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Sunrace 11-46 vs. 11-50

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yourrealdad

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Howdy,

I need to get some more range on a fat bike that I do not want to invest a lot of time or money in.
Right now I am running Shimano XT m8000 shifter, RD GS, and 11-42 cassette.

So trying to decide between the Sunrace 11-46 or 11-50 cassette.

Seems like 11-46 will give better shifting, but 11-50 gives me more range (obviously).

Is the shifting on the 11-50 with a XT GS RD that bad that I will want the 11-46?


Thanks
 
#2 ·
You could just get an M6100 12-speed RD for $60 and the Deore M6100 11-51 cassette. That way you don't rely on an out-of-spec hack and have good shifting AND wide range.

Everyone's definition of good shifting is different. The more you go out of spec, the worse it will get. the M8000 is rated for 46T, so 50 is quite a bit out of range to work well. YMMV
 
#4 ·
yourrealdad said:
Yeah, but then I am spending $160 vs $70. It would still be an out of spec hack as I am running a 12 speed RD on 11 speed cassette with 11 speed shifter.
Click to expand...
The Deore M5100 rear derailleur is 11spd and it was designed for an 11-51. Tiny bit cheaper as well than the M6100. (Although i'm not sure if Shimano actually changed the pull ratio at the 11-12spd switch.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Sorry, let me make myself more clear on what I would like to know.

I want to know if there are people out there who have ran both the 11-46 and the 11-50 with a XT M8000 GS RD. I would then like to know how the shifting compares.

I can find posts of people saying the 11-46 runs fine (as it should since the RD is rated for 46t), I can find people saying that the RD works with a 11-50, but I can't find anything saying what degradation of shifting takes place between the two.

I do not want to buy a new derailleur, shifter, etc. I want to only buy a new cassette to increase low end range.

$160 is almost 20% of the bike's total cost so it just isn't happening.

Thank you for your replies.
 
#6 ·
yourrealdad said:
Yeah, but then I am spending $160 vs $70. It would still be an out of spec hack as I am running a 12 speed RD on 11 speed cassette with 11 speed shifter.
Click to expand...
The RD is agnostic to number of speeds. You also could buy the M5100. That would be $120 for both Deore Rd and cassette. Not sure how you come up with $160.

Only reason I suggested the 12-speed RD, if you ever go to 12-speed in the future, you already have the RD and it is just $5 more than the M5100.

The responses you get here for shift quality will vary the same way as in the other threads you saw. Everyone's definition of smooth shifting is different, and not everyone actually knows how to adjust the RD. Just having the chain too long will result in worse shifting.

I wouldn't just see that as a % of the bike cost, you can move the drivetrain to a new bike, it isn't a lost cost. Obviously the cassette and chain are wear parts.
 
#7 ·
yourrealdad said:
I want to know if there are people out there who have ran both the 11-46 and the 11-50 with a XT M8000 GS RD. I would then like to know how the shifting compares.
.
Click to expand...
m8000 barely runs the 50t sunrace, you would have better luck with the 46.

I can get the 50 t and 8000 to sgift right but tuning has to be perfect, and a half a barral turn one way or the other abd it wont shift right. Its right at the edge of what works. If im not having a good day, and im a hell of a good bike tuner, i cant get it to work correctly. Took my 2 days to get it tuned so I can use it as a daily bike.

so trick with the 46 is no wolfstooth, and have the B gap set low as possible yet it still shifts to 46 clean. it supposed to be a 6mm , and i think im closer to 3mm gap
 
#8 ·
as far as difference, it is very slight at difference at best. the problem is the 8000 has a hard time with the large range, so if you tune it to shift to 46 well and clean you loose your shifting on small cogs, lowering the B gap is what helps with the range. the main problem is the 8000 guide wheel is to high on small cogs, for the best shifting.

after all this trouble I did the m7100 and eventually went to a eagle 12s set up and used the 7100 on it which is perfect.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Nice that is what I wanted to hear, but not really what I wanted to hear.

5100 and 6100 RD are pretty much sold out and both seem to be running for around $65.

If I am going to go that route I might as well go 5100 cassette and get better jumps in low gear. But again that is about $160.
 
#10 ·
yourrealdad said:
Nice that is what I wanted to hear, but not really what I wanted to hear.

5100 and 6100 RD are pretty much sold out and both seem to be running for around $65.

If I am going to go that route I might as well go 5100 cassette and get better jumps in low gear. But again that is about $160.
Click to expand...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-De...ailleur-NIB/333623570578?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Price higher now due to demand, but available. I paid $55 before tax some months ago.

BTW, I bought the 5100 cassette thinking I go 11-speed. But due to a new wheel build and going to Microspline, I went to 12-speed. Good I got the 12-speed RD! If you want an 5100 cassette in original packaging, send me a PM. But my real advice is to go 12-speed.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Thanks Herr,

I actually had that derailleur in my cart, but it is out of stock now.

There is no way I am going 12 speed. That would require a new hub, shifter, cassette and derailleur. Again, not trying to spend money. This bike only gets ridden a few times on the snow and any commute that requires it.

I might PM you about the 5100 cassette
 
#12 ·
yourrealdad said:
Thanks Herr,

I actually had that derailleur in my cart, but it is out of stock now.

There is no way I am going 12 speed. That would require a new hub, shifter, cassette and derailleur. Again, not trying to spend money. This bike only gets ridden a few times on the snow and any commute that requires it.

I might PM you about the 5100 cassette
Click to expand...
Could do a 12-speed 11-51 from Sunrace for the existing HG hub.
That would have smaller gaps. Not sur eit matters. i have a fatbike and 11-51 on 11-speed would have been perfect. Only reason "I" went to 12-speed was that my new hub has Microspline (and buying HG now to use my 11-speed, would cost $160 later to get the MS freehub body - you really do that conversion when you get new hubs)

Since I already had a 12-speed RD, it cost me under $180 to get 12-speed XT shifter, and SLX chain and cassette. If i continued with 11-pseed and HG now, it would cost me the same later, plus the $160 for the MS freehub body for MY situation it made sense. but i also got new wheels, so may not make sense to you.

check out this:
Bicycle Gear Calculator
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Yeah, I already did the gear calculations and a 30t/46t set up would get me .65 which is slightly easier than the 28t/42t I have on my Stumpy and slightly (.01) harder than my 34t/50t set up I have on a couple 12 speed setups.

It is a fat bike though so I would like as low of gear as possible.
 
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