R700 Compact Crank w/ 9 SP OK?

[mgm777]

Question for the Wrenches in the crowd...

My wife is riding more and more in the mtns and wants a compact crank.
She is currently riding a practically new Ultegra 9 sp setup. Does anyone know if the Shimano R700 crankset is compatible with an Ultegra 9sp drivetrain?

Thanks in advance.

[rustychisel]

No trouble.

It's the setup which is key, eg length of chainstays making the angle (cross-chaining) too severe from small chainring to smallest 2 cogs on back, which usually manifests itself in the chain rubbing the inside of the larger chainring.

Drop the front derailleur about 3mm and align carefully and you're [she is] good to go.

[mgm777]

Thanks Rusty. That's exactly what I was looking for.

[dave thompson]

The only issue that I had when I ran a similar set-up was that the wider 9-speed chain would 'tic' against the chain pick-ups on the big ring when it was in the small ring and some of the smallest cogs. You'd get a tic-tic-tic when pedaling in that combo. No problems, just an annoyance.

[konstantkarma]

Been running the R700 with a 9 speed Dura Ace/XT chain all season with no problems.