Which Cassette & Chain?

Bmjboy

Following on from my other post, Im gonna be wanting a new cassette and chain.

Would welcome your suggestions please for mid to high range selection and where from.

Currently running standard factory Shimano 9sp on my Giant XTC - very long overdue new cassette and chain!!

Thanks in advance

BlackSpur

Cassette - Shimano XT
Chain - SRAM PC 971 or 991

KMC chains are often said to be very good - don't know which models in particualr though.

Dan67

erm check your front rings as well for wear.

I go with the Shimano Xt cassette and a sram PC991 chain

But if your wanting top of the range option go with the hollow pin PC991 chain and the XTR cassette. But to be fair those two options are expensive for something that wears out faster than any other bike component

Andy B

XT cassette

Sram PC 971/PC991 or KMC X9 chain

Bmjboy

Well, thanks lads - very concise responses - and all pretty much the same!

Front cogs are the same age as front, so Im guessing it wouldnt hurt to get new ones of those too...

So..... advise away for front cogs please...

Are they are easy to change? (I know how to do rear cassette already)

BlackSpur

You may well get away with your chainrings - generally they last longer than the chain/cassette. If they are in need of replacing go for Race Face or Middleburn if you want alloy rings, or Shimano steel for a little extra weight but a lot less expense/slower wear rate.

Bmjboy

Cheers Blackspur - Dont know if Im reading this right, but "if" I was to purchase an entire new set of chainrings, am I not more better off by maybe spending the same or a little more for a new crankset???

Im on Merlin currently, and there's Hollowtech and Race-Face cranksets for a fairly comparable price to a set of chainrings.....

Am I missing something?

akcc05

check out wippermann, i think it's a german company that makes heavy duty industrial-grade chains but they make bicycle chains too. i have never tried them before but i heard they are amazing, i might be buying their connex 908 nickel plated 9sp chain soon. have a look if they have a wippermann review on here too

Dan67

Bmjboy wrote:

Cheers Blackspur - Dont know if Im reading this right, but "if" I was to purchase an entire new set of chainrings, am I not more better off by maybe spending the same or a little more for a new crankset???

Im on Merlin currently, and there's Hollowtech and Race-Face cranksets for a fairly comparable price to a set of chainrings.....

Am I missing something?

You may not need to replace all the rings. I live in flat area so I only need to change the middle ring every two cassette and chain change (about 8 months) whilst the outer are much older. Put your new chain and cassette on and change the gears if its not shifting very well you need a new one. But If your current cranks are cheap one hell why not go for an upgrade. ITs when you get expensive cranks you dont even think about replacing the whole crankset but only the rings

My wipperman chain lasted a fair while in all about 8 months with a HG50 cassette.
The last cahin and cassette lasted all of about 4 months before it need changing. I think I had the PC971 chain and the HG50 again

Bmjboy

Current cranks are Deore if I remember rightly (whatever came stock on the bike)

Would be nice to upgrade I suppose if you think it mayve worth it...?

Any suggestions on what to look for crankset-wise?

Im reading that external BB's maybe the way forward due to ease-of-servicing, wouldnt mind going that route if so... any ideas?

BlackSpur

The new chainset will be lighter and stiffer but there won't be a huge performance leap. It will look good too! Shimano stuff is great - look at SLX or XT.