Shimano bae end shifter compatability: 8 speed versus 9 speed.

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.

Ken

Ken Pisichko wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Either will work in friction mode. There's a good chance you could get
the 9-speed to index the 8 sprockets with a bit of fiddling.

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.

I'd suggest reconsidering this...all you need to make it 9-speed (aside
from the shifters) is a 9-speed cassette and compatible chain.

The stuff about derailers being "[number]-speed" is just marketing hype,
all of them work with any number of speeds, as long as the shift lever
matches the cassette.

Sheldon "9 Is Better" Brown
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
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Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
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Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
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On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:02:38 -0500, Ken Pisichko wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.

Ken

Won't work. The spacing between cogs is different. Wait for the 8
speed. Unless you want to use them non-indexed, in which case I have
some old Suntour barcons you can have for $2 plus shipping

The 8 speed bar ends should be easily available.

Are you talking Shimano?

If the rear derailer is *not* Dura-ace model 7400, get the 9-speed
shifters and a 9-speed cassette. You're good to go.

If it is Dura-ace 7400, get the 9-speed shifters and you're good to go
with 8-speed.



--

Ken Pisichko wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.

Wait until the dealer can get 8 speed Ultegra shifters.

"Ken Pisichko" wrote in message
...
I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.


Nashbar has Ultegra 8-speed for $40. I'd stick with 8-speed for now, cassettes
and chains are much cheaper.

In article , Ken Pisichko
wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.



I used to run an 8 speed cog set with a 9 speed Dura Ace bar end
shifter awhile back with a SRAM PC-48 chain and it works ok in the
indexed mode. I now run a customized 9 speed cassette (LX 9 with 2
custom selected gears) with the same SRAM PC-48 8 speed chain and with
the Dura Ace. It is working smoothly without a hitch. Though running
a 8 speed chain is not recommended, I seemed to have no rubbing issues
with my Deore long cage derailleur..

Speaking of the derailleur, the numbering scheme is a marketing
gimmick. What's important is the length of the cage if you are
planning on running a 32 or 34 teeth at the rear.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:02:38 -0400, Ken Pisichko wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.


I had no difficulty finding 8-speed Shimano bar end shifters on eBay new
for about $35 a couple of weeks ago. Right now, 9-speed bar end shifters
are very scarce and are pulling a huge premium, as are some 9-speed
cassettes.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:02:38 -0400, Ken Pisichko wrote:

I am planning to purchase a bike and am assembling some components. The
rear gear is an 8 speed. The dealer is currently out of 8 speed end bar
shifters but has 9 and 10 speed units in stock.

Can I use the 9 and 10 speeed shifters on the 8 speed gear and
derailler, or should I wait for the 8 speed shifters? Any problems with
using his available 9 or 10 speed shifters?

Going to a 9 or 10 speed derailler and rear gears is not an option at
this stage of the game.


I had no difficulty finding 8-speed Shimano bar end shifters on eBay new
for about $35 a couple of weeks ago. Right now, 9-speed bar end shifters
are very scarce and are pulling a huge premium, as are some 9-speed
cassettes.