Lightweight CNC close ratio 11s cassette?
 

Been looking, but the market is swamped with the crazy-wide stuff that's all the rage these days. I'm after 12-25 or even 13-25 (although that might not play so well with syncro shift, come to think of it - I think it's currently set to compensate the max number of cogs for a front shift and I might want it to go one more with the 13-25).

I had a super light two piece ti/al number on there with 10s mechanical, but obviously ally cogs wouldn't be a great idea with the Di2 I'm rocking now... I'd be happy with full steel or maybe steel/ti.

But I'm drawing a blank. I'd go Red, but AFAIK 11-25 is as close as those go, and the same for any other close ratio milled cassettes I can find.

Anyone got a lead for me?

Do you mean a one-piece cassette like this?

RECON-One-piece Cr-Mo Cassette / Racing / Shimano 11s (recon-harry.com.tw)

I have no experience with this cassette but someone on Bike Forums mentioned it after I expressed concern about prematurely wearing out the 5 bigger titanium cogs on a Dura-Ace 12-28 cassette.

I currently use an Ultegra 12-25 cassette and I really appreciate its durability and smooth shifting. Other components represent better targets for weight savings.

Oh hey, I missed that Recon has a 12-25! Now to find someone who has it in stock.
​​​​​Yeah, I'm totally across that, but that's my lowest-hanging fruit at 6.3kg. Interested to see the difference in shifting performance between this and my R8000 12-25.

I mean, look at this! Never mind the wanky plating, but the form! Sweet.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6afb341a1.jpg

^^^ That does look pretty damn sweet, and I'd kind of like a 12-28t (also currently running a Shimano 12-25, but want a few more teeth on occasion)... but damn, that's expensive! I am going to keep it in the back of my mind when my current cassette starts getting near EOL.

It looks like you can just order it directly from the link in my post above.
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Me too. The photos are not detailed enough to examine the shift ramps for a comparison to Ultegra. So if you do buy one let us know how it shifts.

I really want a 12-28 too, especially now that the first heat wave of the 2021 is hitting southern California. I may just have to use the 11-28 I have or buy a 14-28, which will bring my Ultegra cassette ownership to 3!

Still cheaper than a Dura-Ace 12-28, and no worries about wearing out titanium cogs or carbon fiber spider on the big cogs.

Tried that, but the site is broken, had to get in touch via the contact page. I might hold off for a bit though since I'm moving house soon. It'd suck to be delivered to the wrong address...

I also managed to get in touch with Edco (finding their email was tough), but their 12-25 is discontinued. Maybe if they got a few more enquiries, they might make it available again... info@edco-wheels.co.uk

BDop Steel Cassette 11-28T - 185g

BDop Alloy Cassette 11-25T 112g

We may still have some SHIM 12-27T in our sample stock. Contact customer service if you are interested.

I have an Edco Campagnolo drive cassette that I like. They make a Shimano 11-23 that weighs 154 grams. They are good stuff. Swiss made, so not the cheapest thing. They list around 150 Euro.

edco North America - High-performance cycling components (edcona.com)

Prestacycle UniBlock Cassette | HG11 11-Speed | 12-28T - Prestacycle LLC

I was so tempted (same $200 price as Recon) but then I looked at the specifications:

12-14-16-18-19-20-22-24-26-27-28

This gear spacing just makes no sense to me.

Whaaa? That is totally on the piss.

Whoah! That steel number with the carbon spider is a bit flash, and very reasonably priced. I may just ask about a 12-27, even though I'm keen on having an 18t in there...

Also, I checked out your most recent blog entry - best wishes, mate.

Anyone have experience with a ti cassette like the Recon? Curious how many miles you can get out of one.

I wish I could remember the brand of my ti/al 10s number, but it's packed away somewhere - haven't put many k's on it, but the shifting was nice. Scored it marked down to AU$100!

Mind you, the splines were a loose fit; had to put a layer or two of aluminium tape on the inner faces.

​​​​​​​Given that cog wear is mostly a result of chain wear, and such a cassette is pretty expensive, just change your chain often, I reckon. The grade of ti would certainly matter...

I also have a Campagnolo Super Record cassette which has 6 Ti sprockets out of 11. It is maybe 4 years old and it is just fine. Probably does half of my miles, so. around 6000 miles on it.

Also, my Edco's ratios are 2 cog skips between the bigger sprockets and one for the small ones. Same as the Campagnolo.

On the Edco.bike web site (https://edco.bike/collections/monobl...33253771116684) the 12-28 cassette is spec'ed at 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25-28 / 188g, so the listing on that Prestacycle web site makes no sense.

All the more reason not to buy from Prestacycle (alleged official Edco distributor in North America) if its staff cannot even manage to copy and paste correctly.

The Recon link (in my earlier post) does not mention any titanium:

Light weight one piece cassette made of CrMo hardened steel for long durability.

They have a titanium link at the top of the page.

RECON-Titanium / Racing

I'm curious about the durability because if ti lasts twice as long or longer miles than aluminum it would be worth the cost.

I see. No titanium for me, otherwise I would have got the Dura-Ace 12-28 when it was available for $191. I have owned both stainless steel and titanium watches, and the difference in wear is noticeable. I cannot imagine using titanium in the drive train, which involves repeated metal to metal contact.

To quote something I learned on Bike Forums: steel is real. (I think they were talking about frames though, not cassettes.)

It depends on the grade of ti. 6al4v is meant to be so hard you can only cut it with a laser or a water jet... Maybe someone can print a cassette out of the stuff.

Update: I got a pair of cassettes from Prestacycles about a week ago. One is an 11-27 and the other is an 11-32. Both are gorgeous little gems, and at 177g and 218g listed weight they are comparable to the weight of Super Record or Dura Ace.

I had planned to run the 11-27 on the Lynskey and the 11-32 on the Ritchey Breakaway, but fate intervened, so the 11-32 is on the Lynskey and the 11-27 is on the shelf. So far, that cassette has about 120 miles on it, and it shifts just fine. When I get my wheel situation sorted out I will put the 11-27 on the Lynskey and move the 11-32 over to the Ritchey.

6/4 Ti has a Brinell hardness number of ~380, so harder than 18-8 stainless (HB 200), but softer than hardened tool steel (HB 600-900). While acknowledging that there are a number of 6/4 Ti varieties out there, it’s no harder than decent steel. Ti brings light weight, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance to the table. 6/4 Ti brings a minor increase in stiffness over other grades, but none are particularly hard-wearing compared to steel

Will you please post a photo of the 11-27 since it is not yet installed? Please try to take it where the shift ramps are lined up.

Here they are... As a note, when I accelerate from a stop I normally find myself skipping over the first three gears by holding down the shift lever until I am on the 4th cog on the cassette (isn't EPS wonderful).

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...349c24ee2d.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...53755d9c89.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2e7a25cd48.jpg