Exclusive! SunRace Launches 11-50T Cassette!

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Although this is due to appear in Fresh Goods Friday tomorrow, we couldn’t help bringing you this sneak preview as well.

Seemingly unannounced by SunRace, we just happened upon it while browsing Ison Distribution’s website (we all do it when bored, right?) and after a few calls to make sure we really were hearing things right, we not only confirmed its existence, but Ison popped one in the post for us to look at.

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Just the last four sprockets chart recent MTB low-end history with 32, 36, 42 and 50T
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Biggest two sprockets are aluminium, as are two spiders

 

What we have here is SunRace’s mahoosive 11-50T eleven speed cassette. SunRace says that it’s compatible with 11sp XTR, XT and SLX and will work with SRAM X1 too. We assume that you need a large amount of B-tension screw screwing, but there’s no other mention of any other special precautions. A 50T big sprocket is of course not new. SRAM launched Eagle last year, with its 500% 10-50T 12 speed range and OneUp countered with a 50T hop-up kit for 11 speed users, but no one that we know has offered a whole 11 speed cassette with a 50T bottom end.

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Grown-up hand for scale
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There’s a 7075 alloy big dog out back

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Although the sprocket is large, the price is relatively low, coming in at £99 in silver and £109 for the black cassette. Numbers fans might also be interested in the ratios, which are 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 32, 36, 42 and 50T.

And the other number? 526g

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Pretty red lockring
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50T? Bigger than many cyclocross bike big chainrings
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Assuming it works well (and we’re going to find out), this could be a real game-changer.

Here’s the link on distributor Ison’s website.They’re even in stock now.

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Chipps Chippendale

Singletrackworld's Editor At Large

With 22 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)

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Comments (20)

    I can see that being very popular on fatbikes that get ridden in deep snow and bog.

    Is there a support group for those with an ID habit. I thought I was the only one.

    10 speed version,I’m still retro

    Oh that looks interesting.

    But if it was combined with a bigger front ring which I’m certain would be tempting) would a single chain be long enough or would you need something longer?

    I’m finding that with a 42 rear/32 front 1×11 setup there aren’t many spare links left once the chain’s been fitted.

    Good question @The Pinkster!

    We shall be finding out soon. I’m very interested to see how SunRace’s claims of compatibility pan out.

    We’ve got both Shimano 1×11 and SRAM 1×11 derailleurs at the ready for testing, so we’ll report back soon…

    Is this why wheels got bigger? To accommodate ever larger cassettes?

    The Master Plan is all becoming clear now!

    My Evil 29er could really use one of these… can’t fit less than a 32t up front due to chain clearance issues on the stays, and it’s a bit of a drag when it gets steep…

    I’d be really interested to hear if it works with a medium cage XT 1×11…

    Anyone know if one of these might help if the b-screw isn’t man enough? http://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/goatlink

    Would be interested to know if it will work with nx… I need all the help I can get with snow and mud of my fatty..

    Extremely interesting – specially if I get my wishes and go to the Finale later this year! Agree about the XT compatibility with medium cage – would love that but bet a log one will be required. Assuming it fits Shimano Freehub?
    Time to look at larger Chainrings then……

    Yes @crashrash – it fits a regular Shimano free hub body.

    Without having fitted it yet, I’d hazard a guess only a long cage mech will work with that 11-50t range.

    But stay tuned for our install notes!

    Currently running a Sunrace 11-46 with a wolf tooth 49t expander cog which works pretty well (34t up front) I did read that SRAM derailleur S will only handle up to 49t as standard (on the Wolftooth site) so it will be interesting to see how well this works

    Will this fit a standard 8-10 speed cassette body, or do I need something funky on my hub?

    Will this work with a Sram SD driver and GX mech? Or do I need to change to complete Shimano drivetrain?

    Wil – any further on how long a mech and how long a chain you need to run this cassette? Its this or a set of Vtwin pedals……..

    I’m about to fit one of these monsters to my bike whilst going to 1×11.

    Possibly mistakingly bought a GS (medium) mech and will report back later with details.

    Kit going on will be XT 11 sp shifter, 11sp GS XT rear mech and this cassette. KMC 11sp chain. Front ring is currently a 30T oval abs black but will hopefully be going up to 32 or 34t.

    Now fitted and more for general info and to hopefully help a few others, I have just fitted the MX80 with an XT GS medium cage 11sp mech and it works well.

    I intended to order the long cage but made a mistake and didn’t realise until it was time to fit.

    Need to go for a full ride to be 100% sure but, with the standard B tension screw wound out one turn from max I get good shifting over all the range.

    The arm where the cable connects to the mech gets very close to the larger rings when in higher gears but if something gets in the way or bends to make it touch then I probably have bigger issues – so am not overly concerned

    Full length KMC X11-93 chain with 113 links used and over a 30t oval n/w ring I could probably take a link out.

    Ultimately the long cage may be a better bet but if you already have the medium and I’d suggest up to 32t chainring you’ll get away with a single chain.

    Long mech and 32T+ chain ring I’d advise a longer chain. (depends on chainstay length etc but more as a general observation for those thinking about the silly size cassette)

    Wheel is a 26″ Hope evo 2 hub with standard 10s free hub and the bike is a Mojo SLR.

    Instead of hoping the B adjustment screw is long enough. Why not just buy a Wolftooth GoatLink 11? If using Shimano just take off the part which is removed on direct mount frames and fit this.

    @singletrackwil any news on this cassette and your experiences? The Vtwins won out earlier in the year (very good!) but now wondering about a special Christmas pressie!

    Fitted one of these to my Hightower back in July 2017. Worked really well with XT medium cage. Now I find the 2 big aluminium rings are knackered after only 400ish miles and several chains. I am picky on replacing chains before they are too far gone (11 speed has opened up a whole new level of having to replace stuff more frequently!) so now a bit disappointed in this bit of kit!

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