Eagle 12 speed chain on 11 speed GRX

Measured my CX bike chain today and it’s at the 1.0 range on the measurer, no problem, I’ve loads of chains I bought in the sales. Oh, except I seem to have 4 x eagle GX 12 speed chains and 1 x 10 speed chain and no 11 speed ones.

After a bit of google-fu, I found that some people are successfully running eagle chains on their 11 speed bikes. So after a quick swap of chains (and replacement of a rather rough bottom bracket, thankfully I also have a few spare of these) and a ride around the block, all seems fine. No issues shifting or any noise.

Happy days!

Unless it developes an issue when I’m ten miles from the house on a night ride, as these things tend go.

I think the claim is that Hyperglide Plus wil no longer work as intended but that may not be important to you

All my fleet runs 12 spd across a mix off 11 and 12. Inner dimensions are the same, its the outer thats thinned down to allow tighter clearance when downgrading to the worse performance of 12 speed combined with more unnecessary cogs!

i generally run sram chains on both shimano and sram drivetrains.

Aren’t eagle rollers larger diameter than older chains? Definitely had a mismatch trying to use an eagle chain on an older chainring- fine in perfect conditions but horrifically grindy with the slightest bit of dust/water/mud

I think it’s the flat top S$AM chains that have larger rollers

I’m quite confused with GRX and Hyperglide +, according to Shimano’s website, it’s only the cassette that is Hyperglide + and not the chain, is this right?

Doesn’t really matter for my 4 year old 11 speed GRX with it’s non + Hyperglide, just wondering out of interest.

So you’d bought loads of spare chains but had let this one stretch to 1.0…

FWIW I change 11/12 speed chains at 0.5, anymore ‘stretch’ and it starts to prematurely wear rings, cassettes & jockey wheels.

Hyperglide Plus is the tooth profile on the cassette but to get full functionality you need the matching Shimano chain with the chamfered inner plates. This is why they don’t always play well with some chain rings.

Cheers @onzadog for the explanation.

Tried it, doesn’t work. Sram 12 speed chains work with the 11 speed GRX chainrings but then you’ll lose any benefit at the cassette if using a shimano 12 speed.

@intheborders

I’m normally pretty good with swapping chains but this one caught me out. I’m sure I changed the chain, cassette, chainring, jockey wheels and bottom bracket not that long ago but that there has been a fair bit of filthy riding in that time.

Fingers crossed that the cassette and chainring is ok.

So I went for a spin tonight, and the chain is skipping a good-un. I’ll be needing a new cassette then.

Well, what 11-42t  cassette do I get*?

• Shimano M7000 SLX Cassette – 11 Speed @ £61.99
• Shimano M8000 XT 11 Speed Cassette @ £68.99
• Sram PG1130 MTB Cassette – 11 Speed @ £56.99
• SunRace MX8 Cassette – 11 Speed @ £70
• A.N.Other that I’ve missed.

I’d might as well get some jockey wheels whilst I’m at it 😕

*Prices are all Merlin Cycles.

On a similar note I’ve used a new SRAM 11 spd chain with new Linkglide cassette and it worked absolutely fine but is really noisy when pedalling, to the point where I couldnt leave it on, bought a shimano chain and the noise was gone.

I’ve bought an XT cassette, new chain, jockey wheels and bar tape.

I’ll also swap the gear cable whilst I’m at it. It’ll be in tip top condition, just in time for the warm, dry weather 😂

I borrowed my son’s 11 speed SRAM NX cassette tonight, so I could go on the club gravel ride.