - 8sp - 9sp and now 10 sp.

[No Skid Marks]

Following other 9/10 speeds,I can't believe how dished the back wheel is to accept them. I'm not talented enough to notice any flex though. I wish they made new style 7 or 8 speed shifters and wide range cassettes for hacks like me.

[ScottD]

10 speed is plenty strong enough. As long as you replace your chain often enough (every 2 months/ 4000km) and look after your gear its fine. Its not as though any of us are Jan or Vino.

10 speed, heaps nicer to ride, may not shift quiet as good as some 9 speed stuff but there always seems to be the right gear at the ready especially if you run a 11-21

[BrindiCruiser]

I am starting to think about which cassettes to buy next but I am pretty damn sure it will not be 11-21.

I don't think I would get up many hills with 11-21. Would be nice to have the close ratio though.

But back to topic, I do think that extra gear gives more flexibility.

[Rik]

As long as you replace your chain often enough (every 2 months/ 4000km) and look after your gear its fineTherein lies the reason why 10spd sucks. It's also a bitch to tune, I guess we're echoing whinges when the jump to 9spd was made but I've never been 100% happy with what I can acheive with the tuning of a 10spd system, even on brand new bikes. The tolerances are so tight that the slightest of gum in a cable can give a vague feel, and just wait until things start wearing out... :eek:

[---Matt---]

Therein lies the reason why 10spd sucks. It's also a bitch to tune, I guess we're echoing whinges when the jump to 9spd was made but I've never been 100% happy with what I can acheive with the tuning of a 10spd system, even on brand new bikes. The tolerances are so tight that the slightest of gum in a cable can give a vague feel, and just wait until things start wearing out... :eek:

Hence why I'm stocking up on as much 8spd stuff as I can! I get a year or more out of a chain on my bikes and never have any troubles with tuning or lack of gear range.

[Rik]

Probably not so relevant for road weenies but I dream of the day someone makes a highend groupset using 6 gears with 8spd spacing and quality parts. Less wheel dish, stronger chain, crisper shifting, more durable, etc...
In fact, I have a few thoughts for something like this for my roadie buildup - just have to fork out too much cash to buy a couple of hubs and get a custom axle made. Will keep my cards close to my chest about this ;)

[No Skid Marks]

What about 5 speed using a ten speed shifter and double clicking each gear?

[jamespierce]

Totally have to agree - having come from 9 speed mountain bike land I've never had any trouble getting my indexing perfect. My first 10 speed chain lasted me 1200km - at which point one of the middle links snapped (not the joining pin) - New chain, and it's been a bear to get the indexing just right, it's still not perfect for all the gears... Maddening !

But campag only makes 10 speed stuff now, shimano is only one or two groups away from being the same. So what are you going to do ? Honestly the extra gear is really very marginal, put some bigger gaps in the big gears and it's never going to be a big deal.

[tofer]

When I was building up my bike I bought Dura-ace 10 speed.

The first time I rode it was a mountain TT. Right at the start taking off I snapped my chain. I cut out a link and did the flat TT the next day. At the end of this TT I had bent a link in my chain.

I'm not saying that i'm huge or anything, but breaking a chain twice in one weekend is strange. After that weekend I replaced the brand new chain, and have ridden 3000km's on it and so far it's fine. I think that the chains are being made in different placed, and so the quality of the chain in hard to tell especially when it is bought online. I always buy my chains instore now days, and so far... no problems :)

[No Skid Marks]

i've heard that some companies are putting out some second rate products for online shopping. I've heard of a few different examples like Tofers. Buy from shops.