10 speed... any reason to fear?
This is a bit similar to the Sora v 105 thread so apologies if I should have just tagged onto that topic...
My question: is there any reason to resist moving to 10 speed?
I'm thinking in terms of chains breaking, stretching, chain rub on the front derailleur etc. I guess 10 speed must be pretty reliable as it is so prevalent, however, I'd be curious to know if any new 10 speeders would actually prefer the 9 speed set up...
Reason for question: I recently bought the new 9 speed Tiagra STIs to replace my old 9 speed 105s and I really like the new STI shape. I'm going to replace my 8 speed shifters on my commute bike and the question is whether to buy new Tiagra for this, or switch the Tiagra shifters and cassette/chain off my racer, and upgrade my racer to 10 speed 105 (with new cassette and chain).
I'm hoping that the responses will be: "go and get the 10 speed 105 you will love them... and don't worry 10 speed will last as long as 9 speed and function as well if not better" - but if there are any doubters about the 10 speed set up then I'm happy to stick with 9 speed (plus it'll be cheaper)... although I do quite fancy going for 105 10 speed!!!
Thanks
My question: is there any reason to resist moving to 10 speed?
I'm thinking in terms of chains breaking, stretching, chain rub on the front derailleur etc. I guess 10 speed must be pretty reliable as it is so prevalent, however, I'd be curious to know if any new 10 speeders would actually prefer the 9 speed set up...
Reason for question: I recently bought the new 9 speed Tiagra STIs to replace my old 9 speed 105s and I really like the new STI shape. I'm going to replace my 8 speed shifters on my commute bike and the question is whether to buy new Tiagra for this, or switch the Tiagra shifters and cassette/chain off my racer, and upgrade my racer to 10 speed 105 (with new cassette and chain).
I'm hoping that the responses will be: "go and get the 10 speed 105 you will love them... and don't worry 10 speed will last as long as 9 speed and function as well if not better" - but if there are any doubters about the 10 speed set up then I'm happy to stick with 9 speed (plus it'll be cheaper)... although I do quite fancy going for 105 10 speed!!!
Thanks
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Comments
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I've broken more than my share of chains up to now, so am in a good position to judge the difference in frequency with 10-speed: it is minimal, if it exists at all. I've been on 10-speed 2 seasons and have kept my average of 3 chains a season going. I also found that my 10-speed chains don't break catastrophically, as the older ones did. I'll sprint real hard and feel one of the plates of the link break, rather than the pin stripping out. This may have nothing to do with 10-speed at all, but seems statistically significant to me.
Unless you generate absolutely massive amounts of power, go and get the 10 speed 105 you will love them... and don't worry 10 speed will last as long as 9 speed and function as well if not better.0 -
I agree with drenkom. Ten speed shifts more smoothly than nine, the chain needs to move a shorter distance from cog to cog. The "Fact" about increased wear on ten-speed chains is just a myth, they last just as long and there is less chain rub on the front mech with the narrower chain. Sprockets are the same thickness so they will not wear any quicker.
Chain brakages can be largely avoided by using one with a quick link. It is when you need to join them using a chain tool that damage occurs.0 -
I'd go with 10 speed.
Chains don't break at any greater rate. Actually, I think they might even break less often than older hyperglide 8 and 9 speed chains as the riveting construction is better. I might be wrong, but I've only seen 2 chain breakages here on my small fleet of 10 speed bikes in the past 18 months.0 -
Thanks guys - just the responses as I was hoping for
I think 105s will be on order today...
Drenkrom - 3 chains per annum! That's incredible! You must have legs like Ullrich!
My power output is more akin to Basso when he climbed the Stelvio as a 10-year old
Can I be cheeky and ask a follow up question? Which chain to go for? I currently use SRAM for no other reason than I like the powerlink, and haven't had one break on me yet. I've seen mention that the power links on 10 speed are to be used once - and shoudln't be removed. Is this right or is it standard manufacturer waiver just in case something goes wrong...or you have legs like Drenkrom 0 -
I've a very similar experience to the previous posters. Since moving to 10 speed (from 8sp), I've broken far more (new) chains than before. My solution has been just to take it easy when trying to pull away and making sure I don't use the smallest sprockets with my small chainring and vice-versa.
I must say that I do seem to spend half my time shifting from gear to gear, trying to find the right ratio. My other bike is a single speed and it's just so much simpler: just pedal harder! I'd say that there aren't many advantages of 10sp over 8 or 9.0 -
Gragi wrote:Can I be cheeky and ask a follow up question? Which chain to go for? I currently use SRAM for no other reason than I like the powerlink, and haven't had one break on me yet. I've seen mention that the power links on 10 speed are to be used once - and shoudln't be removed. Is this right or is it standard manufacturer waiver just in case something goes wrong...or you have legs like Drenkrom
KMC chains. Reusable quick link thingybob.0 -
Thanks REDDRAGON
Dai_bach, thanks for the response - I think your take on it is slightly different to the others, so this is interesting to hear - although as I'm not a monster power-outputter (if that makes sense) I think I'll probably be ok with a 10 speed chain.
In terms of gear choice the 10 speed will basically give me the 11-tooth gear, as I'll go for an 11-25 (currently I'm 12-25), so shouldn't make a big difference in terms of finding the right gear.
I wish Shimano would design the 8-speed STIs like the Tiagra/105 new design - as I quite like the 8-speed set up! Can use all gears without any problems or rubbing.0 -
I've never managed to break any chain, 7,8 or 10 spd....I know i'm not super strong but I can sprint a little bit!
The biggest problem I have with 10 spd is the sensitivity to the rear mech adjustment. And if you bend your rear hanger even slightly then you are totally buggerd.0 -
Mmmm.... not sure what to do now... :?
This morning and for most of the day it was 105!... This evening I've been thinking why go 10 speed when I'm happy with 9 speed, have some spares that I can use straight away if I go with this option, plus 10 speed option would require me changing the set up on both bikes whereas if I go tiagra I just fiddle around with the one bike...
On the other hand I enjoy fiddling around with bikes and the cost difference between going 10 speed rather than 9 speed is not really that significant (about 30 GBP)...
But derailleurs going out of synch is almost as annoying as punctures... :shock:
I need a beer... and a massage... and another beer...
maybe I'll just go with Dura Ace and be done with it 0 -
only reason i wont change to 10 speed on mine, is with 8-9 speed you can use MTB cassettes to get a wider range, okay you can buy 10 speed custom cassetes with 11-32 and ive seen plenty of comments about, why would you need that... depends what your riding, as im more interested in distance0
