[Barnaby’sdad]

Is there an economically viable way to install a microspline compatible freehub body onto an XT hub that was designed for up to 11 speed or SRAM cassettes?

If not, what is the ballpark that you would expect it to cost to have a shop install a whole new hub? ~$250 w/ parts and labor (obviously that wouldn’t be for a high-end hub)?

I would appreciate any feedback, up to and including “way to purchase that wheelset without considering cassette compatibility.”

 

[Harold]

Is there an economically viable way to install a microspline compatible freehub body onto an XT hub that was designed for up to 11 speed or SRAM cassettes?

No way at all, AFAIK. Shimano redesigned its freehub mechanism at the same time it released microspline freehub bodies. I do not believe Shimano has made any backwards-compatible ones for older hubs.

If not, what is the ballpark that you would expect it to cost to have a shop install a whole new hub? ~$250 w/ parts and labor (obviously that wouldn’t be for a high-end hub)?

I'm not sure $250 is a reasonable expectation. Given you'd most likely also need spokes and nips, I don't think there'd really be much room for a hub of any kind. Even a Bitex hub will probably not work within that budget.
Bitex BX213R ISO 6B SuperBoost Hub (bikehubstore.com)
Bitex BX212R Rear Boost CenterLock Disc Hub (bikehubstore.com)

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Thanks for the feedback @Harold. Thats what I was afraid of. I could stretch the “budget,” but I’m not sure that the juice would be worth the squeeze (could easily push north of $400). Especially when I could get a brand new set of Ibis Black Bird Send wheels with Microspline (better setup to begin with) for ~$500.

I should just look at rehoming (lol) this set of wheels, as they likely are not going to work for any of my current or planned applications.

 

[noapathy]

The cheapest way would be to get a 12spd HG cassette.

 

[Dingleberrry]

With all the sales on there has to be a suitable rear wheel that would work for $250 or so.

 

[J.B. Weld]

You could use the same spokes if the replacement hub diameter is within a few mm's of the xt. If you tear down the wheel yourself a shop might rebuild it on the new hub for ~$50-100. So that plus whatever the hub costs.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

The cheapest way would be to get a 12spd HG cassette.

I’d prefer to have this (will be a backup set for my FS and incoming HT) setup as a Microspline compatible rear, so all of my wheel sets are the same.

That and from looking around, it appears that the primary 12 speed option would fit is a SRAM…and I’m not doing that.

With all the sales on there has to be a suitable rear wheel that would work for $250 or so.

I’m sure there is, but then I’m stuck with a hodgepodge set of wheels. 30mm IW front and I’d want 35mm IW if I were going to spend money on something else.

You could use the same spokes if the replacement hub diameter is within a few mm's of the xt. If you tear down the wheel yourself a shop might rebuild it on the new hub for ~$50-100. So that plus whatever the hub costs.

The more I think about this (just spent 1.5+ hours on my Ripmo AF with BB Send), I need to just cut my losses with this set.

I just didn't know any better when I bought them last fall. Lesson learned.

 

[noapathy]

That and from looking around, it appears that the primary 12 speed option would fit is a SRAM…and I’m not doing that.

I've had good luck with Sunrace 11spd cassettes. Their 12spd MZ80 (11-50) or MZ800 (11-51) would both work and are usually less than $100. Good luck either way.

 

[cooliopoof]

Second vote for 12 speed hg cassette by sun race

 

[cooliopoof]

If the hub is microspline a 12 speed shimano deore or Xt cassette will work with sram gear and a sram chain. Shifting will not be as crisp, but not problematic

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

If the hub is microspline a 12 speed shimano deore or Xt cassette will work with sram gear and a sram chain. Shifting will not be as crisp, but not problematic

If it was, I’d have an SLX cassette mounted by now.

I've had good luck with Sunrace 11spd cassettes. Their 12spd MZ80 (11-50) or MZ800 (11-51) would both work and are usually less than $100. Good luck either way.

I’ll check that out. For $100, assuming it performs alright, it would be a good backup set.

 

[790097]

Seeing that you're a big guy, go Link Glide and don't look back. They all use a HG hub.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Seeing that you're a big guy, go Link Glide and don't look back. They all use a HG hub.

Just looked into this (apologies…just seeing your response on this thread)…I’m not seeing a 12 speed option…

I decided that I want to try out two different tire setups for a new bike (Roscoe 9), so I’m definitely going to give the mismatch cassette thing a go. I just need to make up my mind which one to try.

I’d like to match the gearing though to at least make that an apple to apple comparison. Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51T, 12 speed

 

[790097]

Just looked into this (apologies…just seeing your response on this thread)…I’m not seeing a 12 speed option…

I decided that I want to try out two different tire setups for a new bike (Roscoe 9), so I’m definitely going to give the mismatch cassette thing a go. I just need to make up my mind which one to try.

I’d like to match the gearing though to at least make that an apple to apple comparison. Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51T, 12 speed

No - it's only 11 speed, and only 11-50, so different range.