About to replace cassette and chain - advice?

rodgers73

My Spesh Secteur needs a new cassette and chain and I'm only interested in replacing like for like.

The specs for what is currently fitted are -

Shimano HG-50, 9-speed, 12-25t
KMC X9 w/ reusable Missing Link

I'm think I've found the cassette at SJS, here -

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/shimano-hg50 ... -prod1895/

...but there are several versions of the KMC 9 speed chains - is there anything to the various initials? (KMC x93-93, x93.73 etc). Selection available is here -

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/chains-9-spe ... KMC&page=1

It looks pretty straightforward but I don't want to buy the wrong stuff. Is a cassette a cassette and a chain a chain? As long as I get a KMC 9 speed and a Shimano HG-50 does it really matter? I'd rather not have to mess about returning stuff though.

Thanks

Getoffandmilkit

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... HIMCASS905
A bit cheaper especially if you buy a chain with it and get over the min purchase limit.
I replaced the same items and could not find out what the difference was between the X9-73 and the x9-93 so spent the extra £3 on the x-9-93 as the price difference is negligible on such an important component. My old chain was a KMC which still had loads of mileage in it and had never let me down but I thought it best to put a new chain on with the new cassette.

FunBus

Any KMC 9spd chain will work fine on the Shimano 9spd cassette - basically, the more you pay for the chain, the more durable and/or lightweight it will be - you also pay a slight premium if you want a gold one for a bit of bling. The hierarchy goes:

X9-73 / X9-93 / X9 (there are various colours of this one out there, but stick to silver or gold) / X9G / X9SL / X9SLG

but ALL will work fine on your cassette

rodgers73

Thanks very much!

garynevstasche

Ribble seems to be the best place for Shimano cassettes. Just got the 12-27 HG50 to replace the 12-25 on my Defy.

Looked around plenty but they were the cheapest.

Papa Ado

From KMC:

Z series - Z bridge:
Z99 - gray outer/inner plates
Z9XRB - Z99 anti rust (RB = rust buster, also Z99RB)

X Series - X bridge:
X9.73 - silver outer plates, gray inner plates with X bridge
X9.93 - silver outer and inner
X9 Ti - all Titanium (gold)
X9L - L = light (Titanium or Silver)
X9SL - SL = super light (Titanium or Silver)