9 speed chain compatibility

JimNicho

Retro Guru
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Will a 9 speed chain work with a "Standard" chainset, or do the rings have to be thinner? It looks like I might need to purchase some new wheels for the bike build, so it would be the ideal opportunity to go 9 speed.

I already have 9 speed shifters due to an oversight, and an Acera rear mech.

The wheels I'm looking at take a cassette, wheras all the wheels I currently have are screw on freewheel type, so I will have to buy a cassette, whether it be 7, 8 or 9 speed.
 
I'm running a 9-speed setup (XT Rear Mech, SLX Cassette) with the same LX Chainset I used for 8-speed. I do have an XT "Mega-9" Front Mech though.

Took a bit of fettling to set up, but seems to change smoothly enough.
 
Despite what component manufacturers say, almost all 7-speed onward chainsets will work. The thickness of the cogs themselves is the same. Occasionally you run into a problem with cog spacing and the chain can fall into the gap, but it is rare.
 
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