Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?

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2008-09-03 8:26 PM

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Subject: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?

I am going to purchase an Open Pro wheel with a PowerTap 2.4SL.  I have two bikes that I want to use it on.  The first bike is a Cervelo P2C and I count 9 rows of teeth so assume this is a nine speed.  The other bike is a Motorbecane LeChamp.  I count 10 rows of teeth so assume ten speed.

Is it possible to buy a 9 or 10 speed cassette and use it on both bikes?  Or if I want to use the PowerTap on both bikes am I going to have to buy two cassettes? 

The P2C is a Shimano Ultegra 12-25 and the Motobecane is Ultegra 6600 11-23T. 

Also if I buy a Shimano CS-6500 9 speed from PerformanceBike would this be compatible with 9 speed Ultegra 12-25 on the P2C?

Thanks in advance for any help.  I am confused how this works.

2008-09-03 8:44 PM
in reply to: #1647833

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?
You will need a 9 speed cassette for the 9 speed bike and a 10 speed cassette for the 10 speed bike. You can't flip the wheel from one bike to another without swapping the cassette for the proper drive train.

2008-09-03 8:47 PM
in reply to: #1647833

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?
Agree with the prior post.  Problem is the 10 speed bike has a narrower chain and I am sure a few other differences.  What you can do is buy a chain whip and cassette lock ring tool and change the cassette when you want to move the wheel from one bike to the other.
2008-09-03 8:48 PM
in reply to: #1647833

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Pro
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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?

I think there will be two problems with switching from a 9 to a 10 speed.  First is that the chain may be too wide.  Second is that the shifters may only have 9 indexed positions.  So you would only have 9 speeds to go to on the Cervelo; or conversely you will shift off the cassette when you put a 9 speed on the Motobecane.

You could run the Performance shifter to get compatability.  But why do you want to lose a gear? Also, the chain length may be a problem going from a large cog of 23 to 25 when you switch them over. If I was going to do something like this, I would think about converting the Motobecane to a 10 speed (which means new cassette, new shifter, new chain, probably new deraileur as well). Of just get 2 cassettes and swap them back and forth.

2008-09-03 8:51 PM
in reply to: #1647833

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Expert
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Boise, Idaho
Subject: RE: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?
Short answer-NO! They aren't.
2008-09-04 11:11 AM
in reply to: #1647833

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Are 9 speed and 10 speed cassettes interchangeable?
9- and 10-speed cassettes will both fit on the same wheel. The splines are the same for each. If you run your 10-speed shifters in friction mode (not possible if you're using STI "brifters", then you can use either cassette on that system. Doesn't work the other way around, though -- the 9-speed chain will be too wide to mesh with the 10-speed cassette.

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