So I’m thinking of going with one of these, as I cannot justify the expense of a 11 speed set up and cannot get on with Sram shifters.

What mechs are people running and does it make a differenc, for example a medium or long cage XT?

Would a medium cage be able to cope on a full sus frame with a 32T chainring and possibly a MRP G3 chainguide?

Thanks
Dave

from what I’ve read on here, a short cage will be sufficient and in fact someone was running a Zee FR with no issues (other than needing a longer b-screw – or inserting it from the other side)

The difference on an 11-42 cassette is 31T. The capacity on a Zee is only 25T where as a medium cage SLX or XT has a capacity of 35T. For peace of mind I would go for the medium cage.

I’ve just converted to 34t front and one up 40t plus 16t rear on a medium xt clutch mech, really think I would struggle to get 42t to work, my b tentioner is fully in already, very impressed so far.

Shimano XT shadow plus medium cage works fine with 32 up front 42 rear.

Zee FR has a bigger capacity than 25T – just not advertised as such

real world experience

chrisdiesel – if it doesnt work, try screwing the B-tension screw in from the other side to get the length right

Short cage is marginal (it’s too short to work reliably on all bikes even without the OneUp- I have to run an 11-28 on my Orange as the chaingrowth means a Shimano short cage won’t work with 11-32T, it can’t take up the chain slack. nothing to do with the range adjuster before anyone says it!) OneUp don’t recommend any short cage mechs for the 42T.

Medium should be alright on most bikes, worked fine on my hardtail though tbh I do wonder if the longer arm of a long cage might take up the chain better. Would like to try it but don’t have any long clutchy mechs.

Chaingrowth is basically the random factor, some bikes are extremely “stretchy” and if the mech’s already using up all its margin on taking up the extra chain from the 42T, it can’t deal with the chainlength change.

I’m using a medium with the b screw on the other side. Works brilliantly.

northwind – all good points, so it depends on your bike, and on whether you’re using all your travel in the lowest ring?

I’ll report back on my own experiences once I’ve fitted my 40T

Yeah, good point, should have added that- the other solution to a too-short cage is just to run a tight chain and make sure you don’t hit the longest point of chaingrowth in teh bigger rings (not always at the end of teh travel, I reckon, though wouldn’t want to swear by that)

Thanks for the idea!!! B screw from the other side!!!

So medium should be ok, but long maybe better.

Thanks guys.

32/42 and medium shadow XTR mech = perfect shifting!

Showing my ignorance, can you use the 42t cog with a 2×10 setup?