swapping 9 to 10 speed

swapping 9 to 10 speed

Author
Discussion

boyse7en

Original Poster:

7,031 posts

171 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
I've got an old Specialized Tricross i use as a winter bike, as it takes full mudguards and I' not precious about the paint.

I think the cassette needs replacing, as it occasionally slips under extreme pressures (steep hills) which is a bit confidence-sapping

Is it possible, or even worth, replacing the brake lever/shifters at the same time to move on from 9 speed to 10 speed? Or is it a waste of time and money, or even not cross-compatible?

outnumbered

4,313 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all

You'd have to change the rear mech as well, because the cable pull is different. So it adds up to quite a bit more than just bunging a new 9 speed cassette in.

dontlookdown

1,912 posts

99 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
As noted, it's quite an involved and expensive business to do it the official way, and all for only one more gear.

If you don't mind a bit of a hack (and non-indexed shifting) you could do it on the cheap by using a bar end friction shifter to control the rear mech, and keep the brifter as just a brake lever.

boyse7en

Original Poster:

7,031 posts

171 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Doesn't seem worth it then. It was only because the levers were cheap.

How is the rear mech different? I thought that the shifter defined the amount of cable pull, and the the rear mech was just a "dumb" part of the process.

OutInTheShed

8,755 posts

32 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Shifter compatibility is a multi-dimensional swamp.
The 'sheldon brown' website may help.
You can get mid-cable gismos to fiddle ratios.
10 speed rear mechs are not dear secondhand, but 'long cage' was at a premium when I was messing about.

Don't assume a MTB cage will fit on a road mech :-(

outnumbered

4,313 posts

240 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
Doesn't seem worth it then. It was only because the levers were cheap.

How is the rear mech different? I thought that the shifter defined the amount of cable pull, and the the rear mech was just a "dumb" part of the process.
Slightly different geometry so they won't index with the later levers. IIRC with Shimano, 7 to 8 speed you could reuse the rear mech, but not since then.

Barchettaman

6,465 posts

138 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
outnumbered said:
You'd have to change the rear mech as well, because the cable pull is different. So it adds up to quite a bit more than just bunging a new 9 speed cassette in.
This isn’t necessarily true.
Newer 10-speed Tiagra is different but older 10 speed sti shifters will work fine with your current front and rear mechs, as will 10-speed 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace.

Having said that I wouldn’t bother. What I would suggest however is when you replace cassette and chain, use a 10 or 11-speed chain instead. They shift better on a 9-speed drivetrain. Ok, so the difference isn’t massive but it is noticeable.

Oh, and use posh cables and housing too. Jagwire Road Pro is my current favourite.


Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 23 November 10:40

outnumbered

4,313 posts

240 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
Barchettaman said:
This isn’t necessarily true.
Newer 10-speed Tiagra is different but older 10 speed sti shifters will work fine with your current front and rear mechs, as will 10-speed 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace.

Having said that I wouldn’t bother. What I would suggest however is when you replace cassette and chain, use a 10 or 11-speed chain instead. They shift better on a 9-speed drivetrain. Ok, so the difference isn’t massive but it is noticeable.

Oh, and use posh cables and housing too. Jagwire Road Pro is my current favourite.


Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 23 November 10:40
You're right, I should have googled before relying on my increasingly dubious memory of these things. Sorry to confuse the OP...


lufbramatt

5,419 posts

140 months

Thursday 23rd November 2023
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
I've got an old Specialized Tricross i use as a winter bike, as it takes full mudguards and I' not precious about the paint.

I think the cassette needs replacing, as it occasionally slips under extreme pressures (steep hills) which is a bit confidence-sapping

Is it possible, or even worth, replacing the brake lever/shifters at the same time to move on from 9 speed to 10 speed? Or is it a waste of time and money, or even not cross-compatible?
Got some 10 speed 5800 105 rim brake brifters you can have for the price of postage if they are of any use

boyse7en

Original Poster:

7,031 posts

171 months

Monday 27th November 2023
quotequote all
lufbramatt said:
Got some 10 speed 5800 105 rim brake brifters you can have for the price of postage if they are of any use
Oh, that's very generous of you. Yes please!
I can give it a try to see if it works 😁