if I were to fit a 9 speed cassette, say 12/36, and fitted a 11 tooth sprocket as a extra ring, would it work?

with 10 speed shifters and mech.

No.

To expand on the technically correct answer above. A 9 speed cassette and a ten speed cassette both fill a freehub body completely. ie. they are the same width. The distance between the 9 speed gears is ever so slightly wider than on a 10 speed cassette (hence why 10 speed chains need thinner side plates than 9 speed ones. The result of this is naturally that there is absolutely no room on the freehub body for an extra gear if running a 9 speed cassette.

Does that mean that in the future I can upgrade my old 2005 Enduro from the current 3×9 setup to a 2×10 or even 1×10 just by swapping to a 10 speed casette,mech & chain?

Bustaspoke – yes. Shimano 11 speed would also fit.

Thanks for that,it’s something to keep in mind for the future.

Is that right?

A shimano 11 speed cassette will fit on a 9 speed freehub?

That would make things a bit easier

MTB yes, shimano road 11 speed is different.

Yep, as per Wiggles. Shimano 11 speed MTB (not their road, nor SRAM 11 speed) will fit on an 8/9/10 speed freehub body.

Ton, your idea won’t work though. The only permutation that would work on is a 7/8 speed cassette where spacing is the same.

Do you need a 10sp rear cassette or have you got one?

i need a wide range 10 speed cassette.

there are wide range 10sp cassettes aren’t there ?

No it’s not. But it’s close enough that it tends to work reasonably well if you adjust it right (at least using an 8 speed cassette with 7 speed shifters where you’re overshifting – I had this for a while with DT shifters where you get an extra un-indexed shift, but it wasn’t perfect)

I’ve got a 13 – 40 had minimal use, it’s got a Hope expander at one end and 13T at the other, I dropped the little one off in favour of having no big step up in the range which worked for me.

Also got X2 SRAM chains that I ran it with both had same use, come to think of it I’ve got rear XT mech and the shifter.

Maybe I should put it in the FS section?

^^ But is the point of an expander not to expand your gear range? Surely all you’ve done is move your range up a bit, you could have acheived the same by simply buying a smaller chainring

^ But is the point of an expander not to expand your gear range? Surely all you’ve done is move your range up a bit, you could have acheived the same by simply buying a smaller chainring

Precisely, but that’s no on trend is it? People would rather move a chainring into the middle of their back wheels……

this is for a 10 speed cross bike to be used for long road rides.
i have plenty of 9 speed stuff laying about. i did not want to go the the expense of a extender

There’s a new 11-34 10 speed road cassette due in to Madison next week. HG500/Tiagra level, so pretty cheap too at £29.99 RRP. Just need to check whether your mech will cope with a 34T sprocket. I’d imagine you’ll need a new mech (4700 Tiagra GS will work with 34T on a double chainset).

Not quite, he’s actually made the range narrower 😯

ton – Member
this is for a 10 speed cross bike to be used for long road rides.i have plenty of 9 speed stuff laying about. i did not want to go the the expense of a extender

You’ll use the 36 when you need it, same for the 12.

Just ride the 9 as is and use a triple chainset if necessary.
😉

Got a SRAM XX? In the garage 10 speed 36 11its sat doing nothing, you can have it to try for the postage

That’s very generous Tracey – that’s a £300 cassette…

Or, fit a smaller front ring & use your 9spd kit…
Very canny move by Shimano, not offering a 36t 9spd.
(Apart from that 9spd boat anchor thing they brought out).

Don’t forget there are cheaper alternatives to Shimano/Sram cassettes out there. Check out the Sunrace range, which are all Shimano compatible. I use their cassettes, chains and chainrings and have had no issues whatsoever. The higher spec ones come in a grey/black box under the ‘Driven’ name.