8 speed versus 9 speed in mud - discuss

After a truly disappointing experience with 9 speed in mud today, I'm toying with the idea of swapping the cassette, shifters, chain and rear mech to 8 speed. I think from previous winter mud plugging the 8 speed copes a little better.

What about you folks? Same story with the narrow chains and 9 speed?

I've just shelled out a small fortune on new XT chainrings and a 9 speed XTR chain though.... :roll: pillock. However I have all the 8 speed XT parts apart from the chain in my spares box.

SP

I find the difference so small it is nothing to worry about. 9 speed stuff is cheaper to replace than retro 8 speed kit.

REKIBorter":3nv8rmos said:

I find the difference so small it is nothing to worry about. 9 speed stuff is cheaper to replace than retro 8 speed kit.

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I agree. Leafs are a bigger problem when they get in-between the sprockets :x

Can't say I notice a difference between 9spd and others when it comes to winter use.

What problems you having SP?

Weeeeell, mostly just cack shifting / engagement on the rear sprockets when truely caked in mud.

SP

i agree totally. I have just got back from a no so muddy ride with no end of problems with the shifting! I started with 21 gears and by the end i had a snapped front mech and only 3 cogs able to engage on the back, i was getting over taken by the single speed boys!!!!

Me and the owner of the bike shop both agree that 9 speed is pretty troublesome in the mud and the introduction of 10spd is crazy. we both agree that you are best off with a single ring up front and 7 speed out back, with a nice fat chain.

The cost of replacement parts is a lot easier on the wallet as well,

9 speed cassette = £50-80...............7 speed £15
9 speed chain £24 ish.....................cheap 7 spd chain £4.99 on tinternet.

do the Maths!

Plus if you are using cheap parts, you can just run them into the ground rather than replacing chains every 3 months!!!!

10 speed on an MTB?!? I'm clearly out of the loop!

SP

try 6spd...


the narrower the sprockets, the worse it gets especially if your local mud is clay based and sticky.

Theres no real solution.

bojangle":ci62l5xz said:

9 speed cassette = £50-80...............7 speed £15
9 speed chain £24 ish.....................cheap 7 spd chain £4.99 on tinternet.

do the Maths!

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err 9-speed can also be bought cheap. why do you need to buy expensive 9-speed when you don't mind cheap 7-speed ? :?

How long before somebody starts harping on about the benefits of single speed......

A Rohloff hub could be interesting.

SP