Standardisation?

[simmi]

Any 9-speed cassette will work (e.g. BBB/Sram), as long as its shimano-compatible. Your current chain length should be fine, however you should always fit a new chain when you fit a new cassette (due to chain/tooth wear). If you try to use the old chain with a new cassette, you will find that the chain may slip off the teeth.

I got this message back from ribble today in regards to changing my cassette.

Can I conclude from this that all 9 speed cogs and chains are the same pitch, width and form or in short standardised.(not the internal sizes of the cassettes I know they can differ)

If this is the case why is there such a huge difference in price, is it purely to do with the meterials they are made of, or the tempering or coating processes they have had. To I would guess either increase performance or life, or to reduce weight.

I have a Tiagra groupset at the moment and want to change the cassette to a BBB because it has the cogs I want 12-28 and I would like to use a sram chain because I like thespeed links.
To my mechanical brain this dosn't seem ideal but if they are all standardised I guess it makes no difference.
And while I am on the subject why are some cassettes quoted as for MTB are they different or is it that the teeth numbers say 34T are traditionaly not found on road bikes.
Sorry if this goes on a bit but am new to this and want to get to the bottom of it ASAP.

 

[lpretro1]

It is ok to put a SRAM chain on (better to use KMC in my opinion though). It is ok to put BBB cassette but with 28 teeth you will need to check that your rear derailleur can take that size of cog.
Yes, the reason why cassettes with 34 teeth are said to be 'mtb' is because they'd be too big for road bike derailleurs to handle - hence need to check your for a 28t - if you have the short cage it might not work - but try it and see.

 

[simmi]

It is ok to put a SRAM chain on (better to use KMC in my opinion though). It is ok to put BBB cassette but with 28 teeth you will need to check that your rear derailleur can take that size of cog.
Yes, the reason why cassettes with 34 teeth are said to be 'mtb' is because they'd be too big for road bike derailleurs to handle - hence need to check your for a 28t - if you have the short cage it might not work - but try it and see.

Thanks lpretro1 yeah checked with ribble and they said 28T would be ok with current deraileur.

Out of a matter of interest why do you say

It is ok to put a SRAM chain on (better to use KMC in my opinion though).

 

[andrew_s]

In general, everything is standardised "Shimano compatible", provided the cassette and shifter speeds match, but there are quite a few exceptions :-
1) Campag are different, and can't be used with Shimano except where Campag made something fairly compatible by accident (eg 10-speed Campag Ergolevers work with 8-speed Shimano mech and cassette).
2) Shimano road shifters must be used with a road front mech.
3) Shimano 10-speed MTB shifters must be used with a 10-speed rear mech
4) SRAM make some Shimano compatible shifters and mechs but a lot aren't, with quite a lot more cable pull per gear. There's also the SRAM 1x11,which isn't compatible with anything else

MTB cassettes are so called because they have MTB-suitable teeth numbers. 28T large sprocket is fine for either, but larger must be used with MTB mechs and smaller won't work as well with MTB mechs as road ones. This is because as the rear mech pivots in towards the spokes, the upper jockey wheel moves downwards by an amount that is suitable for the appropriate cassette range. If it doesn't move down far enough, it hits the sprocket, and if it moves down too far, it's too far from the sprockets for good shifting.

Generally, the main benefit of more expensive cassettes is that they are lighter.

 

[simmi]

Thanks andrew_s that has increased my understanding 100%

 

[byegad]

Pitch has been standard at half an inch for a long time now too. I think the rest is well covered above, however I prefer SRAM chains, I know a few recumbent riders who have snapped KMC chains and none who have snapped a SRAM chain. No doubt there will now be a queue of posts from people who've snapped a SRAM!

 

[martint235]

With regards to SRAM levers and derailleurs, it's true there's a different amount of pull compared to Shimano. You can still use a Shimano cassette with SRAM levers though. I have a 105 cassette with SRAM Red levers and derailleur.

 

[lpretro1]

I prefer KMC chains to SRAM ones - they seem to last longer and are quieter running. That's all. Personal choice. I wouldn't use a Shimano chain.Some folk will break 'whatever' chains - usually down to poor maintenance or bad gear changing!!!

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Interesting how many people don't rate Shimano chains - a test in a recent cycling mag found that they out performed SRAM and KMC for durability. Personally, I don't have a preference.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I only use Shimano chains, never had an issue with them

 

[youngoldbloke]

I found a 12-28 9 speed cassette hard to find. Ended up with a 13-28 Miche Primato (£26) Works fine with a standard Tiagra mech.

 

[Nebulous]

Folk will usually tell you what worked, or they think worked for them, which is too small a sample to be meaningful.

I have 9 speed Tiagra. Following advice on here I got a kmc chain as a replacement, had some small setting up problems with it and then it was fine. I replaced it with another one and with relatively few miles on it it broke the night before the Etape Caledonia, my biggest event of the year. One side plate had broken, but on inspection another two had significant cracks. I've since heard of other people having problems with 9 speed kmc chains. The bike shop in Pitlochry was still open at 8 o'clock at night, but they didn't have kmc so I paid a little more to get an SRAM one. I liked it from the off and when it became due for replacement I lashed out and bought the next one up, because it was on special offer. I have convinced myself that I notice a difference for the better, in noise and smoothness. I'll never willingly buy kmc again.

 

[simmi]

Folk will usually tell you what worked, or they think worked for them, which is too small a sample to be meaningful.

I have 9 speed Tiagra. Following advice on here I got a kmc chain as a replacement, had some small setting up problems with it and then it was fine. I replaced it with another one and with relatively few miles on it it broke the night before the Etape Caledonia, my biggest event of the year. One side plate had broken, but on inspection another two had significant cracks. I've since heard of other people having problems with 9 speed kmc chains. The bike shop in Pitlochry was still open at 8 o'clock at night, but they didn't have kmc so I paid a little more to get an SRAM one. I liked it from the off and when it became due for replacement I lashed out and bought the next one up, because it was on special offer. I have convinced myself that I notice a difference for the better, in noise and smoothness. I'll never willingly buy kmc again.

Cheers Nebulous, I guess it's "horses for courses"

It might be that different peoples characteristics, be it their weight, speed or riding style, or even the type of roads they ride on hilly, flat etc. suit different types of chain.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Folk will usually tell you what worked, or they think worked for them, which is too small a sample to be meaningful.

They will also tell you what didn't work or think didn't work for them. I have had a faulty 10 speed KMC chain too. I use a Veloce chain on that bike now - with a KMC link, and I have no idea what brand is on the winter bike - but it does have a quicklink. I cannot see the point of special pins (Shimano) or short bits of chain (Campag) - just my personal opinion of course, too small a sample to be meaningful. And (IMO) the Miche cassette is just as smooth as the original Shimano one.