[pjames12]

I'm working on converting my 3x10 SLX drivetrain to a 1x11 drivetrain. After talking to different LBS, some have said I would need a new freehub body for ANY 11 speed cassette, while others have said only if I went with one of SRAMs 10 teeth ones would a need a different freehub body (the XD driver).

Does anyone have any experience with doing this? My bike currently has a Sunrace 11-36 cassette on it. I'd like to switch it for a SRAM PG-1130 (11-42T), which doesn't require the XD driver body, if it in fact will fit on the 10 speed freehub body. If it won't then I guess I'm going to have to changeout the freehub body anyways so I might as well replace my rear wheel for something nicer.

 

[keen]

10 / 11 speed same freehub for Shimano style splined driver. Sram XD requires a separate driver. PG-1130 will work as well as Shimano, Sunrace etc on your current hub.

 

[buell]

note: mountain and road 11 are not the same. sram 11 speed cassettes are either mountain 10-42 with an xd driver, or road 11-36 max with a standard driver. but road 11 speed hubs have longer freehubs than standard mountain hubs.

 

[pjames12]

https://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/pg-1130-cassette

Above is the cassette I'm looking to use. Its 11-42 and is mountain (part of the NX line), doesn't require an XD driver. Like Keen said above, I'm inclined to think it will work on my 10 speed freehub body but I've gotten conflicting reports depending who I ask at LBS.

Edit: this reply is to buell, sorry didn't hit reply with quote!

 

[keen]

Read the specifications down the page:

Shimano XT CS-M8000 11 Speed Cassette > Components > Drivetrain > Cassettes | Jenson USA

"Fits on 8,9,10, or 11 speed freehub bodies (Freehub Spacer required for 11-speed free hubs"

 

[274898]

Just upgrade to Shimano 1x11. It is plug and play. Only SRAM 1x11 will require you to change the hub body. I just went from Shimano XT 1x10 to Shimano XT 1X11 and it was such a great upgrade. Really nice shifting and solid.

 

[hdparrish]

https://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/pg-1130-cassette

Above is the cassette I'm looking to use. Its 11-42 and is mountain (part of the NX line), doesn't require an XD driver.

Correct. That cassette will work on a legacy Shimano 9/10/11||SRAM 9/10 driver. Unless you have an absolute affinity for the gear spacing, I would skip that cassette, however, and pick up a SunRace MX8 11-42T. Lightest/best bang for the buck. Even a Shimano XT 11-42T would be lighter. That 1130 is about 100 grams more than the SunRace, and I can tell you from personal experience that the SunRace is an excellent product.

If you do jump to 11-speed, of course, you'll also need an 11-speed rear derailleur and compatible 11-speed shifter. For this reason, I'd recommend just going with a wide-range 10-speed cassette, such as SunRace's MX3 in 11-42T, which weighs about 386g and has better spacing than any comparable product, in my opinion.

 

[pjames12]

Correct. That cassette will work on a legacy Shimano 9/10/11||SRAM 9/10 driver. Unless you have an absolute affinity for the gear spacing, I would skip that cassette, however, and pick up a SunRace MX8 11-42T. Lightest/best bang for the buck. Even a Shimano XT 11-42T would be lighter. That 1130 is about 100 grams more than the SunRace, and I can tell you from personal experience that the SunRace is an excellent product.

If you do jump to 11-speed, of course, you'll also need an 11-speed rear derailleur and compatible 11-speed shifter. For this reason, I'd recommend just going with a wide-range 10-speed cassette, such as SunRace's MX3 in 11-42T, which weighs about 386g and has better spacing than any comparable product, in my opinion.

I've thought about going that route as well, but I'm not sure it'll work well with the equipment on my bike. I have a non-clutch SLX 10 speed derailleur (I think it might be the 2015 model or something) and from what I've read for the wide range 10 speed systems is that you need a clutch derailleur for it to work well without dropping chains and such (I don't have any personal experience with this--just what I've read). So I'd need to switch my rear derailleur anyway, and I was also wanting to upgrade my shifter either way (its a Deore shifter).

I didn't even think to look at a SunRace 11 speed cassette though. I just like SRAM stuff from road bikes I've had with it so was wanting to go SRAM, without having to spend extra for the XD driver body if possible.

 

[hdparrish]

That makes sense, pjames12. I assumed you had an SLX m675.

I would definitely replace your RD if you plan on converting to a wide-range, 1x system. A clutched derailleur does a better job of preventing chain slap and chain drop. However, with an older model clutched derailleur (e.g., Shimano's SLX m675, XT m786, or XTR m986), you might need some additional tweaks for it to handle the largest cogs. These include a GoatLink, RADr cage, or an extra-long B screw, to name a few.

The latest clutched derailleurs--such as Shimano's SLX m7000, XT m8000, and XTR m9000--can accommodate the larger cogs without any bodging. I think this applies to SRAM mechs, as well, I just don't know for sure cuz I haven't ridden with a SRAM derailleur in many years. (Nothing against them; just how things have worked out.)

 

[pjames12]

Thanks everyone. Probably gonna go with that Sunrace MX8, GX derailleur, X1 shifter, and a SRAM chain. Looking forward to ditching the front derailleur.

 

[Harold]

Thanks everyone. Probably gonna go with that Sunrace MX8, GX derailleur, X1 shifter, and a SRAM chain. Looking forward to ditching the front derailleur.

That will be a good setup.

I'm really thrilled with Sunrace cassettes lately. I've got two of the 11-46 MX8 cassettes on Shimano drivetrains and they're well built. I just cannot stomach more than $200 for a cassette that will wear out.

 

[hdparrish]

Let us know how it rides, pjames12. I doubt you will miss the front derailleur.

 

[abrooks]

That will be a good setup.

I'm really thrilled with Sunrace cassettes lately. I've got two of the 11-46 MX8 cassettes on Shimano drivetrains and they're well built. I just cannot stomach more than $200 for a cassette that will wear out.

What derailleur are you using?
I've just gone for the 11-46 cassette, going from a 10 speed with 42t expander cog. I bought a slx shifter and chain in the xmas sales. I have an one up rad cage modified 10speed mech, I'm hoping that it'll have the range to shift to the 46t cog.

 

[Harold]

What derailleur are you using?
I've just gone for the 11-46 cassette, going from a 10 speed with 42t expander cog. I bought a slx shifter and chain in the xmas sales. I have an one up rad cage modified 10speed mech, I'm hoping that it'll have the range to shift to the 46t cog.

I am using an XTR m9000 shifter and XT M8000 GS rear dearailleur.

I was on a SRAM 10spd with a 42t expander cog prior, and while it worked well most of the time, it was harder to find the notches in the shifter when downshifting, which made it way too easy to downshift more than I wanted. And the upshift paddle was way too easy for me to hit more than once, especially in a chunky spot, and upshift too much. It was an XX shifter. Plus, I could tell where the expander cog and the 16t cog were, because the chain wouldn't shift quite as smoothly there. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it was noticeable. Moreso as the cassette wore.

So far, the Sunrace cassette shifts smoothly and consistently across its whole range. And I prefer that the Shimano shifter has better tactile feedback for each shift, and that the upshift motion takes a bit more input from me so there are fewer mis shifts. That's particularly important for me when I'm wearing gloves. Any tactile feedback I got from the SRAM shifter was totally muted by gloves, and I had more mis shifts in the wintertime. I installed this new shimano/sunrace/kmc drivetrain just before winter, and I can still feel the shifter action through the gloves.

 

[pjames12]

I'll be sure to let everyone know how the setup rides. Hopefully get everything purchased and on my bike within the next two weeks. This is my first time switching out a drivetrain entirely (I've changed individual parts but never basically the whole thing at once) so I'm pretty pumped to see how it all works. I'm sure it'll be great, and any issues with it will be from my install/user error!

 

[hdparrish]

Watch videos, read websites, and take your time. If you go through the steps and do it right, you will reward yourself with a smoother-shifting drivetrain than most shops would've done for you.

 

[abrooks]

I'll be sure to let everyone know how the setup rides. Hopefully get everything purchased and on my bike within the next two weeks. This is my first time switching out a drivetrain entirely (I've changed individual parts but never basically the whole thing at once) so I'm pretty pumped to see how it all works. I'm sure it'll be great, and any issues with it will be from my install/user error!

You want to get yourself some extra bottom bracket spacers and https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-1mm-hg-cassette-spacer-EV220571 one of these. Even when you use the middle chainring position, you may need to adjust your chainline a little. As hdparrish has said take your time and you'll get it shift really well. On my 10 speed setup I never suffered from the back peddle chain drop.

 

[pjames12]

Finally got everything installed with that setup (and a race-face NW chain ring on the original Shimano cranks) and it works great. Only been on the trail once (weather hasn't been cooperating) but no issues and it is super quiet. Love being able to jump practically halfway down the cassette with the X1 shifter.