anyone done this, just need to advise on what bits i need, looking to keep the 9speed xo mech and cassette but would like to change the front as i never use the wee ring and only the biggy occasionally. Id like a nice lightweight bash to replace the outer – can this be done. i run XO twisties so the 3 spd front should be fine on a 2 ring setup

I swapped the big ring for a bash, then adjusted the stops on the mech to prvent over shifting onto the new bash.

That’s it.

edit

i never use the wee ring and only the biggy occasionally.

Go 1×9?

what bash did you go for, i have an E13 on another bike but a wee but over the top for me Flux. did you change the rings?

Yeah, dead simple- M970 has standard bolt spacing for the outer ring so pretty much any shimano-compatible bashring will fit. It’s only the inside ring which is funky.

Might need shorter or longer bolts depending on which bashring you use.

what they said and I used a Hope bash and also using XTR and XO
Dead easy nothing special needed as the big ring is standard BCD.
May need longer bolts if you use a polycarbonate/plastic one

It’s the one that comes with the slx crank, took a bit of modification with a dremel, but got there in the end 🙂

I ran TA Chinook 40/28 rings on my M970s, M8x2mm spacers on the inner ring.

ta all 🙂

oh one thing, will i need to change out the rear mech as its currently a long cage XO…thins may start getting expensive!

Nope that is what I use as i did not change mine.
On an orange so not sure how bad ona bike with proper chain stays re slap

dw link on a turner so no proper stays

Any hot tips for replacement rings? Still running a triple but its gonna get ugly buying replacements.

I got one of these and wound the derailleur outer-stop back in – http://bbgbashguard.com/

Keep the rear mech – maybe take some links out. At some point you’ll mash the mech and then you can buy a shorter cage one.