Is 3x9 dead?

[Gooby]

The yearly service is almost done. This year it has been a sod to get hold of chainrings and an issue with the left shifter pod sent me looking for a new XTR replacement. Shimano no longer make 3x9 shifter pods.

What is cheering me off is nearly the whole chain set has been replaced apart from right shifter, cranks and rear mech. If I had known how difficult it is becoming to source parts I would have just gone 2x10.

[Smartboy]

Hmmm... I've just fitted a brand new XT 3 ring crankset to my MTB. Didn't find it difficult to find one, however I do believe that this is 10-speed compatible (I run 3x10) and don't know if it is 'backward compatible' with a 9-speed cassette. I expect it would, but that's purely a guess.

You finding it difficult to find a 9-speed shifter pod and only able to find 10-speed ones? Is that the problem?

[shouldbworking]

http://www.bike-discount.de would appear to have the shifters. No idea if the price is competitive as XTR is not normally a level of kit I would consider looking at.

[Gren]

That site is normally one of the cheapest around. Bought plenty from them myself.

[P-Jay]

Certainly feels like it, the old 9sp Deore stuff has been rebranded Alvio and you can get that, but I have a feeling Shimano has stopped making mid-high spec 9sp bits. What's left oh the shelves is old stock and getting expensive IMHO.

I've upgraded to 10sp, I don't notice the extra cog, but the Shadow+ clutch thingy is very good.

[gazza285]

So the supply has dried up, apart for the gabillion of bits on eBay and Amazon, and on every online shop I can be bothered to check?

[SkinnyBoy]

It's your lucky day! I have a set of XTR M970 shifters going spare for a price. In mint nick and 9 speed too. I've just upgraded to 10 speed so was going to bung these on ebay.

Edited by SkinnyBoy on Saturday 6th July 05:44

[Gooby]

I have just picked up my XT replacement complete with shifter window (how ... quaint)
Skinnyboy - how much do you want for the left hand pod (I already have 2 replacement right hand pods in my 'box!)

[Busa mav]

God , I am so out of fashion with my 3 x 8 spd xtr , how embarrassing

[SkinnyBoy]

Probably 50 bucks Australian mate not sure what postage would be though. A 500 g padded Jiffy bag shouldn't cost that much.

[WarrenG]

What about 3x8? Even worse! I'm trying to convert a hybrid to drops and use it as a cyclocross style bike. No shifters around for 8sp triple. Poo.