Help please, will this work?

I am thinking  of using  Sram Axs 12spd mech . Paired with tireless blips on my gravel bike. Whilst keeping  my Grx brakes in situ.

So, will I be OK to use Shimano cassette (12sp) and chain.. I’m thinking  11-46/50 with a 38 front ring.

Currently  11-42 with 38 front.

My reasons: wider gear range, extra gear, can use my dropper post, keep the shimano brakes that I find easy to service  etc.

Downsides and pitfalls?

Thanks in advance.

*wireless 

The spacing between sprockets on a 12s SRAM cassette isn’t the same as Shimano 12s so unless AXS can be reset for movement per shift auto trim style I don’t think it’ll work. I’ve not tried it though – someone will have and can give a better answer than me if so.

Thanks,  wasn’t aware of that. So possibly  with a change  of freehub and sram cassette  roo then..

Prime wheels from the chiggle sale, so not sure on spares availability..

I’m not sure that’s entirely true, I happily used a Shimano XTR 12 speed cassette with AXS.
Ot may be different for road stuff but I expect you’ll be able to use an mtn rear mech and it will work fine.

I think it will be possible but the shifting won’t be as crisp/sharp/precise as they could be with a SRAM cassette. I’m pretty sure plenty people are running AXS mechs on Shimano (or others) cassettes.

I’m not sure that’s entirely true, I happily used a Shimano XTR 12 speed cassette with AXS.
Ot may be different for road stuff but I expect you’ll be able to use an mtn rear mech and it will work fine.

I’ve seen mixed SRAM / Shimano drivetrains on bikepacking set-ups and the general consensus is it DOES work but the results can be a bit variable between perfect and adequate.

Allegedly, it’s spot on with Campag 12sp cassettes so there’s obviously fractional differences in cassette widths and spacings.

The spacing between sprockets on a 12s SRAM cassette isn’t the same as Shimano 12s

Are you sure?

This chap tested otherwise:

https://bebikes.com/the-hub/1mmtdv5ypu0vc1p4kze6r05wtxvufp/

FWIW I’m running a SRAM Force 1 mech with a Shimano SLX cassette on my gravel bike – 11 speed though.

^ no not sure, haven’t got the Sram spec in front of me so apologies if I’m giving duff info. I remember reading AXS was something like 0.15mm different (but that may be Vs MTB cassettes) and if so across the cassette the shift’s likely to be off. Perhaps not enough to make a difference in reality as testers may find.

I remember when road and MTB from both brands was x-compatible as long as mech and shifter brand matched.. ah well. We can start all this again when 13s comes out 🙂

Thanks for all the input,  I have possibly  found a freehub. So that’s an option  to change to sram cassette.  But given the differing  opinions  may risk it anyway.

🙂

I run a Shimano 12SP cassette (M6100 I think?) with a SRAM GX mech & shifter. Obviously it’s not electronic but it works perfectly.

(I also run SRAM Rival on the gravel bike with an 11 speed Shimano cassette – again, perfect.)

Are they the prime star ratchet hubs? If so you can probably fit a DT freehub. I got a prime hub from the fire sale and test fitted it’s freehub and ratchets onto a DT hub. Seemed to go on fine though I did not check overall length.

I run an AXS GX derailleur with a Shimano 12 speed cassette (OEM on my Stage Evo) which works really well.

I’m still on the original Shimano cassette with over 2,600 miles of grit infested loam and though the 2nd chain has stretched well beyond the 1% it still changes pretty well.

New chainset BNIB (still) waiting to be installed.

Zero issues with AXS mech on Shiuman 12s mountain bike cassettes

See the article below – although the author seems to think he came up with the whole concept of mixing drivetrain brands and nobody had tried it before this

https://www.bikemag.com/gear/a-mismatch-made-in-heaven-xtr-axs

AXS with Shimano XT cassette here, works better than the (admittedly worn) full sram set up I had before

Thanks Nixie, I can give that a go….