More gears, better spec required

Pirate Fid

Is it possible to just swap the rear mech and cassette to a higher number of gears, or is it more complicated than that? My 2013 specialized hard rock has 8 on the back, but all the decent kit is now 9 or 10 speed. Can an upgrade be done or does more gears equal a new bike?

kickaxe

Pirate Fid wrote:

Is it possible to just swap the rear mech and cassette to a higher number of gears, or is it more complicated than that? My 2013 specialized hard rock has 8 on the back, but all the decent kit is now 9 or 10 speed. Can an upgrade be done or does more gears equal a new bike?

You will probably have to upgrade the shifter, other than that I can't think of anything else

oodboo

You'll also probably need a new chain as well, maybe even chainring(s) depending on how worn your current set up is.

rockmonkeysc

You will need chain, cassette, mech and shifter. Front chain rings will be fine.
10 speed is often cheaper than 9 speed and more available. Go for an 11-36 cassette for the best gear range.

FishFish

If you are married, tell your wife that the bike is dangerous - was condemned - and that you have just bought a new 10 speed one for safety.

swod1

you can depending on your budget an slx rear mech, slx cassette and xt shifter would be a good choice or xt rear mech if you can afford the extra.

Pirate Fid

Thanks all. I know the clobber is worth more than the bike but I love the bike and enjoy spannering so its all good. Thanks very much for the advice

Pirate Fid

On the same thread as doing the bike up but in a different area, anyone recommend a rockshox fork for xc riding and general larking about?

bailsofhay

Whats your budget? I'm really enjoying my rebas for xc but took some stick from the wife about the cost.

Pirate Fid

The rebas are a possibility

rockmonkeysc

Reba is very good. So is Suntour Epicon which is cheaper.

The Rookie

To change from 8-9 doesn't need a new rear mech at all, the pull ratio is the same, so you just need shifter, chain and cassette. To go to ten will need a new rear mech unless you use a 10 speed road shifter in which case your 8 can soldier on.

Giraffoto

Pirate Fid wrote:

On the same thread as doing the bike up but in a different area, anyone recommend a rockshox fork for xc riding and general larking about?

I used to have a Hardrock, it got me back into off-roading after years off. A rockshox Recon Gold fork turned it into the bike it should always have been - I don't think you have to go any higher spec than that. It trimmed most of a kilogram off the weight as well.

Pirate Fid

Rebas fitted, an awesome transformation. Much lighter, can definitely feel the difference. Cleaning off this weekend, took handlebars off for a polish, dead weight there. Any recommendations for a lightweight xc bar?

cooldad

Lighter than what. at what price?

If Spesh still use steel bars on the Hardrock, anything will be lighter.

cooldad

And if it is they are probably 25.4mm, so either a new stem as well, or you can't use 31.8, which are more common.

swod1

Pirate Fid wrote:

Rebas fitted, an awesome transformation. Much lighter, can definitely feel the difference. Cleaning off this weekend, took handlebars off for a polish, dead weight there. Any recommendations for a lightweight xc bar?

Depends on your budget as you could buy some carbon or lightweight alloy.

Xc bars normally are up to around 720mm wide so are your current bars too narrow or too wide you need to consider this too when buying some new ones.