Submitted by
Ecogeek
a Cross Country Rider
from Canadian Rockies.
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2010
Strengths: No probs.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
I have a load of PG-980s in 11-32 and 11-34. All 09 or earlier. Not a problem with any aspect of any one of them.
I build my bikes myself and use the right tools inc torque wrench. Sounds like the bad reviews on here are from flimsy/soft hubs and more importantly undertightened lock rings. Which is a great irony. Some people undertighten their cassette lock-ring to 'protect' their hub or wheelset. Or just cos they think they might take the cassette off again soon and don't want it to be too difficult (esp for a 130lb weakling XC rider). Big mistake.
Many light wheelsets/hubs ask for lighter torque than clearly stated on the PG-980 lockring. 40Nm. I have used that setting on a load of wheels and bikes inc practicing minor trials and bike-parks etc. No probs at all on any hub or wheelset. If a cassette failed structurally, it would be under warranty anyway cos all in use were bought this season.
I personally feel the 980 is the sweet spot for performance/value on any bike that climbs a lot. For flatland or downhill the 970 is cheaper and just as good other than in weight. I have a 970 on a resort/park wheelset, but generally use the 980s - outside resort/park visits.
IMO the 990 saves v little weight for a lot more cash as a percentage. So 980 is good, uphill or down.
And to those w shifting issues - it is def not the cassette. Perhaps you're using an old chain on the new cassette etc etc. Millions of reasons for less than perfect shifting the build of the 980 is not one of them.
If you set this up on a new build w new chain and chainrings, and know how to set up your cleaned DLs (w fresh cables properly adjusted and lubed), then the shifting simply can't get any better. And it stays that way with minor maintenance like cleaning/lubing the chain and picking gravel out from your cogs. It's instant and silent, up or down. I use x.9 triggers or twisters on my three bikes using the 980. Two sets of triggers. One set of twisters on the XC rig. 980 has been fine whatever.
Get a torque wrench. Tighten lock ring to 40Nm. After a short period of riding check torque again (as you should) to make sure it is still right and nothing has 'settled' into place effectively loosening the lock-ring. Then you're set.
Similar Products Used: PG-970, shimano XT, XTR, LX, SLX, Alivio
Bike Setup: Several
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
shorner
a Cross Country Rider
from Roanoke
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2010
Strengths: It shifts well
Weaknesses: it beats the living daylights out of your freehub body--Hope Pro users BEWARE
Bottom Line:
Terrible cassette. The largest 3 cogs are on a unified carrier, but the rest are merely riveted together on cheap aluminum rings that are held together by a single rivet/screw. This causes torsion on the "carrier" and the individual cogs dig into the freehub body. terrible design. if you have an aluminum freehub body, avoid at all cost.
Bike Setup: 1998 Cannondale Super V 700, Rock Shox Revelation Fork, Cane Creek Cloud Nine rear shock, Avid Juicy 7, XTR derailleurs, XT shifters, Truvativ Stylo Crank, Mavic Cross Ride Rims, Time ATAC pedals, WTB Laser V saddle and Race Face Deus XC (Bar, Stem, Seat Post)
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
loosescrews
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Australia
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2010
Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: Lots, Never shifted properly, Chewed out my freehub and Top 3 rings fell apart.
Bottom Line:
I went back to a XT cassette, Shifts perfect and doesn't damage the freehub.
Similar Products Used: First and last time I use SRAM Cassettes, Everything else SRAM is good. Pity cassettes let them down.
Bike Setup: Reign X0
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
bigboyblue
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth, Western Australia
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2009
Strengths: strong, reliable, great fast changing with Sram chain and gearing
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
A great product, never lets me down, crisp clear changing, awesome. Would suggest Dan0 learns to install and care for his bike better, same for other whining posters. Have just upgraded to PG 990 for the Spinergy wheels, will put this on my hardtail trainer.
Bike Setup: Stumpjumper Expert, Spinergy Xyclone wheels, Fox 120 RLC forks, X-0 derailleur, X-9 shifters, Juicy ultimate brakes
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
dubdryver
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, FL.
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2009
Strengths: Durable, Lightweight, easy to clean, nice finish
Weaknesses: Must Dial your rear derailleur in very well!
Bottom Line:
When I first purchased this cassette it was on a new build bike. I thought the R. Derailleur cable had been pre-stretched enough, and ended up switching back to the 970 and had the same symptoms, but it took a few weeks of riding to get it dialed and and adjusted. Once fine tuning was complete, it works beautifully and is really tuned to operate well with SRAM shifters and derailleurs! It snaps from gear to gear w/o hesitation and the finish is very good. I live S. FL. and there is quite a lot of opportunities for the brackish water to cause corrosion on the cassette and chain, but after 6 months I riding 2-3 times a week, the 980 is flawless! It is very durable and is very easy to clean due to a great finish, and has not shown any signs of wear. On a side note, some have said they have not had much luck with this cassette, but honestly if you follow the proper torque settings and assembly (because it is 5 pieces), it will not give you a fit, and will perform beautifully.
Many people assemble these products, write bad reviews and dont follow manufacture specifications. I see a lot of bad reviews on cranks and bottom brackets that I believe were improperly put onto the bike.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Blur: Fox F120RLC fork, Mavic 819/Hope ProII wheels, Stylo OCT crank, Race Face Deus stem/headset, Easton monkeylite carbon bars, Maxxis Tires
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Pisgah
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2009
Strengths: Less expensive than XT, light weight
Weaknesses: Falls apart
Bottom Line:
This is my first and probably last SRAM cassette. I have been riding since 1991 and made the switch to a SRAM Cassette mainly due to price.
This product fell apart on me. I am paying the extra money and going back to Shimano. Buy SRAM chains but NOT their cassettes.
Submitted by
TTMAC
a Cross Country Rider
from Palm Desert
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2009
Strengths: Inexpensive
Weaknesses: Middle gear hifts occasionally have a very slight hesitation.
Bottom Line:
This is respectable product for the money. It can usually be found for less than Shimano XT (47 bucks at Pricepoint). I have had great luck with all Sram products. The Shimano Cassette is the last Shimano product I was hesitant about giving up. This cassette is ever so slightly less smooth than Shimano when shifting in the middle gears, but it is also less expensive. I am 5'7 and 155 pounds and shift precisely. I am not a spastic clydesdale who wonders why they break products designed for regular sized riders.
Similar Products Used: All levels of Shimano and Real.
Bike Setup: Full Suspension Cross Country Race
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Craptasticycle
a Weekend Warrior
from san diego
Date Reviewed: August 19, 2008
Strengths: Lightweight, shifted fine for me
Weaknesses: quality - fell completely apart after 2 months
Bottom Line:
The pin that holds the cassete together backed out and the whole thing fell apart when I pulled it to see what was making noise. Probably just a random build quality issue vs a badly designed product, but still a hassle for me.
Submitted by
bowser5x5
a Cross Country Rider
from fairfax, ca usa
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2008
Strengths: inexpensive, that's the only good thing i can say.
Weaknesses: its very existence. one of the worst cassettes ever made, on par with forte.
Bottom Line:
junk. junk, junk, junk. or should i say complete crap. didn't realize a reputable company like sram could/would put out such a horrible product. like others here, the cassette felt inexact from the moment it was on the bike. bad shifting in the middle rings, even though i put on a new sram chain at the same time. only got worse. two months in i checked it out and the rings were loose, would actually shift around side-to-side when you twisted it by hand. one of the hair-thin pins which hold the rings together broke, damn thing. good chains, pitiful cassette(s).
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2008
Strengths: Price and weight. Cool looking.
Weaknesses: Lack of smoothness in motion.
Bottom Line:
I'm very surprised how crappy this cassette is based on my previous experience with SRAM. From the moment I built up this bike, the gear train felt very rough and, like the previous posting, the 6th gear jumped around to the point where I would avoid it. In the process of debugging the problem, I swapped out an old Shimano XT cassette and the problem went away. Very disappointing, SRAM. At least I didn't spend too much money on it.
Bike Setup: Maverick Durance. Mostly SRAM components 'cept Shimano front D.
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Submitted by
Carl Mare
a Cross Country Rider
from Nelspruit, South Africa
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2007
Strengths: Cheaper than Shimano
Weaknesses: Inferior to Shimano
Bottom Line:
Got the PG950 on a previous bike, but had to replace it for broken and worn teeth at 1800km. Replaced it with a PG 970 which is still running fine after 2000km. Then I got the PG 980 on a new Giant Trance 1. It never worked well. Shifts were never smooth. The 6th gear 'clacked'. LBS replaced the 6th gear and the clacking stopped, but still not smooth. Relaced it with XT casette. Never looked back!
Bike Setup: Standard Giant Trance 1. SRAM x9, Race face Evolve, Juicy 5, Reba Team, Fox RP2.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Strengths: Shifts great every time. Combined with my 991 chain and X9 der this is a great system
Bottom Line:
This is a product that just works well. I dont have to worry about it. I have had it wet, dusty, muddy and it just keeps working. I will get another when its done.
I've been running a pg 990 for two and a half seasons with no real problems until now-unfortunately the skipping, etc. of a toasted drivetrain is starting in earnest. Any recommen Read More »
What exactly does one get with SRAM's PG 990 cassette that doesn't come with the PG 980? I'm looking at the following two items, both 2010 models:
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