Most durable drivetrain brand / parts for a 2022 levo - need my third cassette in 8 months and I want to replace the lot with something durable

[Tetsugaku]

Before anyone says "technique at me, I'm 123KG and 2.02m, I am heavy handed and thats just not going to change so it's replacement parts made of something more durable than whatever the stock parts are please!
I was recommended Sun Race?

Cheers for any pointers !

 

[Bones]

A decent chain makes a massive difference to how long a cassette lasts. X01 is my starting point.

 

[Alexbn921]

Shimano Delore

 

[Suns_PSD]

Shimano has a new Drivetrain called LinkGlide that lasts 300% longer than Deore. It's also less money.

The cassette is a boat anchor however.

What's interesting is the weight increase makes the various gearboxes and hubs and what not, not seem heavy any longer.

In my experience waxing chains makes them last dramatically longer.

GL

 

[Tetsugaku]

Shimano has a new Drivetrain called LinkGlide that lasts 300% longer than Deore. It's also less money.

The cassette is a boat anchor however.

What's interesting is the weight increase makes the various gearboxes and hubs and what not, not seem heavy any longer.

In my experience waxing chains makes them last dramatically longer.

GL

Appreciate that thanks - I mean, unless we’re talking kilos I reckon I can’t tell the difference, I’m riding at 150kg fully loaded! I’m going to look this up right now huge thanks

 

[Hamina]

How many kilometers you did in 8 months? I guess we have here something very fundamentally wrong and no cassette or chain will make it different.

 

[Alexbn921]

If you want to be hard on your drivetrain, nothing will last. Get cheap wear parts and keep spares.

 

[jimbob]

How many kilometers you did in 8 months? I guess we have here something very fundamentally wrong and no cassette or chain will make it different.

A lot depends on the riding conditions though. Through wet slop I could go through a chair in 100miles or less.

I've found hot waxing the chain to be the biggest improvement. More effort, but the whole drivetrain lasts significantly longer. As in, multiple times the duration.

 

[Tetsugaku]

How many kilometers you did in 8 months? I guess we have here something very fundamentally wrong and no cassette or chain will make it different.

Maybe 3500? All off road, South Downs, I’m not expecting miracles mostly in the mud and filth we have had for so long

 

[seamarsh]

If you rode 3500 miles in 8 months in the mud you already have found durable. Try a cheap steel cassette from sun star, change to 10 or 11 speed.

 

[Tetsugaku]

If you rode 3500 miles in 8 months in the mud you already have found durable. Try a cheap steel cassette from sun star, change to 10 or 11 speed.

Cheap steel cassette is what I’m after - in general I think it’s a con that you can pay 7000 for a bike and it wears out with mild use! I’ve not changed the brakes on my Tesla in 90,000 miles!

 

[seamarsh]

Cheap steel cassette is what I’m after - in general I think it’s a con that you can pay 7000 for a bike and it wears out with mild use! I’ve not changed the brakes on my Tesla in 90,000 miles!

Ebike specific drivetrains are coming but being you are a large mammal and you ride in the mud there's not much you can do.

Mud and wet kill drivetrains fast!

There a a lot of uk specific ebike issues I've noticed on this forum that we don't see as much in California. I try to not ride when it's muddy! Not something you guys can avoid.

Having said that I went through 2 cassettes in 3500 miles in an historic drought , also took me 2 years! 3500 in 8 months? Open your checkbook

 

[B1rdie]

I have been riding sun race cassetes (11-40) for two years, with shimano deraileurs and chains. The cassete lasts 1.000-1.500 km, the same distance takes two or three chains to 0,75 strech.

 

[seamarsh]

I have been riding sun race cassetes (11-40) for two years, with shimano deraileurs and chains. The cassete lasts 1.000-1.500 km, the same distance takes two or three chains to 0,75 strech.

Sorry sunrace is what I meant! Sun star? Maybe an emo band.

 

[Hardtail]

Cheap steel cassette is what I’m after - in general I think it’s a con that you can pay 7000 for a bike and it wears out with mild use! I’ve not changed the brakes on my Tesla in 90,000 miles!

I posted last week about the discount on Linkglide at the moment, €110 before VAT for a COMPLETE SET, although the prefered 10speed cassette may need to be sourced elsewhere.
I order a set a few months back at a higher price! £170 delivered.
H&S Bike-Discount GmbH
Also check the price of the 11 speed XT.
Can’t get any better for the price for purpose built steel cassette. People blow on about the weight but the newer cassettes are now lighter.

 

[Doomanic]

Is the bike XD drive?

 

[Dax]

Maybe 3500? All off road, South Downs, I’m not expecting miracles mostly in the mud and filth we have had for so long

3500 km from a drivetrain is exceptionally good.

 

[Suns_PSD]

Really, the true solution for someone that rides so much in those conditions is to swap the bike to a hub gearbox system.

It'll cost you about $1500 but besides chains, your maintenance nightmares should end rather quickly.

Check this thread out: Not sure the new SRAM Eagle Transmission is for you - What other options are there ?

 

[JP-NZ]

3500 km from a drivetrain is exceptionally good.

Considering he is from the UK I think he means 3500 miles (which of course is even better)

 

[Tooks]

Assuming it is 3500km (so 2100 miles), and the OP is needing their third cassette in that time, each one is lasting about 1k miles, which I don’t think is bad considering it’s in mud and filth and the weight etc.

The Eagle NX cassette is pretty hard wearing, but will need a Shimano HG freehub, but the mostly steel cassette cogs (all but the largest ring) will last a lot longer than an alloy GX one, for example.

They don’t call U.K. mud ‘grinding paste’ for nothing!

 

[CjP]

Save your self time and money and go a Shimano 10speed setup.
Will be your cheapest and probably strongest set up.

 

[Straker]

whatever drive train you go for…. Get a chain cleaner something like a park cm 5.3 and use it after ever ride… slow down the wear rate …. Buy a chain gauge and swap out chains frequently

 

[cappuccino34]

I've been really impressed with how little wear I have on my XG1299 after 1400 very abrasive, dirty miles there's almost no wear. Yes the TiN has worn through in places but the cassette itself is practically new still.

Unfortunately they are a bit spendy, but it's I feel that I'm getting good value compared with other, cheaper, cassettes that I've worn out completely in less than a thousand miles.

The other thing with the XD/XG setup is that they just don't come loose on their own, unlike every other type that I have ever had.

 

[yorkshire89]

X01 chain is a massive improvement over gx for wear. I was getting through a gx chain in 200 miles riding in the wet.

If you are running 12s are you changing chains at 0.5mm wear? You should get 3 chains to a cassette.

 

[G-Sport]

Another vote for chain waxing. Get (at least) two chains. FULLY strip the factory crap off them and wax carefully (I'm just using the easy Squirt liquid wax).
After a muddy ride, wash the bike as normal including the chain, DRY the chain with a rag and hair dryer immediately and then re-wax the chain on the bike with more Squirt within a day or so. Switch chains every month (150miles) or so ideally but I must admit to being a bit lax with this.
Also keep a close eye on front chainring wear and replace regularly as this wears out much faster than anything else.

Using this system I've seen dramatic increase in lifespan even with mud that is literally composed of grind-stones.

The performance of Sunrace and NX will probably have you tearing your hair out...

 

[franciscoasismm]

I have the XT786 Shadow+ SGS 10-speed gearbox in my Neuron ON, which has 21,000 km, with XT 771 11-36 cassette and lasts 3,500 km and 700 kilometers each XT HG95 chain.

 

[CaptKirk]

Before anyone says "technique at me, I'm 123KG and 2.02m, I am heavy handed and thats just not going to change so it's replacement parts made of something more durable than whatever the stock parts are please!
I was recommended Sun Race?

Cheers for any pointers !

Even a heavey weight rider can reduce wear and tear on the cassette by NOT shifting under load, and staying out of lower toothed gears at lower speeds. And shifting before you need it instead of after the fact. There I did not mention the "T" word, but it is what it is. You might consider an 8-9 speed cassette which can accomedate a heavier chain

 

[veryoldfart]

I would check out the new Shimano LinkGlide.

They dont go bigger than 11 speed ( plus 9 &10) which is plenty enough for me. Apparently the large cassette rings have much deeper cut ( ie bigger) teeth only made with steel. They dont use the new microspline either.

Even with my 2022 S Works Levo, I stick with 11 speed for durability and strength.


No direct experience of the Linkglide, but it sounds quite a sensible idea and Shimano shifting is always top quality.

 

[joliver]

Shimano Deore M5100 11s 11-51, all in steel.

 

[YZDude]

Keep in mind on what constitutes ‘high end’ MTB parts - lightest weight possible, and sort of durable.
Now, Flip that thinking for your ebike - strength first, weight…ehh.
I’m running KMC eBike chain and Sunrace steel cogs. On a Bafang M600 120nm motor that really doesn’t let off quickly for shifts, so they’re all hard. One season down, still in fine shape.