Okay I need some............

dfvcad said:

Advice regarding upgrading an 8 speed Shimano Ultegra on a Cannondale to a 9 speed new Ultegra. What is the bare minimum that i have to do to convert the bike? The rear hub is for cassette and accepts a 9 spd cluster, chainrings were upgrade about two months ago to the thinner one, not knowing that it was for a 9 spd system. It seems to be working fine when pedaling with the 8 spd.

Please guide me in the right direction

thanks in advance

9 speed chain +
9 speed cassette +
9 speed shifter (can be bar end to save money because this is the largest part of the cost to "upgrade" to 9 speed)

So, my rear derailleur will do the job once I get the 9 spd STI Brake/Lever.

dfvcad said:

So, my rear derailleur will do the job once I get the 9 spd STI Brake/Lever.

Yes, it will.

dfvcad said:

So, my rear derailleur will do the job once I get the 9 spd STI Brake/Lever.

You might want to hold off on buying a new shifter. I think you can use an 8 speed shifter with a 9 speed cassette, and just not get a click shifting into the 9th cog. Anybody else know more about this?

artmichalek said:

You might want to hold off on buying a new shifter. I think you can use an 8 speed shifter with a 9 speed cassette, and just not get a click shifting into the 9th cog. Anybody else know more about this?

Shimano 8 speed cog spacing is 4.8mm, and 9 is 4.34.Figure it out. And it the shifter does not have 9 positions it isn't going to get you to the 9th cog and stay there.

Thanks for the info guys, BTW a 9 spd shifter is needed to move the derailleur into the 9th and 18th gear. Thanks again you have saved me some bucks.