Keeping old bike going - 9spd Deore bits...

Johnpsanderson

Not sure whether anyone will be able to give some helpful advice here... I have a 2004 Specialized Rockhopper which , all things considered, is carrying on going reasonably well.

The chainrings are getting fairly worn - and I can't easily find a new 9spd/triple/ Shimano/ Hollowtech2 crankset. Plenty of places *used* to list exactly the kind of part I need (E.g. https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-deo ... e-EV148729), but there seems to be no stock anywhere.

Have older bikes like this just become obsolete? Or can I get appropriate bits somewhere? I don't think a Shimano 9spd road crankset will fit the same bottom bracket width...

billycool

I have a 2006 Stumpjumper and still run 3x9 on that.

I did replace the original Truvativ with XT cranks and HTII about 5 years ago.

Do you need just the chain rings or do you want the whole crankset? What are you using at the moment?

thistle_

BillyCool wrote:

Do you need just the chain rings or do you want the whole crankset? What are you using at the moment?

+1
If there's nothing wrong with the crank you should still be able to get chainrings.
You can get Shimano ones, or aftermarket ones (FSA etc.) The middle/outer chainrings are usually 104mm BCD although double check because my 11 speed XT crank was different.

Sometimes the cheapest way is to buy a square taper chainset, and take the rings off it...

Johnpsanderson

BillyCool wrote:

I have a 2006 Stumpjumper and still run 3x9 on that.
Do you need just the chain rings or do you want the whole crankset? What are you using at the moment?

It's the Deore 9speed Hollowtech triple that it had from new - realistically the crankset is fine, i've just found with my road bikes it can be cheaper to get a deal somewhere for a full crankset than buy rings individually.

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

Sometimes the cheapest way is to buy a square taper chainset, and take the rings off it...

I hadn't thought of that - I might have a look ( and I guess I could always get a square taper BB if the BCDs aren't the same...)

billycool

I'd stick with HT if you can as opposed to square taper.

I replaced my middle ring last year and could still find what I needed. They are getting harder to find though.

Stealing from a cheaper tripe set as thistle mentioned is an idea.

Saw this on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Shim ... SwUF1dEC5l

Or look here:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/104-bcd-4-arm/?speed=9

arthur_scrimshaw

BillyCool wrote:

I'd stick with HT if you can as opposed to square taper.

I replaced my middle ring last year and could still find what I needed. They are getting harder to find though.

Stealing from a cheaper tripe set as thistle mentioned is an idea.

Saw this on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Shim ... SwUF1dEC5l

Or look here:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/104-bcd-4-arm/?speed=9

I'd add Spa to that list, loads of reasonably priced chainrings

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s0p0/Pa ... ccessories

Also don't forget that you can run a 9 speed chain on a 10 speed chainring without terrible things happening.

mmarchant

Aliexpress is the answer to most of your prayers...
At least here in Chile it works like a Charm.
I have a 2012 Trek Mamba which I love as much as I share to friends...
Last time the bike wasn't lucky though, it ended up with a busted derailleur hanger, derailleur and chain.
Local Trek Dealer had the hanger, and I ordered via Aliexpress a Deore derailleur, Shifter, and "misteriously Chinese branded" 11-50 10 speed Cassette + a mysteriously branded narrow-wide chainring to make it a cheap 1*10.
Cheap as in everything costed me 100 USD + a few taxes

Hopefully I will receive the products next week and my bike and I can give you feedback on how it turns out.

So far I have already tried cheap Chinese Cassettes and with wide ratio to use with a derailleur extender, they work fine.
Of course SRAM GX or any other top notch product will do better, as in way smoother and longer durability.
But as far as I can tell you'll be amazed by the value for money and overall performance of "Misteriously branded products"

in my opinion it's the best way to keep an old bike going...

Johnpsanderson

Thanks guys, you've reminded me that inthe past I have indeed used both SpaCycles and SJS in the past for chainrings. Looks like i may go down that route, or I may try and pick up the equivalent '10 speed' version of my current crankset.

Issues like keeping the right spacing for chainline is the main thing that puts me off going to 1x or some other variation on the existing setup. That and the cost of new shifters ontop of the other bits!