Shifters Hardtail
03-13-20, 08:12 PM
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Shifters Hardtail
Please excuse my ignorance if I'm doing this wrong. I have a question regarding shifters and no one I know knows anything about mountain bikes, thus...
I collect and repair used mountain bikes, mostly on the cheap. I scored some Bontrager wheels which are sweet but have a 9 speed cassette on them. No probs only the Giant Escape I want to put them on has 8 speed shifters, Shimano stock. I can switch them out and have access to used Deore shifters or XT shifter/brake levers (dual, I believe they are dubbed). So...are the Deores enough or do I need the XT dual things for $20 more? The brake levers I have are Tektro and spongy, but I like them. I go as hard as my old body can handle but I'm not hardcore, the XT brakes I have on a Specialized threw me over the bars and I cracked a rib.
That's all, hope it wasn't too long winded, thanks.
I collect and repair used mountain bikes, mostly on the cheap. I scored some Bontrager wheels which are sweet but have a 9 speed cassette on them. No probs only the Giant Escape I want to put them on has 8 speed shifters, Shimano stock. I can switch them out and have access to used Deore shifters or XT shifter/brake levers (dual, I believe they are dubbed). So...are the Deores enough or do I need the XT dual things for $20 more? The brake levers I have are Tektro and spongy, but I like them. I go as hard as my old body can handle but I'm not hardcore, the XT brakes I have on a Specialized threw me over the bars and I cracked a rib.
That's all, hope it wasn't too long winded, thanks.
03-14-20, 09:53 PM
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Please excuse my ignorance if I'm doing this wrong. I have a question regarding shifters and no one I know knows anything about mountain bikes, thus...
I collect and repair used mountain bikes, mostly on the cheap. I scored some Bontrager wheels which are sweet but have a 9 speed cassette on them. No probs only the Giant Escape I want to put them on has 8 speed shifters, Shimano stock. I can switch them out and have access to used Deore shifters or XT shifter/brake levers (dual, I believe they are dubbed). So...are the Deores enough or do I need the XT dual things for $20 more? The brake levers I have are Tektro and spongy, but I like them. I go as hard as my old body can handle but I'm not hardcore, the XT brakes I have on a Specialized threw me over the bars and I cracked a rib.
That's all, hope it wasn't too long winded, thanks.
I collect and repair used mountain bikes, mostly on the cheap. I scored some Bontrager wheels which are sweet but have a 9 speed cassette on them. No probs only the Giant Escape I want to put them on has 8 speed shifters, Shimano stock. I can switch them out and have access to used Deore shifters or XT shifter/brake levers (dual, I believe they are dubbed). So...are the Deores enough or do I need the XT dual things for $20 more? The brake levers I have are Tektro and spongy, but I like them. I go as hard as my old body can handle but I'm not hardcore, the XT brakes I have on a Specialized threw me over the bars and I cracked a rib.
That's all, hope it wasn't too long winded, thanks.
Btw, what type of brakes are you using? Low end canti's will be weak, consider getting v-brakes for stronger bite.
03-23-20, 03:00 PM
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As Canker suggested just switch out the 9 speed for an 8 speed. I still have a few mountain bikes that has 5 and 6 speeds on them and I manage to ride them on most terrain. Too old to go up the really steep stuff (20%) 
