Looking for an 11-40 12 speed HG freehub compatible cassette for my 2x GRX setup. Google not helping at the moment. Nothing ultralight mega priced. Available in the EU preferred as I live in Spain but not a deal breaker. Anything bigger than 40t will push my mech capacity but 38t would also do. Thanks in advance
12sp or 11?
There's a fair few 11sp 11-40s around, if it's 12sp then your probably gonna have to make do with a 11-36.
Yeah just caught that, doesn't exist then. Probably because the gravel guys haven't embraced 1x yet.
Can't help you with finding a cassette, but...I've just upgraded from an 11-40 10sp to a 11-46. I knew I was chancing my luck with the range of my rear mech but went for it anyway. With the B screw rammed down as far as it would go, there still wasn't enough adjustment until I discovered there's such a thing as extra long B tension screws!!!!
M4 (I think) bolt 25mm long has given my knees an extra few years of life!
😉
There's a company called AirBike that do an 11-42 12 speed HG cassette, but I've never heard of them and have no idea whether they're any good (or even legit). They also do ridiculously cheap forks.
Probably because the gravel guys haven’t embraced 1x yet.
Strange comment. I could be wrong but I reckon the majority of high-ish and upwards gravel bikes are 1x
There’s a company called AirBike that do an 11-42 12 speed HG cassette, but I’ve never heard of them and have no idea whether they’re any good (or even legit).
iirc they are rebranded Sunrace cassettes. Not necessarily a bad thing, but you'll find them cheaper with the other branding
Yeah just caught that, doesn’t exist then. Probably because the gravel guys haven’t embraced 1x yet.
You're joking right?
I'd say about 75% of Gravel bikes on the market are 1x currently.
Closest I seem to be able to see are 11-42t:
Off-brand 11-42t, 12 speed cassette
the assumption seems to be that most people wanting 1x will want wide range so 10-45, 11-46, 11-50, 11-52 are all available options, 11-40 probably seems quite narrow range now especially as that was what was on the table back when we were all hacking extra sprockets onto 10 speed cassettes. Moar clicks = moar bigness of sprockets.
going the other way an 11-36 Cassette is a pretty common options in 12 speed, intended for 2x, but I wonder if the old extender sprockets are due a bit of a comeback?
Thanks for the replies, good to see I'm not losing my marbles. Wife's bike is 11 speed GRX 2X and an 11-40 works fine. This issue is the result of buying a cut price 12 speed GRX groupset from Germany and them sending me an 11-34 cassette rather than the advertised 11-36. The hills around me in Cataluña are long, loose and steep so seated twiddling is the only thing that works. The chainset (also described wrongly) is 30/46 so I may go for an 11-42 and stay well away from big-big.
Edit, seems Airbike only ship within the UK I'm also a bit concerned that the box in the photo doesn't seem to have 12 spd 11-42 as an option. Sunrace don't make this combo as well there's a jump from 11-36 to 11-50. Back to the drawing board.
If you're really keen, Rotor will do you an 11-39 ratio 12 speed cassette which I'm pretty sure is HG, unfortunately it fails your "Nothing ultralight mega priced" test as it's a bit spendy.
extra long B tension screws!!!!
It's called a longer bolt...
Years ago when we were first going for bigger cassettes I realised that I could just turn the B-Screw around, which spaced it out further. I just bought some longer bolts.
it’s a bit spendy
Puta madre! €400 for a cassette! I'm all for buying locally but that's crazy.
Looks like Aliexpress is the only option although I'm a bit dubious of doing this, nothing available from Shimano, SRAM, Sunrace, Gurpil etc. Either that or wait until the mainstream makers catch up. Strange one given how well the exact same setup but 11 speed works. Sign of the times? Or just a niche too far?
Ingrid do an 11-44 HG 12s cassette and whilst I know that 42t works with 2xGRX 11 - I don't know about 44 and 12.
I'd imagine it's beautifully machined but €409 is too spendy for this pensioner. Only paid €490 for the entire groupset.
I think your only options are really Airbike, sunrace or compromise on range and use a 105 12sp 11-36. Even in SRAM with XDR it's pretty much 10-36 and then 10-44 in XPLR.
Can you use the 34 you have an put a 28t on the front? Surely this would be cheaper?
Edit - If you can get the 11-36 105 and a 28t ring, that's pretty much the same ratio as 30t with an 11-40 and is lighter.
There is a rotor cassette 11/39 on eBay that's had some use for 150 ...seems in good shape.
Do you reckon you could get away with a 11-46 with one of those little hanger extender link things too?
Have a look at this one:
I'd be loathe to go that big, with a 30t chainring it's unnecessary. There are 11-40 12 speed cassettes on Aliexpress but I'd be worried they are made from cheese. The 28t chainring option is interesting, I wasn't aware that was possible on the GRX chainset.
TA Specialaties do GRX compatible double rings and have a 28 tooth inner available. I've been toying with the idea of one on my 2x10. I suspect that if you fit one and leave your outer as is, you'll probably be pushing the front mech. beyond its max. difference a tad, but it could work.
It might be workable with a standard 11-36 cassette too, which should help.
Strange comment. I could be wrong but I reckon the majority of high-ish and upwards gravel bikes are 1x
You’re joking right?
I’d say about 75% of Gravel bikes on the market are 1x currently.
Yes but in 12sp used with a single ring, cassettes are all generally 44t + on the back, upto 52t with the deficit of large spacing between the cogs - there's nothing that spans the gap between a traditional road cassette, or a MTB 11-36, both used with a double chain ring, if the gravel guys ditched 2x completely there would be room for a larger verity of cassettes.
I can see why 1X only gravel bikes appeal to racers to avoid chain drop off-road in the same way as mountainbikes but surely the majority are used for a wide range of conditions requiring a wide gear range. My need for a low ratio is more to do with maintaining traction on steep gravelly climbs than being weak of leg. Still no joy finding something that isn't stratospherically expensive.
