What do you think is the optimum Gear setup on an EMTB

[Zimmerframe]

As the title ..

8,9,10,11,12 .. single speed. Rohloff, Alfine. . Long cage, medium cage ?

For practicality, longevity, efficiency - and WHY ?

 

[Flatslide]

Currently using an 11-42t ten speed with the original XT 11 speed long cage mech and either 10spd Shimano chains or 11 - 12spd if I pick either up on special. So money, it's all about money

 

[maynard]

I just went full eagle . Bought it second hand from some guy in Lithuania. I live in Australia. I'm loving the stupid big 50 tooth sprocket on the back . And the gx eagle cassette is a work of art . Shame I'm gonna destroy it . Well hopefully I can get 6 months out of it . I've also got a 36 tooth chainring. Only thing the bigger chainring brings to the party is a couple of extra gears on my daily commute . Now I just gotta find something steep to climb on my way to work tomorrow. Sometimes I'll stop for a break on my way home or to work . And I think ...... the rest of the world is stupid driving cars to work .

 

[Mteam]

There's no one optimum gear setup - its going to depend on what sort of riding you do.

It'd be great to get the gearing built into the motor though, and get rid of all that unsprung weight of the mech and cassette, but I reckon thats a long way off.

I dont think I care how many gears I have - 10,11 or 12 speed seems fine, the range is the important factor. I guess if you never ride with the motor off then you could get away with a narrower range.

 

[iXi]

10sp cassette 11-42 with an XT 11 speed med cage derailleur seems to work best for me. Tried the NX and GX derailleurs but both were pieces of shit, 50 tooth cog barely got a work out so 42 is plenty enough.

10sp so much easier to set up. No need for everything to be perfectly aligned like 12sp systems.

 

[dobbyhasfriends]

waiting impatiently for integrated gearbox...
11 speed sram on my bike, its ok but would prefer something beefier

 

[DrStupid]

I'm hoping for a new freeride system, with DownHill durability and freeride range, somewhere in the neighborhood of 400-450% ratios, and 10 speeds.

 

[DrStupid]

I think, if you look at what the ews-e riders are using, you'll get pretty close to the best setup possible, with today's currently available components

 

[DrStupid]

 

[DrStupid]

 

[Nasty Nick]

Smaller cassettes like 42 tooth max. All steel if possible. Medium cage should work. You're going to go through mechs, so something like slx 10 or 11 speed is perfect.

 

[DrStupid]

 

[Stihldog]

I think, if you look at what the ews-e riders are using, you'll get pretty close to the best setup possible, with today's currently available components

Yup, definitely. Apparently the first EMTB race was shortly after the second one was built (I know, that was lame).
I do feel that the speed assist could be standardized though . Here in NA the limit is 32kmh or 20mph. That seems about right. 15mph seems a little slow.

 

[DrStupid]

Short cages and 450% ratios. I wonder if a new top teir 10 speed system gets released, if any of these ews-e guys would choose it?

I'm not sure they would. Shimanos new 12 speed xtr can be configured as 11 speed with the flip of a switch, and a special cassette, but I dont see anyone using it?

 

[DrStupid]

Yup, definitely. Apparently the first EMTB race was shortly after the second one was built (I know, that was lame).
I do feel that the speed assist could be standardized though . Here in NA the limit is 32kmh or 20mph. That seems about right. 15mph seems a little slow.

I guess the speed limit thing depends on the trials.

My trails have evolved to feel "right" at about 12 mph. Certainly nobody's gonna do those special test at over 15 mph, and if you can peddle uphill over 15 mph on tech, you haved earned that shit!

The speed limit standard thing is a problem for many. I do not have any interest in derestricting, but I ride trails only. I know it's a big deal for those who dual purpose their bikes. I dont think I would derestrict even at 15 mph, but who knows.

Sorry for all the edits. I'm trying without success to put together a coherent thought while babysitting 2 and 4.

 

[Stihldog]

I guess the speed limit thing depends on the trials.

My trails have evolved to feel "right" at about 12 mph. Certainly nobody's gonna do those special test at over 15 mph, and if you can peddle uphill over 15 mph on tech, you haved earned that shit!

The speed limit standard thing is a problem for many. I do not have any interest in derestricting, but I ride trails only. I know it's a big deal for those who dual purpose their bikes. I dont think I would derestrict even at 15 mph, but who knows.

Sorry for all the edits. I'm trying without success to put together a coherent thought while babysitting 2 and 4.

Very seldom do I need any assist mode on any of our DH trails. Gravity seems to be everywhere here. Kinda levels the field. But a 45min climb is possible here and opens up lots of hidden trails. I ride from my home so there is a time when I want to go 32kmh. The access roads are usually 20-25kmh for me and the trails limit themselves.(below 10kmh for me).
But this “gear ratio” thing has me thinking now. I thought that mode and cadence was important but now I’m thinking about my ratio. Hopefully this doesn’t sound like “baby talk”.?

 

[Gary]

As the title ..

8,9,10,11,12 .. single speed. Rohloff, Alfine. . Long cage, medium cage ?

For practicality, longevity, efficiency - and WHY ?

There isn't one as we're aw different n aw huv different needs.

But some folk do seem to take their preferred set ups awfy serious.

 

[Gary]

You're going to go through mechs

Eh?
We're not all clumsy

 

[DrStupid]

Very seldom do I need any assist mode on any of our DH trails. Gravity seems to be everywhere here. Kinda levels the field. But a 45min climb is possible here and opens up lots of hidden trails. I ride from my home so there is a time when I want to go 32kmh. The access roads are usually 20-25kmh for me and the trails limit themselves.(below 10kmh for me).
But this “gear ratio” thing has me thinking now. I thought that mode and cadence was important but now I’m thinking about my ratio. Hopefully this doesn’t sound like “baby talk”.?

Bicycle Gear Speed Cadence Table | BikeCalc

Calculate cycling speeds at a specified cadence given chainring, sprocket, tire and wheel sizes.

www.bikecalc.com

Love this tool. Lots of ways to contemplate ratios.

I prefer the "speed at cadence" view.

 

[Stretch40]

Like lots of you I run slx rear mech 10speed new deore shifter with standard deore chains 11-36 deore cassette and 34t chainring have any of u looked at box components they do 8,9,11 speed e bike group sets very cheap aswell ?

 

[Nasty Nick]

Eh?
We're not all clumsy

My ebike is my ride everyday hard put away wet kind of bike. I'm doing like 3000k per year on it. Also have really steep and rocky trails, so ya the mech needs replaced more frequently than my dh bike that gets ridden 15 times a year.

 

[Flatslide]

Eh?
We're not all clumsy

I clumsily whacked my long cage mech into a rock early during ownership of the bike. Fortunately it just twisted the cage in various ways but was able to be bent back into shape trail-side. 7000km later I'm still using that mech and have learned to allow room for the rear end when making tight turns.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Eh?
We're not all clumsy

I am

 

[DrStupid]

I am

View attachment 46436

So you and @Christian are working on a new low profile derailleur?

 

[Zimmerframe]

So you and @Christian are working on a new low profile derailleur?

Yup ! If you stick it up top like that it doesn't catch on things !

As you can see you need to make a few other minor angle modifications to make it work though.

 

[B1rdie]

Shimano di2 11 speed with a 11-40 cassete and a 34 chainring is working very well on the spectral.