 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Junior has a 24" Raleigh MTB that is fitted with an 8 speed Altus mech / cassette and a single ring up front (with plastic chain guards on both sides.
Big sis has a trigger shifter, and little sis wants one to match.
In the parts bin I've got an old 9 speed SLX mech and matching Deore shifter.
Can I simply swap the 8 speed cassette with a 9 speed one, and switch the rear mechs and then the shifter?
Not big on chain width and chain ring knowledge. So before I embark on taking stuff off, any info on whether the old chainring will still be compatible with a 9 speed cassette would be most welcome.
Happy to buy a new 9 speed chain if it will fit on the current chainring.
Any ideas?
8 and 9 speed cassettes should be the same width, the deraillers are basically interchangeable so you don't actually have to swap the derailler. I think 8 speed chains used to be fractionally wider, but after 9 speed was introduced, I think they just used the same chains and chainrings on both. I've never had any problem mixing and matching old 8 and 9 speed stuff on commuter bikes so I'd just try swapping the cassette, derailler, and shifters and see how it works.
Many thanks. Will crack on!