11 speed Shimano cassette

[RustyMTB]

Couldn't find an answer by searching. Might be an obvious question but can I replace a 12 speed casstette with an 11 speed one? The cost is getting on for half & so is attractive & I practically never need the granny gear anyway but the rest of the drivetrain is 12 speed so if it involves swappng the rest out then obvs there's no saving to be had.

 

[Waynemarlow]

Yup you are goner have to swap a bit here or there ( well shifter and chain ), but that whole lot inc cassette is probably cheaper than the 12spd cassette. Add that up over the lifetime of your bike and thats a few bike holidays. And no you won't miss the 12 speed, thats for roadies and mtbs.

In fact on the Full Fat bikes 10spd is pretty cool but then I'm probably goner get shouted down for saying that.

 

[flash]

You'll need to swap the cassette, mech and shifter to go 11 speed. Just put a Deore or SLX 12 speed on there. Only major difference is a bit of weight.

Gordon

 

[RustyMTB]

Right bit of a non starter then. Thing is it has an XT shifter & Mech & I love those puppies, better to keep them than bin it all off to save fifty quid.

 

[Bummers]

Shame the limit screw can't be set so you can only use 11 gears on the existing mech & shifter.
I've got the same XT setup and that huge 12th cog is not really needed.

 

[Waynemarlow]

Why change the mech when its the shifter that organises the amount of movement. The mech limit screws will deal with the slightly wider cassette. The only thing you may have to do is check the hub cassette tension, some hubs won't pull up tight enough on the 11 Spd but easily dealt with by fitting a spacing shim ( you can use one of the gears off the old cassette ).

XT drive train is good, but SLX Cassettes are as good and 1/2 the price.

 

[All4Fun]

Why change the mech when its the shifter that organises the amount of movement. The mech limit screws will deal with the slightly wider cassette. The only thing you may have to do is check the hub cassette tension, some hubs won't pull up tight enough on the 11 Spd but easily dealt with by fitting a spacing shim ( you can use one of the gears off the old cassette ).

XT drive train is good, but SLX Cassettes are as good and 1/2 the price.

Is the ratio for a 11 and 12 spd mech the same, because 9, 10 and 11 isn't?
Years ago i made a 9 spd XT Shadow plus, build from 2 mechs, cage side was 10 spd XT and cable side a 9 spd Deore, because of the cable pull/ ratio, later i did the same trick on a 10 spd Saint mech, because i needed a 9 spd with very small cage.

 

[boBE]

Sram, but maybe the same issues: I went from a 12 to 11, had to replace the shifter *and* the derailleur.

 

[flash]

Why change the mech when its the shifter that organises the amount of movement. The mech limit screws will deal with the slightly wider cassette. The only thing you may have to do is check the hub cassette tension, some hubs won't pull up tight enough on the 11 Spd but easily dealt with by fitting a spacing shim ( you can use one of the gears off the old cassette ).

XT drive train is good, but SLX Cassettes are as good and 1/2 the price.

The links are different widths. You'd need to change out the cage and pulleys. Not sure if the Shimano 11 speed pulleys are interchangeable with 12spd. Once you add the cost of that and a new shifter is it really worth the faff? You can get a 46 in a 12 speed if you don't like the big ring....

Gordon

 

[flash]

Oh! And also 11 spd and 12 spd Shimano use different hubs for their cassettes. So you'll also need to add in a new driver body, if the wheel allows it.

Gordon

 

[Waynemarlow]

Mmmm maybe. I've used my XT shifters 10 & 11 spd with both 10 & 11 Spd XT derailleurs without problem. I have had problems though playing with SRAM and Shimano mixed although there are some that do cross over. Would the cage and pulleys need replacing, the difference in chain width is so small that would Shimano actually have different width pulleys. Maybe a good branding and making money exercise one would could see ? At the end of the day my pulleys need replacing so often and are rediculously cheap, they are just disposible components that need replacing often.

Heres an interesting link. A complete guide to rear derailleurs

Now to actual hubs, yup there's different types fitted to different brands and different brands that are way to expensive for what they are and theres a whole range of cassettes needed for compatibility, minefield. One thing for sure though, I end up what seems ploughing muddy fields all winter the way my bike comes back after a ride, why fit an Ali uber expensive cassette when you know that 2 miles up the first path its going to be caked in mud, which in our area is full of fine bits of flint and sand. Lovely.

 

[NETTA17]

It's quite an old thread, but I did an interesting test with 11s and 12s mixed components.
This might be the best cost-effective for many guys out there.

I will "test-drive" it later and update from the singles!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

BTW, the Test made on Trek rail 9 2021 with my 11s analogue bike rear wheel.

 

[RustyMTB]

Literally just bought a new 12 speed SLX cassette a minute ago. There is a Shimano 11 speed hyperglide option, the M6000 Deore which you could probably make work with a 12 spd shifter messing around with limit screws. Bit of a lash up solution though.

SHIMANO 10-Speed 11-36T MTB Cassette Sprocket | SHIMANO BIKE-AUSTRALIA

The SHIMANO DEORE has a steel spider and refined tooth profile for HG-X chain and SHIMANO SHADOW rear derailleurs. It delivers precise and consistent shifting performance across a wide range of MTB conditions.

bike.shimano.com

 

[thebarber]

Shimano Deore M6100 12 Speed MTB Cassette | Chain Reaction

Shimano Deore M6100 12 Speed MTB Cassette - Lowest Prices and FREE shipping available from The World's largest online bike store - Chain Reaction Cycles

www.chainreactioncycles.com

 

[RustyMTB]

Shimano Deore M6100 12 Speed MTB Cassette | Chain Reaction

Shimano Deore M6100 12 Speed MTB Cassette - Lowest Prices and FREE shipping available from The World's largest online bike store - Chain Reaction Cycles

www.chainreactioncycles.com

Yeah oops, I linked the wrong part.

 

[thebarber]

I usually put a stock notification in and buy ahead, think I paid £110 for a 7100 slx

 

[mtb-steve]

Fitted a Shimano 11 speed 11/51 cassette and shifter in place of the original 12 speed sunrace cassette. Still used the 12 speed mech and a new 12 speed chain, it shifted fine and was better than the sunrace cassette.

 

[RustyMTB]

I usually put a stock notification in and buy ahead, think I paid £110 for a 7100 slx

£110 is what I paid today for a 7100 SLX with Merlin. Not unreasonable.