SunRace 11-46 or Deore 11-42?

I’m looking to add a bit more range to my current 34T / 11-36 setup. I have a Goatlink on order and I’m fairly settled on the SunRace CSMX3 11-46 cassette, but noticed that Wiggle has the Deore HG500 11-42 on offer for £25.99. Any views on this cassette vs the SunRace? It’s fairly flat round here so I may not really need that 46T cog.

Admittedly, I’m somewhere pretty hilly but I run an 11 speed 10-50 and never have issue with the humps between gears. For that reason, I’d always get the widest cassette I could.

Lots of folk will tell you the Sunrace 11-46 is nicer than the shimano of the same size but I’ve never had cause to compare it to the 11-42.

I went from a Sunrace 11-42 to an 11-46 and was a lot happier about life. But then I’m a fat git who lives in the Pennines, half way up a 25% gradient that hosts rounds of the hill climb championships.

I’d go for more range every time, personally.

I’d go for the Sunrace one for the extra range….plus they’re usually decent enough quality for the money.

I’ve the sunrace 11-46 on one bike and the slx 11-42 on the other. Shifting is better imo on the sunrace equipped bike. Only reason the other bike hasn’t been changed is that the 11-42 still has life.

I have an 11 speed XT mech. Do all 11 speed mechs work on a 46 t?

I’ve been using Deore for a few years with 11 spd SLX mech with a 34t chainring. Not the lightest but neither is rest of my bike. usually get a year plus out of it then i swap over to hardtail for another year. i usually pay around £25-£30 for one. Untill they stop making them i dont think i’ll upgrade to 11 spd.

Do all 11 speed mechs work on a 46 t?

The M8000/7000 should work fine. 6000 (Deore level) is the only one that is not officially rated to cover 11-46, I think.

I’ve currently got 11-46 Sunrace with M7000 mech on one bike – it’s fine.

I’ve been looking at the 11-50 sunrace cassettes, does anybody know if it’s worth going for the MX8 over the MX80?

The only differences I can see are weight and less aluminium in the lighter cassette (which doesn’t sound right!).

I’ve got to check my rear mech to make sure it’s a medium cage as well.

One has one more alloy ring iirc. This is the more expensive one but is slightly lighter. Edit: the MX80 is the higher model normally (2 alloy rings and 30ish grams lighter). Bit of a quirk with Merlin’s pricing at the moment and their descriptions are unclear. Look on the sunrace website for proper weights at each size.

@zippykona I’m using an xt mech with my 46t and it’s fine. I think the 50t ones may require a goat link but not the 46t.

I’ve got the Deore 11=42T on one bike nad have had a mix of Shimano and SunRace 11-42 and 11-46T 11 speed on the other at various times. The SunRace cassettes are as good quality-wise as the Shimano so no issues with shift quality etc. Where SunRace wins is if you’re 11 speed and want the 46T capacity, they have a better spread of ratios across the block. Shimano have a big jump from 37 to 46 where SunRace put a bigger drop down at the high end, only really noticeable on road sections.

Either of your choices will be fine, it all depends whether for your flat terrain you’d prefer a better range of ratios in the middle of the block (Shimano) or a lower climbing gear (SunRace).

Better to have it and not need it that need it and not have it IMO.

You can get an XT 11-46 too, I run one of those at the mo. Not had any issues with it, it just works.
My old XT mech has been fine but recently it has had issues dropping down from the 46T cog, I put that down to it having 4 years of abuse under its belt and the spring feeling the strain (recently had new cables), so have just splashed out on a newfangled M8100 mech. That works just fine 🙂

I got the Sunrace 11-46t a few years ago, wasn’t that impressed initially but it’s held up really well (apart from the lockring being made of tinfoil).

What’s the weight difference and do you care about that?

My bike has 11-46 Sunrace and my GF has the 11-42 Deore.

Go for the Sunrace, I instantly notice the difference jumping between the two.

@onzadog

What 11 speed 10-50 cassette are you running?

I’m running the SRAM 10-42 with a SRAM long mech, would like more range in the back to then bunmp up my front ring size to help with chain rattle and a higher high gear. Think anything above 42 on SRAM without a goatlink is a no no?

I’ve just gone XT 11-46 to Sunrace 11-46 (MX80) and wish I had ages ago. Better all round, smoother shifts, better ratios, looks good! On M7000 mech and shifter with kmc x11 chain.

SunRace CSMX3 11-46:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=34&RZ=11,13,15,18,21,24,28,34,40,46&UF=2342&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches

Shimano Deore HG500 11-42:

http://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=34&RZ=11,13,15,18,21,24,28,32,37,42&UF=2342&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches

Looks like the spread of ratios is the same except for the three biggest cogs. Since most of my riding is done in the higher gears, it makes sense for me to go for the SunRace and have that 46T bail-out gear available just in case.

Ordered the MX80 from Merlin, thanks for the reply @nixie.  Going from 42 to 50 might be a touch excessive but it’ll be good to have that extra range.

Just hope the mech will take it, it should do but it’s looking a bit battered, though still shifts smoothly.

I’ve been running the 11-42 on 2 bikes successfully and my extensive research suggests the 11-46 is also fine. I’ll be buying the Box version of the same cassette though as the Sunrace red clashes with my bike somewhat!

FYI Wiggle have reduced the 11-42T to £18 at the mo.

Just noticed that price drop. I run a 11-46 sunrace with a deore clutch on one and bike and need a goat link.

Am I likely to need a goat link on the second bike running 11-42 deore? (I don’t currently running 11-40 sunrace)

FYI Wiggle have reduced the 11-42T to £18 at the mo.

I can’t find it, have you a link?

surely a lot of these opinions are not comparable – what about wheel size and chain ring size, these will all make a big difference between what individuals experience.

Me, i still ride 26″ (cos they are way better obvs), as such i run a 34t chain ring and a 10 speed 11-42 sunrace. Im a surrey hills rider, very occassional big hill/mountain rider and find the range perfect..

if i moved wheel size, i’d look at chainring downsize and or increase the cassett ratio..

I can’t find it, have you a link?

This one?

11-42

Ah 10 speed I was looking for 11, thanks