9spd chain on 11spd crankset?

[enigmatic]

I'm keeping my Campag 9spd chain/cassette setups for as long as I can, for reasons of cost, compatibility between bikes and (probably) longer chain life. On my winter bikes I'm running matched 9spd front/rear mechs and chainsets, on my summer bikes I'm running newer front/rear mechs and chainsets classed as 10spd. I have enough spare cassettes and chains to last me for some time before I'm forced to upgrade

So far, no problems. However with Campag apparently now phasing out 10spd as well, if I want a new chainset, soon all that will be available will be classed as 11sp.

So my question is : does anyone have any experience of running a 9spd chain on a new 11spd chainset and, if so, does it work adequately well or are the chainring teeth/chainring gaps too narrow for the wider chain?

[CREPELLO]

My Stonglight chainset comes with washers that should be removed for 10 speed use. So if the 11 speed chain rings are the same width (I think they are), then the best way to fix it for 9 speed is to fit thin washers between spider and one of the rings (assuming double). Otherwise chain rub will probably be a bit much to bear. This shouldn't affect chainline significantly.

[enigmatic]

Thanks for that, Jerry. Given that I'm already running 9spd chain on 10sp crankset with no problems, if the 11spd chainring gap remains the same then I can probably still get away with it. Fortunately the question is hypothetical for now anyway, unless I need to buy a new crankset due to damage (or fashion!).

[Mick F]

I don't think you'll have any problems mixing and matching chains.

As an experiment a couple of years ago, I tried a 9sp chain on my 10sp system.

Guess what?
I worked ok.

[Sailing7]

based on my experience of running 8 speed chains and cassettes with 10 speed chainrings I don't think you'll have any problems. Only hesitation is I'm from the Japanese camp - too many old tools to contemplate going over to Italian stuff.....

[m4551]

Regardless of what Campag is doing now, I expect you'll be able to buy NOS (new old stock) 10spd stuff on ebay for many years to come! What I'd like to know is, how many cassettes do you generally get through before you change your chainset, and do you really have that many 9spd cassettes in stock that you have to worry about the possible extinction of 10spd chainsets....?!

[enigmatic]

I reckon I have enough cassettes and chains for around 80,000 miles, especially now I'm following MickF's lubing/cleaning routines! Bought a stock when I realised 9spd was on the way out and whilst I could still get them at old prices - and I know I'm not the only one to do it. Also have a couple of spare chainrings and even a spare set of secondhand ergo levers. I'm not expecting my cranksets to expire but there's no accounting for possible crashes, and there's always the chance I may decide, in my old age and infirmity, to replace a 39/53 set with a compact