quality 8 speed MTB shifters? (or 9 spd shifter with 8 spd cassette)?

[Pizza Man]

"Pistof" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > My questions-
> >
> > Are there any decent quality trigger type 8 speed shifters currently
> > available?
> >
> > Can I buy a 9 speed shifter and just dial in the rear derailer so it
> > just stops after 8 gears? If so, is this hard on the shifter or rear
> > dearailer if I accidentally try to shift to that phantom 9th gear?
> >
> > Thanks, Tracy
>
> You are in search of these:
> http://tinyurl.com/46nzv
>
> Dave

Dave,

Quality...Nice!!! Price...Ouch!!!

I went to my LBS and they had one set left at $104 + tax. I was hoping
for a better deal on "obsolete" 8 speed gear. Next, I checked eBay and
it looks like these can be had NOS on a consistant basis for around
$70 + tax. More reasonable. It looks like LX shifters are an even
better deal. I went ahead and picked up a STX shifter (Deore
predecessor) for $20 on eBay. Too good a deal to pass up. If I don't
like them, I'll try the LX or XT.

Thanks for the link, Tracy

 

[Pizza Man]

> Stick with the 8speed for now, ride the bike, trash it, see what
> breaks. Replace it. When you wear out your current casette, replace
> it with a 9 speed and upgrade your shifters. The low end shimano
> stuff (alivio) is really pretty darn good these days.

Tim,

I have decided to stay with the 8 speed for now. I'll probably lurk on
eBay and slowly accumulate 9spd gear when I find screaming bargins.
When my 8 spd shows its age I can make my move to 9.

> If you really want to stick with 8speed (possible future issues with
> parts avalibility) you can upgrade to these:
>
> http://www.bikeusa.com/MERCHANT2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MSGI&Product_Code=LD8730
>
> NOS STX-RC for $35. (Grades used to run Alivio,STX,STX-RC,LX,XT,XTR)

They look like decent shifters. I went to eBay and picke up a set for
$16. Cha-Ching!!!