Shifters broken on 3x9 mountain bike. Replace or go to 1x11?

1x11 is great! It meets the hype. My fat bike is set up 1x11 and I'm always able to find the right ratio. The only issue I've had is the rear der can be a bit finicky to tune.

Wincox wrote:

1x11 is great! It meets the hype. My fat bike is set up 1x11 and I'm always able to find the right ratio. The only issue I've had is the rear der can be a bit finicky to tune.

1x is silly except on a fat bike or certain very specific applications like flattish, slowish cyclocross. By far most people should stick with a wide range double or even triple.

HINT: the reason SRAM pushed 1x so hard is there front derailleurs sucked.

Bi- 11" wrote:

Wincox wrote:

1x11 is great! It meets the hype. My fat bike is set up 1x11 and I'm always able to find the right ratio. The only issue I've had is the rear der can be a bit finicky to tune.

1x is silly except on a fat bike or certain very specific applications like flattish, slowish cyclocross. By far most people should stick with a wide range double or even triple.

HINT: the reason SRAM pushed 1x so hard is there front derailleurs sucked.

I disagree but the one piece missing is terrain you normally ride. Most of my rides consist of a fairly hard climb followed by a good DH. A 32/40 is a good ratio but the climbs are a bit of a grind but the 1x is perfect for that terrain. I barely see anyone who isn't on the 1x and would never go back unless I moved somewhere where I'm basically on flats

terrain

Mostly XC trails. I know 3x9 still being manufactured, but there's no premium being made. I don't want any low-end DEORE components on my bike... I have full XTR 3x9 and can still get cassettes, but it's getting tough.

My rear Hope hub wheel is 11-speed compatible, Sram or Shimano. I can upgrade to either.

Go all the way and convert to a fixie.

Look into going 2x10. If you set it up properly you can have a range of gear ratios comparable to your 3x9, with newer, better components. It's what I run on my bike and I have no complaints.

the only reason to go 1x is if you are never going to ride on paved road or a logging road. if you drive to trail head and get right on uphill single track then get a 1 x. otherwise you are always going to feel out of gear. i have 3x9, probably would be ideal to go 2 x, but only if my small gear was inbetween the small and medium gear, and if my big gear was the same as my 3 x 9

Hayduke wrote:

the only reason to go 1x is if you are never going to ride on paved road or a logging road. if you drive to trail head and get right on uphill single track then get a 1 x. otherwise you are always going to feel out of gear. i have 3x9, probably would be ideal to go 2 x, but only if my small gear was inbetween the small and medium gear, and if my big gear was the same as my 3 x 9

If long rides on flat pavement, for sure, 1x are not great. However, if you're just doing a short warm up on something flat before trailhead and not expecting speed, it's no big deal

I normally drive to trailhead and the 1x11 has always felt good

You need to change more than the shifter.

You need a new crank and bottom bracket.

New chain.

New rear wheel.

New cassette

New rear derailleur

New cables

Other than that, should be an easy switch.

trollingtakesdedication wrote:

Go all the way and convert to a fixie.

This is the answer to every cycling question.

#fixieforlife

Here in the midwest? Just go 1x11. Or even SS. You need more gears in the mountains.

It depends ... wrote:

Here in the midwest? Just go 1x11. Or even SS. You need more gears in the mountains.

"Shifters broken on 3x9 mountain bike. Replace or go to 1x11? "

It's a mountain bike. Don't be a douchebag fixie/ss wannabe, keep it 3X9 or at most go 2X9 and have fun on your bike. Who really gives a shiite if you have lowly Deore components on your bike? Again, don't be a douche.

Yevol wrote:

It depends ... wrote:

Here in the midwest? Just go 1x11. Or even SS. You need more gears in the mountains.

"Shifters broken on 3x9 mountain bike. Replace or go to 1x11? "

It's a mountain bike. Don't be a douchebag fixie/ss wannabe, keep it 3X9 or at most go 2X9 and have fun on your bike. Who really gives a shiite if you have lowly Deore components on your bike? Again, don't be a douche.

Because crap components create more problems than they solve. When it comes to a bike that you want to work well, it's better to stay away from the low-end stuff.

Yevol wrote:

It depends ... wrote:

Here in the midwest? Just go 1x11. Or even SS. You need more gears in the mountains.

"Shifters broken on 3x9 mountain bike. Replace or go to 1x11? "

It's a mountain bike. Don't be a douchebag fixie/ss wannabe, keep it 3X9 or at most go 2X9 and have fun on your bike. Who really gives a shiite if you have lowly Deore components on your bike? Again, don't be a douche.

Mountain biking since 1981, most likely longer than you've been alive. OP asked for advice. I suggested 1x11 or SS if he/she was in the midwest, more gears if he/she was in the mountains. Pretty sure you're the douche for your little hissy fit.

It depends ... wrote:

Here in the midwest? Just go 1x11. Or even SS. You need more gears in the mountains.

I live in Calgary and most my riding is in the mountains and by far the majority of guys I ride with have a 1x11 setup. You just need the right ratio to do the big climbs.. I have 30/42 it's just fine for even the climbs greater than 20%. 32 front

Crankset would be fine as well

Yes, go 1x11. People want $150 for USED M970 9-speed shifters. You can buy a lot of new gear for that. Put the money into 1x11. No front derailleur to mess with. No more chain rubbing. Plus with 3x9, you're always in the middle ring most of the time shifting between 3-gears on the back. 1x11 way better. If they still made high end 9-speed, it'd be a different story, but now it is 1x11 or even 1x12.

I just came across this thread. If the OP is still around, and hasn't done anything yet, is your shifter really broken?

If you didn't crash destroy your shifter, and it just can't pull cable anymore, that's a very common problem with Rapidfire shifters going back to when they were introduced. If that's the problem, it's not really broken. The grease inside has just dried up. The fix is easy. Open it up to expose the guts, and spray the heck out of it with Triflow, while working the lever until the clicks come back and it pulls cable. The close it up and clean up.