Anyone still riding 9 speed?

[AJM100]

or even 8speed for that matter. With so much steel love in this forum I would suspect there are a lot of 8 & 9 speed campy riders.

I still like campy 9 speed personally and will continue to ride it until I can't find replacement parts . . .

Waiting to build an 8 speed - waiting on the right frame to appear . . .

[Keith A]

Still have a few bikes in the family with Shimano 9-speed. For the flat lands here in Florida, the extra gear (or two) doesn't make a big difference.

[kevinvc]

My cross bike is a 9 speed. I have a Mountain Cycle Stumptown with a single ring and 9 speed cassette. It's a bit of a freak with flat bars, juicy disc brakes and sram trigger shifters. But it's fun. :p

[drewellison]

I've got a couple steel bikes with Campy 9 speed - one ergo, one bar end shifters. Bullet proof shifting. There's no reason to change IMHO.
Drew

[texbike]

Me! I have 4 bikes built with either 8 or 9 speed DA. I really dig the 7400 8 speed stuff.

EDIT - Whoops! Make that 5. I forgot about the MTB with 9 speed XTR...

Texbike

[mobilemail]

Four of my six bikes are 9 speed. One is ten, and one is...SIX!

[TBLS]

How about:

8 speed Mtb
9 speed road/carbon
10 speed cross
11 road/steel

And a single speed road

I need help...........

[Bradford]

9 speed on the tandem. Still rides well enough to drag the kids around on the back.

[Llewellyn]

I have two bikes running 9 speed Shimano and enough spares to last me until I can't ride them anymore. Nine is more than enough for my purposes. I also have one 10 speed and an old 6 speed bike.

[many_styles]

I was riding DA 9 speed on my CSI. Didn't have to change out, but wanted better ergo lever shape/lever reach adjustment.

[palincss]

or even 8speed for that matter. With so much steel love in this forum I would suspect there are a lot of 8 & 9 speed campy riders.


9 speed, yes definitely. (Even 7.) Everything but my 8 speed Moulton AM and the 7 spd shopper runs 13-30 cassettes, most custom "Sheldon Century Special" 9s. One 7 is a stock 13-30 friction-shifted, although I've experimented with a custom 8 speed 13-32 on that bike; the other is a 14-32, index shifted. Going to 10 on any of these bikes would give me absolutely nothing worth having.

The Moulton, with its 17" wheels, can actually benefit from an 11T sprocket, with a 56T big chain ring. That only gives a gear in the low 80s, since the wheels are so small.

But Campagnolo, no. The last bike I owned with a Campagnolo drive train was a 1972 Schwinn P15 Paramount, and by 1973 the Campagnolo Gran Turismo was off the bike and in the garbage; in another year or two the Record front came off and a backwards-acting SunTour SL took its place. I did, however, keep the Record Triple crank (with Merz 31 granny ring) until the bike was stolen in 1992.

[jr59]

I have a 9 speed Bianchi with a dura ace 25th anv group on it!

Of course I have 5 other bikes with campy 11 on them, 1 touring rig with a 7 speed, a 10 speed shimano brifter set up, a ten speed DT set up, and a mtb.


Yea I have trouble remembering how to shift at times. Oh well modern day problems.

[bfd]

9 speed, yes definitely. (Even 7.) Everything but my 8 speed Moulton AM and the 7 spd shopper runs 13-30 cassettes, most custom "Sheldon Century Special" 9s. One 7 is a stock 13-30 friction-shifted, although I've experimented with a custom 8 speed 13-32 on that bike; the other is a 14-32, index shifted. Going to 10 on any of these bikes would give me absolutely nothing worth having.

The Moulton, with its 17" wheels, can actually benefit from an 11T sprocket, with a 56T big chain ring. That only gives a gear in the low 80s, since the wheels are so small.

But Campagnolo, no. The last bike I owned with a Campagnolo drive train was a 1972 Schwinn P15 Paramount, and by 1973 the Campagnolo Gran Turismo was off the bike and in the garbage; in another year or two the Record front came off and a backwards-acting SunTour SL took its place. I did, however, keep the Record Triple crank (with Merz 31 granny ring) until the bike was stolen in 1992.

But don't you still use Campy triple front derailleurs?! :)

Also, if you use Shimano 9 and want a 30t cog in the back, there's Shimano "mtb" 11-30 9 speed cassette for under $20:

http://www.wiggle.com/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/

For Campy 9, they still see a 13-28 cassette for about $45:

http://www.wiggle.com/campagnolo-veloce-ultradrive-9-speed-cassette-large/

If you need wider, there's also IRD 9 cassette in 11-32/12-32 for about $60; 11-30, 12-30 and 12-34 for about $80:

http://store.interlocracing.com/9elroca.html

Good Luck!

[exapkib]

Still riding a full 7700 group on my Yamaguchi.

It just works so smooth!

I can see that the shifters will probably be the first thing to go, but until then I'll be stockpiling 9-speed cassettes and chains.

[LouDeeter]

I've got a bike with 5 speed freewheel, another with a 6 speed freewheel and a third with 9 speed Shimano cassette. I find with the first two, that I shift the front derailleur more than I do the rear. On the 9 speed, I have a compact crankset and can ride most of my rides on the 50 chainring, so the front never gets shifted.

[kevinvc]

Also, if you use Shimano 9 and want a 30t cog in the back, there's Shimano "mtb" 11-30 9 speed cassette for under $20:

http://www.wiggle.com/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/


Hmm, would this cassette work with a sram x9 rear derailleur? With 30 teeth I could use a larger ring, which would be nice since I run a single ring up front.

[mg2ride]

My bikes don't always have gears but when they do, they have 9 speeds!

It is all I have, want or need.

[Ray]

My two Spectrum ti road bikes are 9 speed. The more aggressive of the two has DA brifters, a Shimano compact crank, Shimano mtb cassette, and XT rear derailure. The more touring type bike has barcons, a Shimano triple, and similar mtb rear cassette and rear mech as the other. I like low gears and don't care a whole lot about spacing. I have another couple of sets of old DA and Ultegra brifters if I need 'em. My townie has friction barcons, a triple crank, and an 8-speed cassette with an mtb rear mech.

9 is the most I've ever had - never felt any need or desire for more...

-Ray

[Tin Turtle]

Yep, Ultegra still going strong.

http://www.tinturtle.com/image.axd?picture=2015%2f9%2fHarmonHundred.jpg

[benjamine74]

I have not tried 10 or 11 speed, let alone di2 or eps. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing?
I've no reason to go to 10 or 11 speeds, jumps between gears don't seem exsessive, chains and cassettes are cheap.
All my bikes are campagnolo.
I have 2 bikes on 9 speed ergopower, a bike on 9 speed indexed downtube shifters.
And one 8 speed record ergopower bike, with 9-11 speed hubs but with 8 speed spacers as per old potatoes recommendation- works perfect.

[weaponsgrade]

My cross bike is still 9 speed (Campy).

[PeregrineA1]

Of my riders

Steelman Stage Race 11 speed Campagnolo (compact)
Ed Litton 8 speed Shimano
Paramount 5 speed Campagnolo (triple)
Long Haul Trucker 10 speed Shimano (triple)
Trek 760 7 speed Suntour
Eisentraut 5 speed Campagnolo
Eisentraut 5 speed mixed mongrel
Santana 7 speed Shimano (triple)
Colnago Junior 6 speed Campagnolo
Masi Gran Criterium 5 speed Campagnolo
Trek EX-8 10 speed Shimano (triple)

Of her riders

Gunnar 11 speed Shimano (compact)
Centurion 7 speed Shimano
Paramount 5 speed Campagnolo (triple)
Spec Stumpy 10 speed Shimano (triple)
Landshark 7 speed Suntour (triple)

Then of course there is the discussion about shifting mechanism and location.

[jasonification]

I'm running 9-speed too!:hello:

[bfd]

Hmm, would this cassette work with a sram x9 rear derailleur? With 30 teeth I could use a larger ring, which would be nice since I run a single ring up front.

Not sure, but isn't Sram spacing the same as Shimano? If so, it should work.

I have only installed the 11-30 cassette on a bike with ultegra 9 components. I swapped the 11, 12 cogs with a 12, 13 cogs from a 12-27 to get a 12-30 9 speed cassette. I will say that it works good with an ultegra 9 speed rear der!

Good Luck!

[Ken Robb]

7,9 speed triple Shimanos on Bridgestones and Rivendells.
9 spd. Campy w Ritchey 50/34 on Strada Bianca
Sachs internal triple with 7spd cassette on bikefriday.
Got lots of other stuff in boxes including 10 spd. Chorus.

For my riding 7x3 is plenty of gears.

[palincss]

But don't you still use Campy triple front derailleurs?! :)


Yes, for sure. But a front derailleur does not a drivetrain make.


Also, if you use Shimano 9 and want a 30t cog in the back, there's Shimano "mtb" 11-30 9 speed cassette for under $20:


There's that 11T sprocket again. Fine with 17" wheels, a total waste of space otherwise, for me at least. 48x13 is all the top gear I need.


If you need wider, there's also IRD 9 cassette in 11-32/12-32 for about $60; 11-30, 12-30 and 12-34 for about $80:


A Shimano 12-27 can easily be converted into a 13-30. I've been using the same 1st position 13 and flat 30 for years, just swap them from cassette to cassette.

[93legendti]

On our Santana Tandem-9 speed Ultegra Triple

[witcombusa]

I still ride 5sd, ultra6, 6sd, 7sd, 8sd and 9sd bikes.
I will go no further than 9sd...EVER :beer:

[SlackMan]

I haven't upgraded to 9-speed from 7-speed yet. I'm still waiting to see if more speeds is just a fad, which I think it is. :D

OK, so in truth, I do have 10-speed now, but it's been only a couple of months since I bought a new (to me) bike with 10-speed and relegated the 7-speed to be used for future rain bike.

[rodcad]

Me! I have 4 bikes built with either 8 or 9 speed DA. I really dig the 7400 8 speed stuff.

EDIT - Whoops! Make that 5. I forgot about the MTB with 9 speed XTR...

Texbike

I'm with Texbike. I even hoard 7/8/9 parts. No 10/11 speed here, just no need for it. Oops, guess the new Moots is 2x10, but I didn't order it that way :)

[choke]

2 bikes with 8 speed. (Campy)
3 bikes with 7 speed, all freewheels. (2 Campy, 1 Zeus)
1 bike with 6 speed. (Campy)

Though the bike I ride the most has Campy 10 on it.

[dlui]

I have 2 steel bikes running 8 sp, one 6400 with DT shifters, another with 7400 STI. Passed over the 9 speed groups. Have two 10 speed bikes, one 7800 STI and one 7800 DT shifters. Merlin track bike used on the road. My latest and greatest is a Moots CR with 6800!

[guido]

7 x 3 on my old MB-2. Unfortunately it had a bad experience with road salt that I didn't catch in time last winter so it got a lot of corrosion that has been tough to entirely eradicate. A switch to Silver friction shifters was not very successful either. It may make the jump to light speed soon...

[dustyrider]

This is fun!
2x10 road x2
2x9 mtb x2
3x8 road
3x7 beater going to 9 shortly!

I really have no favorites except the 8 speed sets up oh so sweetly.

[JAGI410]

2 single speeds
2 9 speeds (1x, 3x)
2 10 speeds (both 1x MTB)

[hiljentaa]

Riding the stupidest of 9 speed - Campagnolo.

I have a bunch of crap to wear through before upgrading to the new millennium.

[berserk87]

I installed a new Dura Ace 9000 11-speed group on my road rig in July. Until that time I was running Dura Ace 7700 9-speed.

I am still running 9-speed (Dura Ace and Ultegra mix) on my TT bike. My mountain bike has a hodgepodge of 9-speed stuff too.

[nesteel]

Shimano bar end shifter 9 speed on the commuter/touring bike.
2 complete Campy 9 speed setups ready to go. Just deciding what they go on.
Got to bike has Campy 10.

[wc1934]

9 speed Campy triple - moved it over from my old Cannondale Saeco cad 3.

[OperaLover]

Colnago Tecnos 8-speed Campagnolo (FRICTION!)
3Rensho Katana 8-speed DuraAce 74XX
Soma Double Cross 9-speed Shimano

Lemond Reno (Wife's) 8-speed Ultegra

[in_version]

6x3 speed, mix up friction on steel
6x2 athena on steel
8x2 7410 on steel
8x2 c-record on steel

[in_version]

When are we going to see a gallery for each of these. especially the 3rensho.

Colnago Tecnos 8-speed Campagnolo (FRICTION!)
3Rensho Katana 8-speed DuraAce 74XX
Soma Double Cross 9-speed Shimano

Lemond Reno (Wife's) 8-speed Ultegra

[tv_vt]

7 bikes in the household, all with Shimano 9 speed STI

[Geeheeb]

Considering going back to 9 speed on two bikes to keep everything 9 speed. Anyone want to trade 9 speed STI for 105 5600. Or Dura Ace SL-BS78 bar ends?

[weisan]

I have stockpile enough 9-speed to see me through my grand kds riding on their 15-16 speed 5-pound bikes.:D

[Dallez]

I have a Ritchey Road Logic 2.0 with 10spd Sram Red and my previous bike was Shimano 105 5600. In other words, all I have known is modern, STI style shifting and 10 gears in the back.

I acquired a 1991 Serotta Colorado II with an 8 spd Mavic groupset a few months ago that I fully intended to switch over to a modern groupset as soon as funds would allow. However, I love the downtube shifters and don't miss the extra 2 cogs in the rear. 8spd rocks.

[unterhausen]

my main road bike is 9 speed, but for the last year I have been putting road tires on my cross bike, which is 10 speed

[Ti Designs]

As far as I can tell, Shimano 9-speed was the high water mark in bicycle components. The first generation (8-speed) STI stuff suffered from being first generation. It wasn't that reliable, and Dura-Ace wasn't interchangeable with anything below it. with 9-speed, Dura-Ace levers could be used with Ultegra or 105 derailleurs, making odd set-ups easy. I have Dura-Ace 7700 levers on all of my bikes, take a look at the gearing range:

Road bike: (44,56) x (11-21) all 7701
Cross bike: (39,50) x (11-32) 7701 with a 7703 RD and an XT cassette
Tandem: (30,39,53) x (12-25) all 7703

10-speed was a huge change in chain width, from a pin width of 6.5mm down to 5.6mm. Drive train parts would wear 15% faster to go along with the 60% increase in price. Add to that the fact that road stuff was all 10-speed while mountain bike stuff was still 9-speed, so Mt Washington gearing meant using some aftermarket cassette (like the IRD) which really didn't work.

11-speed has it's selling points. Switching to Mt Washington gearing was just a matter of a GS rear derailleur and a different chain and cassette - done. The same crank can now take compact chainrings (which should not be allowed into Florida) or normal chainrings. It doesn't allow for that table saw blade I have on my bike, but who can turn that anyway?

Here's what I'm worried about: Di2 now extends down to Ultegra, and the prices have really come down - that's good, right? I took a close look at an Ultegra Di2 rear derailleur the other day, I can't say I was impressed. What makes a rear derailleur durable is how the parallelogram is built. On the good derailleurs the side plates are solid aluminum, with the pivot pins supported along their whole length. Take a Dura-Ace derailleur and yank it around all you want, those pivots aren't going to pick up any play. The cheap derailleurs use stamped steel for the side plates, the pins are only supported by the thickness of the steel at the edges. Those holes elongate and the derailleur picks up play and no longer shifts accurately. Between the cheap and the expensive, there are derailleurs which use aluminum front plates with steel back plates. Ultegra Di2 uses an aluminum front plate - that's good. The rear plate interfaces with the motor, but the pivots have very little cross section to them. They seem pretty solid out of the box, but the bike can be a harsh place to live (I wore out a crank on my road bike - there are no moving parts!) so we'll see how it goes...

[Llewellyn]

As far as I can tell, Shimano 9-speed was the high water mark in bicycle components.


Great post, and I would especially agree with this bit. I think the move to 10 speed and above has been driven by marketing rather than benefits for the average rider.

[Llewellyn]

I have stockpile enough 9-speed to see me through my grand kids riding on their 15-16 speed 5-pound bikes.:D

Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only person in this position. Except that I don't have grandkids.........or kids either :banana:

[martinez]

Happily riding my 7700 on my steel GT :D

[rustychisel]

As far as I can tell, Shimano 9-speed was a high water mark in bicycle components.

With a slight revision, I go with this.

Of course then some tool is gonna tell you Octalink BB was no good, but mine was excellent. Required attention when pulling and reinstalling cranks, but it's wasn't exactly rocket science. Or maybe it was.

Sold a full Ultegra 9sp groupset for good money a few years ago: it was 5 years old, at least, and polished up like jewellery when I prepared it for sale. The forging and quality including anodising was outstanding.

[El Chaba]

I agree that the 9-speed era was the pinnacle for bike parts. I have my preference for Campagnolo, but I agree that the Shimano Dura Ace parts from the period were the best that they have made as well. The Campagnolo parts from the era were jewelry with the functionality of a fine Swiss watch. Each successive generation has given up some incremental amount of durability and functionality in exchange for an extra gear and a slight reduction in weigh....and with the current offerings the plot has been completely lost with respect to aesthetics...

[El Chaba]

I should add that I have mostly Campy 10 speed on my bikes (no 11 speed...I'm not going there unless I am forced) and it is not far from the 9 speed standard.....but when I ride one of my bikes with 9 speed, I recognize that the parts were incrementally better.

[Red Tornado]

I have Campy Veloce 9-speed on my Masi Gran Criterium. Owned that groupset for 12 years now. Absolutely no complaints. Never given me any problems, always shifts great. 11-23 & 53-39.

Also have a 10-speed Campy Centaur groupset on a Colnago. It seems to work just slightly better, but it's a level up and much newer.

[guyintense]

I have Dura ace 9 speed on all my road bikes and enough spare parts so I'll never have to "upgrade".

[NHAero]

Ten bikes in the household
Eight are 9 speed, one if which is SRAM, others are Shimano - all with DA barcons or barcons on Thumbies for the MTBs
One is 40+ yr old 5 speed Sturmey Archer with the two triggers, and one is a fixed gear
Various spare 9 speed cassettes, derailleurs, chains, and barcons

[Ken Robb]

7 x 3 on my old MB-2. Unfortunately it had a bad experience with road salt that I didn't catch in time last winter so it got a lot of corrosion that has been tough to entirely eradicate. A switch to Silver friction shifters was not very successful either. It may make the jump to light speed soon...

In 1989 I chose MB-3 because it had same frame as MB-2 (and maybe MB-1?) but indexed Shimano thumb shifters rather than Sun Tour friction. I thought that friction shifting while riding rough terrain might require more skill than I possessed. I have replaced 2 rings, one cassette and one chain and it still shifts like new. I have a couple of 7 speed road bikes with Sun Tour Power Ratchet shifters and they are delightful to shift.

[nickl]

Two Campy 9 speed groups. One Chorus (1999) on Serotta Atlanta steel, I've had since new. Second is a NOS with Record brifters and Chorus derailleurs (circa 2008) mix ready for a new custom steel frameset. Considering a Rich Adams or Ted Wojick.

[veloduffer]

I have Campy 9 speed on my Richard Sachs (mixed gruppo with mostly alloy) and Campy 10 speed triple on my Kish touring bike. Campy 11 sped on my two road bikes and two cross bikes.

[boomana]

I have Dura Ace 9 speed on a Calfee Tetra Pro. It's flat around these parts, and 9 speed is fine. I also like the smaller hoods for my smaller hands.

[weisan]

It's flat around these parts, and 9 speed is fine.

Boom pal...in case I read wrongly...living in flat terrain has nuthin' to do with using 9-speed equipment...they are just as.. er...good or relevant or sufficient whatever you wanna call it. I hope that's not what you are implying. I uses a 9-speed compact setup with 11-34 cassette in the back - and I can climb Mt Everest with that thing if I want to. :D

[vav]

I always ride ONE speed at a time ;) :p

One a more serious note, I sucked with nine, "upgraded" to ten and still I suck. Definitely gotta go to eleven

[Titanium]

I have a number of bikes with both 8 and 9 speed.They have been my default setting when building up a newly aquired frameset , mostly for economic reasons, but certainly in the case of the Campy Chorus,Record and Dura Ace 7700 groups I have used , fantastically bomb proof.The last couple builds have been 10 speed as now with the advent of 11 speed , the 10 speed parts have become cheaper and easier to find on CL or here.Frankly, I do not see a great improvement and I would say that my favorite groups are the DA 7700 on my Litespeed Ultimate and the 8 speed Campy Titanium Record on my Colnago Master.Absolutely flawless shifting and I like the strong 'click' when shifting.The almost new 105 10speed group I put on my Mondonico works fine, but I miss that real definite 'click'.

[JAllen]

My only geared bike is a 7 speed 11-28. Not that I have anything against 8,9,10, or 11 speeds. It's just what I have right now. Does what I need it to do.

[redearedslider5]

i have a litespeed with 9 speed dura ace on it. for some reason i love the 8 and 9 speed shimano but can't stand the 10 speed.

[redearedslider5]

oh i also have a 9 speed daytona group waiting for the next frame.

[AngryScientist]

the two bikes i'm currently riding the most (aside from the fixed gear...) are 9-sp. the zanc has campy-9 and the black mtn has DT friction shifters.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHxFIgChV7M/VaO4UHDHfLI/AAAAAAAACJ0/BTixIh2W-F8/s840/IMG_0934.JPG

[dawgie]

I've got 5 bikes, all equipped with 9-speed Shimano groups. That way, I can easily swap wheels and other parts among my bikes if needed. My 9 spd parts have been extremely durable and can't discern any benefits from "upgrading" to 10 or more speeds.

[54ny77]

I somewhat lament the loss of my 9 speed Dura Ace. That group went through hell and a handbasket with nary an adjustment or even cable replacement for that matter, for years. Only reason I got rid of it was replacement stuff was costing more than new stuff.

My first entry point from that was sram red and what a clunky finicky mess that stuff is by comparison. Light, yeah, but relative to my fat arse, ummm, that aspect is meaningless.

[OperaLover]

When are we going to see a gallery for each of these. especially the 3rensho.

3Rensho Katana

Original owner. Bought from Konno-san himself in Kashiwa, Japan in 1987. As far as I know the only red/white fade paint job with the chrome stays in existence. Was originally 7-speed (free wheel), but I upgraded to 8-speed in the early 90's. I ride it a couple times a year on a perfiect day. The most comfortable of all my bikes when riding in the drops.

[Saxon]

Riding DA 9 speed, Ultegra 8 and Campy 6.:beer:

[m_sasso]

One Campagnolo and one Shimano, some 10 and 11 speed chain wheels and derailleurs however the cassettes remain nine speed DT friction shifted. My other bike is an 8 speed thumb shifted XC Pro Suntour.

http://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/honda-tech.com-vbulletin/800x600/80-img_2910a_3cba3a13667beb5b17c8ccdace39c3b4dd7d5ab6 .jpg

[tuscanyswe]

9 speed stuff is for girls! so i built this up for mine not long ago. She loves it and I'm wishing it was my size every time i c her on it. They look good together

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/522/19112741735_5479392481_b.jpg

[Steelman]

Have 3 bikes, all Campy alloy 9 speed, and downtube shifted. All lugged steel.

Would have actually been happier with 8 speed, but desired cassette ratios are more readily avail. in 9.
Rings are 52/42

Ignore me for the latest trends, don't even use a cell phone.

[Mzilliox]

9 speed stuff is for girls! so i built this up for mine not long ago. She loves it and I'm wishing it was my size every time i c her on it. They look good together

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/522/19112741735_5479392481_b.jpg

this is right up there with Bianchi celeste for best girl bike color scheme. love it!

[FlashUNC]

Latest project is a 9 speed group for a bike. It's going to be killer.

[Mzilliox]

We have 5 bikes with 9 speeds or less:
Peugeot Carbolite is 6 speed some crap
Mercian greenie is 5speed Campagnolo Nuovo record
Mercian plum is 8 speed Ultegra
Blue Berthoud is 7 speed Sachs New Success
The Serotta is 9 speed Chorus/Athena

but wait wait: i have a new and modern 10 speed setup on the way for either the plum mercian or the serotta. 2002 Campagnolo Record 10. thats gonna be crazy!!!!

[93legendti]

On our tandem -9 speed ultegra.

[malcolm]

The first bike I ever bought new is now my trainer bike. Centurion prestige with 600 ultegra I think it was 7spd. I've never been a stronger rider than on that bike.

[redir]

My Moots, which is my main ride, still has DA-9 on it. My GL has Record 8-speed.

[tv_vt]

Seven bikes here, all running Shimano 9-speed STI.

[93legendti]

I would use the 9 speed sti levers I have, but I prefer the shapes of the 10 speed STI hoods.

[idrinkwater]

Using 9 speed on my touring bike, with bar ends. I'll never need to upgrade!

[texbike]

Timely resurgence of this thread...

I just built up a late 80s Colnago Super with 7400 Dura Ace. Man, I love that stuff! 7400 parts have such an incredible, jewel-like finish and the stuff just works perfectly. It was definitely a high-water mark for groupsets, IMO.

Texbike

[Elefantino]

Have 7 speed Athena group on an 89 Bianchi Giro. Beautifully retrogrouchy but think I'm going to dump it in favor of more modern bits.

[Hilltopperny]

My concours is a chorus 9spd, litespeed is a mix of mirage and veloce 8spd, tg is dura ace 7700 9spd.

[Keith A]

In addition to some 9-speed rides, I still have a couple 7-speeds and one 8-speed :)

[AJM100]

Texbike - I believe you sold me the 8 speed Record groupset I installed on this vintage Sloughi Criterium (Columbus SLX) frame. Thank you for the group. Bike has been a bunch of fun, running 28mm Pasela tires.

[91Bear]

http://i.imgur.com/bllvM5i.jpg

[benb]

I still have 9-speed on my MTB (Giant NRS) It's an odd mix of SRAM & Shimano... X.0 Shifters, X.0 Rear Derailleur, XT Front Derailleur, XT Crank & BB.

That stuff has been going forever and working fine. The X.0 rear derailleur proved to be vastly superior than Shimano on this bike.. the Shimano stuff would ghost shift under suspension movement on this frame.. SRAM got that part right.

I had horrible luck with 10-speed SRAM on the road but their 9-speed stuff has been great to me.

I have mostly great memories of 9-speed Shimano road.. the wider chain was huge, I really, really notice how much faster chains & cassettes wear out on 10-speed. I did have an Ultegra 9-speed brifter grenade itself prematurely just out of warranty though, that's easy to remember. (I had a DA 9-speed group that was flawless though, best setup I ever had)

I do think ergonomics have gotten way way better with the brifters. The front Derailleur on Shimano 11-speed is so much better it's not even funny and the new brakes are really excellent as well.

[commonguy001]

9 speed on my touring bike and a MTB that I need to sell. Wife's fat bike is 9 also.

[trentschler]

I have two bikes with nine speeds. They have Shimano hubs and cassettes but I shift one with Campy 11-speed Ergo levers, which work perfectly by the way. I have an eight-speed bike, two seven-speeders and one five-speed bike, too. Oh, and a two-speed Brompton. And two single-speed bikes, one with 650C wheels.

[Dead Man]

I started riding on 9 speed, and had some form of 9-speed continuously up until last spring. I had a brand new set of 9000 begging to be ridden, no stripped frames and no desire to buy another (especially after just dropping the coin on a new group and wheels), so it was either strip down 7900 or 6500.... though the 6500 was a SUPER group, it got the chop. Ironically, the 7900 went soon after, too - just couldn't handle wheel compatibility frustration. So now I'm all 11-speed, with the exception of an old Klein 7 speed RSX build currently in progress

Really no idea what I'm gonna do with it.. the frame is slightly too big, and the gearing is ridiculous - 52/42:12-23... not much good for a high-cadence climber living in the mountains.. but it's fun putting it together. I'll probably just sell it when it's done.

[texbike]

Texbike - I believe you sold me the 8 speed Record groupset I installed on this vintage Sloughi Criterium (Columbus SLX) frame. Thank you for the group. Bike has been a bunch of fun, running 28mm Pasela tires.

Nice! I'm glad that the parts worked for you. It looks like they found an appropriate home. :)

I headed out for a short spin earlier on the new (to me) Colnago Super with the 8V 7400 on it. Not sure there's truly a need for anything more modern than that. It just works so well and is aesthetically close to perfection. I could probably sell off everything else in the garage, have this as my only bike, and be perfectly happy with it.

Texbike

[Force]

Campy Record 8 is my sweet spot. Have it on my mid-80s Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra and that bike is just dialed-in. Love it. The shifting is so nice.

I have 9 speed Record on another bike and I'm not sold on the carbon shifters. Going to give it another try, but have thought about dropping this bike back to Record 8.

[cua90]

Campy Record 8 is my sweet spot. Have it on my mid-80s Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra and that bike is just dialed-in. Love it. The shifting is so nice.

Amen to that. I have Record 8 on 1992 Corsa Extra, still going strong.

[Fatty]

Heck I still toot around sometimes on a 3 speed Sturmey Archer Raleigh.

[Wakatel_Luum]

I like riding 9 speed, works fine...

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/17/e9a686faf52b1b45918e86d5f7f3bf1f.jpg

[Fatty]

[QUOTE=Wakatel_Luum;1879760]I like riding 9 speed, works fine...

Great picture /\

[osu cycling]

Both rocking 9s in the back...

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t31.0-8/1265967_10100831673167298_994438397_n.jpg

[brockd15]

I'd probably still be riding Shimano 9 speed if those shifter name plates weren't impossible to find now. Shifters with them cracked or torn up (or missing!) start to look ghetto real fast.

Seriously, that was the biggest reason I moved to 10 speed.

[jeffwidman]

I'd probably still be riding Shimano 9 speed if those shifter name plates weren't impossible to find now. Shifters with them cracked or torn up (or missing!) start to look ghetto real fast.

Seriously, that was the biggest reason I moved to 10 speed.

There's a guy on eBay who 3D prints new replacement caps--I think it's $30 for a pair.

One of my bikes that started out as a 2x6 back in 1981 is now a 2x8 with Ultegra brifters, the original FD and a LX RD. It's great except the chainline is pretty off even with the widest BB spindle that Shimano makes.

[spinarelli]

I have a Montello with 9 speed veloce that just wont die. With regular cleaning and minimal maintenance has been going strong for close to a decade. I also have a 7 speed C Record that is on my Sunday bike. Eventually I will upgrade to Athena as the parts die out or get way to expansive on fleabay.

[Roger M]

I ride bikes with 6, 7, & 8 speeds as much or more than 'modern' ten speed. This bike is nine speed and gets ridden a bunch when there's crappy weather.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff169/72tunaboat/Bikes%20and%20Stuff/EAB69778-337B-4131-9DE1-9C8507299616.jpg

[Hilltopperny]

I still have the original 9 spd chorus set up on my concours and 9 spd ultegra is what I put on my atlanta.

[dbh]

I just built up a bike with new DA 9spd DT shifters. Can't believe they still make them.

[jasonification]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160307/e809e0864ae37200a05132e0d50dcdc6.jpg

Still got my 7700 running strong!

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

[markoprotic]

Yes, still have road bike and MTB that have 9s drivetrain. XTR M970 on my MTB and DA 7700 on my road bike. Works perfect.
.... I must say that I like 10s XTR better, it has that perfect gear. Didn't tried 11s XTR yet.

[dancinkozmo]

I just built up a bike with new DA 9spd DT shifters. Can't believe they still make them.

if you dont mind me asking, where did you get those??
ive been scouring the online retailers and no one seems to have them in stock

[merckx]

Although I sold much of my Campag 9v kit this winter, I continue to use a mix of Record/Chorus and Centaur 9v on my primary bicycle. It is awesome stuff. My wife continues to use a 7700 9v group on her Waterford with original 1996 vintage Helium wheels. 9v may be a high watermark.

[gmcampy]

8 speed Record Road
9 Speed Record Road
9 Speed S word Fargo
All bullet proof and last forever

[JamesEsq]

Still running Chorus 9-speed on a pre-Litespeed Merlin and Dura Ace 9-speed on my Merckx Corsa Extra. Not as nifty as the Dura Ace 11-speed Di2 on my Strock, but they still work flawlessly.

[FlashUNC]

About to finish putting some 9 speed Chorus on a bike after hunting in vain for some decent Dura Ace 7700. 9 speed was some great stuff.

[Ernesto]

I have Ultegra 6500 on my Steelman and a mix of 7700/6500 on a Serotta I just built up. Those 9 speed groups just work.

[velofinds]

If I am running 7-speed Campagnolo C Record currently and want to make the jump to brake lever shifters and either 8 or 9 speeds, would I be better off looking for 8-speed or 9-speed Record in terms of component availability and cost of procurement? (Note that I would like for the full group to be polished- i.e., no black or carbon parts.) I do already have an 8-speed wheelset so I guess I have that going for me (though I wouldn't be loath to sourcing a 9-speed wheelset if all other signs pointed in 9-speed's favor). As far as my typical riding environs, I've been able to make do with 7 speeds but have sometimes thought an 8th wouldn't be unwelcome. A 9th strikes me as 'nice to have' but not 'must have', though it's hard to say for sure since I don't really know what I'm missing...

Any feedback would be welcome. Thanks!

[Catdr]

all my bikes are 9 speed, as are my extra wheels.

[ojingoh]

8 Speed Sachs Ergo on my rain bike. I can't get rid of it! XTR/Quartz/New Success/DT Hugi.

In the summer I turn it into albatross-bar bike with Shimano barcons. It's a good setup.

[weisan]

all my bikes are 9 speed, as are my extra wheels.

Ditto.

I got 10 and 11-speed systems sitting in my parts bin. :D

[Chief]

I have an 2002 Ottrott with a Durace 9-speed which I consider to be about optimum and a ca 1989 Colorado with a single speed for different strokes.

[dustyrider]

if you dont mind me asking, where did you get those??
ive been scouring the online retailers and no one seems to have them in stock

Put up a wtb add here. Someone's holding. It's where I got mine that I'm not selling...

[Big Dan]

Yeah, 7700, 6500 and 5500 all still going.

[Frankwurst]

if you dont mind me asking, where did you get those??
ive been scouring the online retailers and no one seems to have them in stock

Might try this spot: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-dura-ace-7700-9sp-down-tube-shifter-set/rp-prod13670

[acorn_user]

8 Speed Sachs Ergo on my rain bike. I can't get rid of it! XTR/Quartz/New Success/DT Hugi.

In the summer I turn it into albatross-bar bike with Shimano barcons. It's a good setup.

I love how the Sachs New Success stuff looks. My first Haynes manual has pictures of that group all over it :)

[weisan]

So to keep your beloved 9-speed shimano shifters working like clockwork...every 6 months or so depending on your riding conditions (more often if used in rainy and dusty areas)

Step 1: Wrap a piece of blue scott shop towel around the hood to catch any drainage

Step 2: Spray copious amount of WD 40 directly on top and the sides of the shifters

Step 3: Shift up and down repeatedly like 20 times at least.

If you see "dirtied" oil began to flow down the shifter blades, you know you are doing something right...oh yeah, make sure you put something (another shop towel) to catch the drips, no carpet!

Clean up the mess, dry up any excess oil...you are good to go.

I don't even bother to lubricate.

[dbh]

if you dont mind me asking, where did you get those??
ive been scouring the online retailers and no one seems to have them in stock

I got them from Ribble sometime last year.

[Bob Ross]

Hell, I'm still riding 7-speed!

(...but that's not my main bike, and I definitely would not want it to be my only bike.)

[El Chaba]

If I am running 7-speed Campagnolo C Record currently and want to make the jump to brake lever shifters and either 8 or 9 speeds, would I be better off looking for 8-speed or 9-speed Record in terms of component availability and cost of procurement? (Note that I would like for the full group to be polished- i.e., no black or carbon parts.) I do already have an 8-speed wheelset so I guess I have that going for me (though I wouldn't be loath to sourcing a 9-speed wheelset if all other signs pointed in 9-speed's favor). As far as my typical riding environs, I've been able to make do with 7 speeds but have sometimes thought an 8th wouldn't be unwelcome. A 9th strikes me as 'nice to have' but not 'must have', though it's hard to say for sure since I don't really know what I'm missing...

Any feedback would be welcome. Thanks!

I would give the nod to 9 speed as the spline pattern for the cassette is the same as 10 and 11 so is more forward compatible and interchangeable. I also think there is probably better availability of spares, but I admit that some parts for 9 sped-and even 10-can be hard to source. On the upside, it is really durable stuff, so it shouldn't be a big deal

[thirdgenbird]

Campy 10 is still in production.

If you don't like veloce, you still have options. Brake cable pull is still the same on 11. 11spd cranksets work fine, and I've seen plenty success stories running 11spd 2009-2014 derailleurs on 10spd setups. As already stated, wheelsets are the same. 11spd shimano freehubs also give you enough room to respace a loose cog s10 cassette to campag spacing.

All that said, i would be tempted to go 11. You could keep your brakes, bb and crank arms if you wanted. The cranks would just need 11spd rings.

[OLB]

My primary bike has 9 speed DA/Ultegra.
It works great and I'm too cheap to upgrade.

[jpw]

Hell, I'm still riding 7-speed!

(...but that's not my main bike, and I definitely would not want it to be my only bike.)

and me.

[cnighbor1]

with a triple in front

[dancinkozmo]

Might try this spot: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/shimano-dura-ace-7700-9sp-down-tube-shifter-set/rp-prod13670

thanks ! just put in an order :banana: