Would a new drive train make much difference?

barrymanilow · 27-09-2015 1:14pm #1

Hi all,

Question ; I have an old tourer and I measured the chain the other day and it is very worn and stretched well beyond after doing the ruler test . Some of the chainring teeth are shark finned and I assume the cassette is also worn although I cant really tell from looking .Theses parts came on the bike and the bike is from the late eighties .

The thing is the bike is shifting fine , no chain skip or chain suck . A little noisy but not too noticeable . Sometimes the bike feels a little hard to push/soggy/ inefficient compared to other bikes but Im not sure if that's just me being lazy or because its a particularly heavy steel frame .

So what I'm asking is if I invest in a new cassete , chain and crankset will I notice a world of difference with how the bike transfers power and feels to cycle or should I just keep cycling it for now until the chain snaps or starts to skip ?

Thanks

Barry

07Lapierre · 27-09-2015 4:34pm

IMO a new drivetrain would make a huge difference! It sounds like you need a new drivetrain anyway so I say go for it.

crosstownk · 27-09-2015 7:42pm

You may not notice a "world of difference" but you will certainly feel a notable difference. Either way you'll have peace of mind that the drive is reliable and efficient. No worry of snapping a chain or getting grief from poor shifting as components wear further.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 27-09-2015 8:03pm

Ensure you replace the bottom Bracket too and not just the cranks/chain rings!

Lumen · 27-09-2015 8:41pm

I would leave it until it fails. It's like the leaning tower of pisa - it may be wonky but everything is wonky together.

You're going to have to change a lot of components (chain, cassette, chainring, at least, maybe chainset and BB) that the cost is a significant fraction of the bike value.

You might have it nicked or crashed before the chain goes.

barrymanilow · 27-09-2015 10:45pm

The bikes worth putting investment into , its a nice triple butted steel frame with lots of vintage appeal ,I've sourced the parts , shimano triple chainset , shimano 7 speed cassete , sram chain , shimano bottom bracket , came in at around €80 all together from ebay ,CRC and rose bikes so Im going to order them and try to last one more winter with it as a commuter as it is , then change it out come spring for some touring on the Dublin to Galway Greenway:)

Would a new drive train make much difference?

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