COG63

Informal survey: When I started getting serious about riding, 9, 10 years ago, I was getting close to 3000 miles on factory original cassettes. These days, with better components and judicious maintenance, I get to about 1800 miles and the chain starts to skip under load in the smaller cogs. A mechanic at one shop tells me there's something wrong there. A guy at another shop tells me his cassette is toast at 1200 miles and I'm doing well with 1800. I'm interested in hearing what other people are getting for mileage on their cassettes?

kini62

I have a 2009 Allez with Sora shifters, not sure if the cassette is that or 105 but I have over 20K miles on the cassette. Most of it on a trainer so there is no coasting, always under a load. I've gone through one chain and the one large chain ring and that's it. Something is amiss if you are going through a cassette in 1500 miles.

That and I use only 1 cog for 75% of the time and it's still going strong.

JanMM

I'll be replacing the chains on our tandem in a few days for the first time at about 4500 miles. If the new main chain doesn't behave with the original SRAM 11-34 cassette, then I'll report back that the cassette lasted 4500 miles. A new cassette is on the way, too - guessing that I'll be needing it.

Doctor Morbius

About 90 minutes, so 45 minutes per side.

Cougrrcj

I don't use cassettes since I'm still an old-school freewheel guy, but I think I've gone through a grand total of three in 45k-50k miles. Even at that, only a couple of cogs (14t and 15t) were giving me issues... My latest 13-21 six-speed has well over 6000 miles on it, and is only being replaced with a 13-26 for moderately hilly loaded touring use with a triple front.

Oldguyonoldbike

I recently changed an 18-year-old Campy 8-speed cassette, not because it was worn out, but because my 53-year-old legs needed more range than 11-23.
I understand, though, that newer high-end stuff (Dura Ace and Super Record) don't last as long as older cassettes or the second-tier bits (Ultegra, Chorus). Durability has been sacrificed for weight.

RR3

Quality of components, riding conditions, and a clean and lubricated drivetrain determines cassette life. Sandy or salty roads (NH) or dirty chains will ruin the cassette and chain quickly as well as slow you down.

I have over 10,000 mile on a SRAM 1190 11-28 11 speed cassette and it is fine. I get at least 3,000 up to 5,000 miles out of dura ace chains. I have ridden about 5,000 miles this year. About 4,000 on one bike (same chain) and 1,000 on another. The wheels swap back and forth so I can't gve a precise number but the 11-28 might actally have 12,000 miles whereas the 11-32 probably only has 1500 since it only sees action in serious hills.

jtaylor2

A little over 10100 miles on current bike (8 speed). 3727 miles on first (factory) cassette and 4415 on the second. Still going on the third.

Old_Roadie

I average 5,000 miles on Dura aces chains and I have over 12,000 on the Ultegra cassette and it still going strong. Over 26,00 on the chainrings also Ultegra

ltxi

Not by any means a high mileage rider in the context of this board but I've never in 35 years changed out a cassette due to wear. Chains, yes. I'd believe attention to clean and regular lubricating helps.

rydabent

Using proper oil for my chain (Mobil 1) so far my Rans Stratus has approx 16,000 miles on the origional cassette. I have no skipping, and the shifts with my Sram 7 RD is flawless. I replace the chain once at approx 8500 miles.

BTW dont waste you money on wax or obscenely priced "bike" lubes. A chain is just a mechanical device, and plain oil IMO is best.

wphamilton

Cassette wear depends on the conditions that you ride in, maintenance, and your riding practices. A large guy who pounds the pedals, rides in rain and dust, and replaces his chain when it won't quiet down or starts skipping will need a new cassette long before a smaller smell the roses guy who rides in nice weather and meticulously cleans and lubes his drive train.

GP

Ha!

GP

I'm guessing I get about 10K out of mine.

Drew Eckhardt 

At least 4 chains.

I replaced my last (Campagnolo 10 speed) chain at 1/32" of wear and 4587 miles because shifting was degrading due to side wear, so that's in the neighborhood of 20,000 miles.

You need to measure your chains between pins which should be 11 or 12" apart, and replace by the time you get to 1/16" of elongation which is 0.5% of wear. Otherwise they'll wear out the cogs leading to your problem.

Drew Eckhardt 

Dura-Ace, Record (since 9 speed MK2), and Super Record use titanium large cogs which don't last as long.

SRAM Red cassettes are still steel, but weigh less due to how they're machined from a piece of solid billet.

fietsbob

I use my computer to track miles on the road on a bike tour , then I buy a new chain , when I come home.

and get the bike ready to Go on the next trip.

less 'speeds' as a result of roller- bushing- pin wear lasts longer because its wider..

Older full bushing types have a bit more surface to spread the wear out.. [now they say those are for IGH & other single speeds]

Duo

I agree. My bikes get Mobil 1 synthetic gear lube, which is a heavy gear lube oil. Lay it on and let sit an hour or more and wipe off. Should be good for 500 or more miles. And because it is oil, the chain should be wiped off when dirty. My gut tells me a heavier oil will out last a lighter oil on a chain.

Anyone agree?

How long does a cassette last? Don't know as I have never worn one out.

Wingsprint

So far, I have over 8000 miles on my Dura-Ace 7800 cassette. No shark teeth on the Ti cogs yet...

SanDiegoSteve

As someone else said, I get about 4 chains. A chain is good for 1,000 - 2,000 miles depending on the season. Dirtier times of the year yield more rain. If I run chains longer, the cassette wears faster. It is usually only 1 or 2 cogs in the cassette that go.

For what it is worth, that weak is with the 10-speed Ultegra I've been running since about the time it came out.

KBentley57

Assuming we're talking about road bikes, I think we can safely summarize all of the internet in one broad swoop by saying any cassette should last much longer than 1200 miles.

Drew Eckhardt 

Except when made of aluminum.

Sixty Fiver

Cassettes and freewheels usually wear unevenly due to a person's preference for a certain gear and smaller cogs wear faster because of higher load stress.

When I service bikes it is most often those middle range cogs that have worn because average folks spend less time in the lowest and highest gears and spend their days riding in that middle range.

My singlespeed set ups will run in excess of 12,000 km (chains last 6000-8000 km minimum), multi-speed drives on the daily drivers might last 8000 - 10,000 km with a few chains and average maintenance.

It is the chain that causes all the wear as it stretches, keep an eye on that and the rest of the drivetrain will last longer.

My wife's bike with the IGH and fully enclosed chaincase has over 30,000 km on the drive components which are now about due for some replacement and the chains last 12,000 - 15,000 km.

Cougrrcj

I generally ride in a 75-90 inch-gear on level ground with no tailwind, so those gear combos show more wear than the others.

JanMM

OK. Replaced the main/rear chain and also the cassette. 4500 miles for both. Didn't even try new chain/old cassette - easier just to go ahead and change out both and besides, the new cassette is so clean and shiny!
Will likely change out timing chain very soon, too. Old chains SRAM, new KMC. Cassettes both SRAM.