Looking at the cost of going 1×11 on my xc race bike in the next few months and trying to weigh up the pros / costs of XTR m9000 vs SRAM XX1.

I wanted to double check, does the XTR m9000 11sp rear cassette require a XD rear freehub or is that just required for the SRAM 11sp cassettes? The cost of XTR 11sp rear cassette vs SRAM 11sp XX1 + XD freehub for a DT Swiss DT240 rear hub might be a deciding factor.

I’ve got an M9000 11-speed cassette, fits on a normal Shimano freehub no worries.

Xtr 11sp cassette fits on a standard (10sp compatible) freehub body.

Only the SRAM stuff needs the xd driver. Why would you not go for the extended range that SRAM gives?

I’ve not looked at prices so I don’t know which is cheaper.

Yeah, normal free hub for xtr 11speed, xd for sram

While sram is more expensive, it has a wider range and (much) lighter cassette.

The XTR cassette fits on a normal freehub. Think I’ll see a lot of people racing this set up this year, just makes sense to me.

I’ve not looked at prices so I don’t know which is cheaper.

And therein lies your answer 😉

FWIW, I’m using an XX1 cassette with XTR mech and shifer which, cost aside, is the best combo IMO!

njee, looking to go down the same route myself. How are you finding the hybrid setup? did you need a long cage mech to handle the sram cassette.

It’s fantastic, medium (GS) cage mech is fine on a hardtail, not checked how close it is if you’ve got a frame with a lot of chain growth.

And therein lies your answer

Well I’d assume that SRAM would be more expensive due to new freehub etc. but you can never be quite sure with bike parts!

I’m running a Sram cassette with Shimano shifter/derailleur, finally managed to get a Mavic XD freehub body so I can put my new wheels on the bike.

Just as an aside, the Sram cassettes are milled from steel rather than being aluminium/Ti, the steel will last quite a lot longer than the alu meaning although it may be slightly more expensive, it should work out cheaper in the long run.

Has anyone tried the shimano cassette with XX1 mech & shifter?

I have XX1 already and was requiring a new cassette.

Has anyone tried the shimano cassette with XX1 mech & shifter?

I have XX1 already and was requiring a new cassette.

Not exactly but I run XTR cassette and rear mech with Sram X01 gripshift and it works perfectly.

I have XX1 already and was requiring a new cassette.

why would you go for one with less range that is heavier?

I have XX1 but miss the multi release shifter and general more solid, quality feel of Shimano shifting. If I were buying again I’g go for the hybrid setup Njee has. Put the pennies you save (compared to XX1 mech/ shifter) on the slightly cheaper XTR mech and shifter towards the XD freehub and SRAM cassette. Best of all worlds.

I don’t think anyone really knows about the durability of the new XTR cassettes but Lee makes a great point that the XX1 cassette wears really well so could actually work out cheaper in the long run- certainly compared to the Shimano cassettes I’ve used previously anyway.

Just as an aside, the Sram cassettes are milled from steel rather than being aluminium/Ti, the steel will last quite a lot longer than the alu meaning although it may be slightly more expensive, it should work out cheaper in the long run.

As Dan says, whilst you’re right, there’s no aluminium in an XTR cassette, just steel and ti. XX1/X01/X1 have the 42t made of alu, and some people have found it wears if you use it too much (no surprise), if you don’t then longevity is very good. Better than XTR (10 speed) IME.

40T on XTR is Alu.

Apologies, so it is, hadn’t realised that.

I have XX1 cassette and XTR Medium mech’s on two santa cruz full suspension bikes and its been spot on on both, no issues at all.

FWIW, I’m using an XX1 cassette with XTR mech and shifer which, cost aside, is the best combo IMO!

I presume the indexing all works fine for you in this setup?

I don’t think I understand why the XX1 cassette needs a wider freehub if the spacing is just the same? Or is the reason for the different freehub with SRAM just because of the 10t sprocket?

What are the advantages, other than your cassette weighs a bit less and costs a lot more?

Or is the reason for the different freehub with SRAM just because of the 10t sprocket?

Bingo

I don’t think I understand why the XX1 cassette needs a wider freehub if the spacing is just the same?

Both 11 speed XTR and XX1 cassettes are wider than 10 speed. Shimano decided to hang the biggest sprocket over the freehub a bit more towards the spokes while SRAM designed a new freehub which also allows for the 10T sprocket.

What are the advantages, other than your cassette weighs a bit less and costs a lot more?

Possibly wear rate also as mentioned above. A cheaper cassette could be a false economy in the long run. More gear range too if that is important to you

What are the advantages, other than your cassette weighs a bit less and costs a lot more?

As said, it gives you a better range, it lasts longer and it weighs less, what other benefits could a cassette (or any component) possibly deliver!?

I presume the indexing all works fine for you in this setup?

Flawlessly. Better than the XX1 shifter did.

FWIW, I’m using an XX1 cassette with XTR mech and shifer which, cost aside, is the best combo IMO!

So that should mean that an XX1 cassette should work with an XTR Di2 shifter and mech too 😛

Time to start knocking out some overtime for a bit of bling for the bike maybe!

So that should mean that an XX1 cassette should work with an XTR Di2 shifter and mech too

Yes, definitely.

Adam_Buckland – Member

Not exactly but I run XTR cassette and rear mech with Sram X01 gripshift and it works perfectly

Did I read that correctly – XTR rear mech with SRAM (grip)shifter shifting properly? Is the cable pull the same?

Thanks all for the above.

Certainties for me are therefore XTR 11sp rear shifter and XTR 11sp rear mech (this ends up being approx £145 cheaper than XX1 equivalents).

I’m still weighing the cassette up on a cost basis although I’ll most likely just plump for an XTR 11sp initially:

– XTR 11sp cassette e.g. £151.99 at Merlin
or
– XX1 Cassette £229.99 (CRC) + Roval / DT Swiss XD Freehub £90 at LBS = £320

Or X01 cassette from Germany for about £180ish (it was less at £160 at one point)
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/sram-cassette-xg-1195-10-42t-11-speed-88733?currency=3&delivery_country=190&gclid=CJqx_a3VucMCFWnMtAodFXUA7Q

or

http://www.hibike.es/shop/product/paa788ef691f73dfd13908b88e9d9964f/SRAM-X01-XG-1195-11-velocidades-casete-MTB-casete-10-42-dientes.html

prices on the SRAM cassettes seems to have gone up recently,

Certainties for me are therefore XTR 11sp rear shifter and XTR 11sp rear mech (this ends up being approx £145 cheaper than XX1 equivalents).

Lighter too.

Love how XTR is now the ‘budget’ alternative 😆

Did I read that correctly – XTR rear mech with SRAM (grip)shifter shifting properly? Is the cable pull the same?

Yes that’s right it seems that both Shimano and Sram’s 11 spd off road groupsset share the same pull ratios and spacing so all parts are interchangeable and in me experience work flawlessly

Slight thread hijack.

To all those running a mix of Shimano and Sram bits, would say a SRAM XX1 crank with narrow wid chain rings be compatiable wit a Shimano rear cassette. or vise versa?

Of course

Nice quick answer.
That opens up som options on the new build

why would you go for one with less range that is heavier?

Coz I have a 2nd pair of wheels with a normal freehub on it (and can get shimano at trade 😉 )