[krankie]

I have a 2018 karate monkey and I'm having some wheels built with an 11x46 cassette and will also be switching to a Shimano XT 11 speed shifter and rear derailleur. My bike currently has 11x42 with a SRAM NX rear derailleur. My question is when I switch to the 46 tooth do I need to add a longer chain? In the past when I switched over chains it used to be you would measure up your largest chainrings and add 2 Links, does that still apply for 11 speed stuff? I ask because 11 speed is new to me. And not to complicate my question but I was doing some research and saw that one person had suggested if you're using a 1x11 speed with a SRAM derailleur you're supposed to add 4 links to your chain . Not really sure why a SRAM rear derailleur would make any difference.

 

[OneTrustMan]

one person had suggested if you're using a 1x11 speed with a SRAM derailleur you're supposed to add 4 links to your chain . Not really sure why a SRAM rear derailleur would make any difference.

It doesn't matter if you have Shimano, or Sram, or whatever.
If you use a bigger cassette than you need more chain links.

I have a Sram NX 11sp with a Sunrace 11-46 cassette.
The NX handles the 46 like it's nothing, but I had to add some chain links.

 

[Schulze]

You can put it together with your old chain and then see if it needs to be longer.