kedward777

Hello,

I have a new Giant Escape 2 from 2023 with a 2x8 drivetrain. Can I replace it with a 1x11 Deore M5100 ? Will the stock wheel hub handle an 11 speed cassette?
Thanks
K

travbikeman

Giant's site does not list a hub name, so will guess it's a generic hub or possibly Shimano. Do you know which brand you have on the bike?

Good chance that you will be able to fit a 11 speed cassette on it for a conversion.

veganbikes

Could you, yes, should you, no! Leave the Escape as it is use it as a spare or a beater bike or something and buy the bike you want. More than likely the hubs are no-name whatever cheap they could find you might be able to run a mountain bike 11 cassette but the bike just isn't worth putting much money into, it is designed to be initially very cheap and something to ride once in a blue moon.

If you want a 1x11 bike get something with that of quality. You have ridden this you know what you want so get it. A complete bike is cheaper than buying parts but if you want to build a bike that is totally reasonable, get a nice frame and fork and build from that and have whatever bike you want.

Russ Roth

It'll work fine and be a fairly straight forward job. Hopefully your current shifters are separate from your brake levers. You'll have to buy chain, cassette, rear derailleur, shifter, and crankset. Can be done fairly affordably, but if you don't have them you'll also need a chain whip, cassette lockring tool, chain breaker, crank puller, cartridge bb tool, 2 piece bb tool, and the plastic tool for the bearing adjustment bolt for the crank. If you're someone who likes tinkering the tools are worth the cost but you might end up paying more for the tools than for the parts.

kedward777

Thank you for the replies! I was able to buy the brand new Deore Crank+BB+RD+shifters for only $84, and since I got the Escape 2 on sale for only $599, I think it is a cost effective upgrade. My Giant TCX is a 1x11 and I really like it. I know the Escape is just a comfort/fun/commuter bike, but for me it is a lot more fun to be able to zoom around with the simplicity of the 1x11 (not to mention weight savings of the upgraded group)

kedward777

Thank YOU so much for the confirmation. I have most of the tools, and have access to friends who have some tools. I also have some existing cassettes and chains that should work, so this should be a cost effective upgrade.

Brocephus

I was initially agreeing with Veganbike's negative assessment, but since you've clarified the situation, yeah, sounds like a cool plan !!
I did the same thing years ago to several road bikes , I upgraded (shifters and RD) to Dura-Ace back when Shimano was first moving to 10 speed. For a minute there, places like Performance were practically giving away 9spd Dura-Ace, and I struck while the iron was hot!!
(ah, the good ol' days....)

bald1der

If you have a standard shimano rear hub you should be able to upgrade. I’m in the process of upgrading my Cannondale from a 2x8 to a 1x11 Deore.

kedward777

It just looks like a generic rim/hub, no markings. Why do you think there is a good chance an 11 speed cassette will work? Are the newer wheelsets coming standard with 11 speed hubs, especially for Giant bikes to reduce inventory types?

kedward777

Bummer I checked and it is only a 10sp. But I have a new extra 11sp wheelset that I will use. I will just sell the 10sp wheelset.

kedward777

Do you have an 11sp hub? I was hoping my Escape would have the newer stock wheelset with the 11sp hub, but the hub would only take 10sp.

(UPDATE: I was able to use an 11 speed MTB Cassette to replace the 8 speed cassette on the stock Giant escape rear hub. MTB (not Road) cassettes are in fact dished to go on 8/9/10 speed hubs)

bald1der

No. My bike is a 2020 model year. I was told that I should be able to put an 11sp cassette on the stock 8 sp hub assy. I will find out this weekend when I start pulling everything apart. I'm waiting on amazon to deliver my bike stand tomorrow.

Trav1s

Shimano HG700 is a 11/34 11 speed that is dished and fits the 8/9/10 freehub. I'm running them on my Cannondale Quick One (11 speed freehub plus spacer) with 105 7000 rd and my Trek 730 Multitrack (w/out spacer) and 105 5700 derailleur. That should work with the Deore derailleur but is not as wide range as a 1x MTB cassette. With either of these bikes, I find myself using the 34 front of the 50/34 cranks most of the time unless I am out and logging the miles.

https://cambriabike.com/products/shi...-road-cassette

kedward777

Very helpful, thanx! I also read somewhere that MTB 11spd cassettes will work on 10speed hubs?

Trav1s

I read that too but have not experimented with it but looks like something to look into.

travbikeman

It appears others have essentially gave you the answer.

Looking at the specs of your bike, you have the Microshift CSH081 8 speed cassette. This cassette fits a standard HG hub. 11 speed mountain cassettes such as the Deore 11-42 and SLX 11-42 also fits the standard HG hub. I didn't search enough earlier on what you had, so now am certain, yes it will fit.

I even fit a SLX on both a Shimano Tourney/Altus HG hub as well as a Deore HG hub on two different wheelsets I've had for my Scott Sub Cross where it used to be a 3x9 drivetrain. It works.






1 11-34T

PDKL45

This is the right answer, and I would go for it on a Giant Escape. They're a blank canvas in many ways and well worth upgrading to 1x IMO.

kedward777

I completed the upgrade on my Giant Escape 2. 1x11 11/42 RD-M5120, 38t crank. $600 for new bike (on sale with free Giant handlebar grip upgrade), and $90 for Deore groupset (Crank, RD, Shifter, BB, on sale Aliexpress). I did also buy the higher priced black MTB ultralight cassette for $60 on sale. I was able to pop off the 8 speed stock cassette from the stock wheelset, and replace with ultralight MTB 11 speed 11/42 cassette. Everything went smooth, except I forgot to notice it came with a 68mm BB shell, and MTB crank spindles are 73mm, but it worked out since the Shimano BB comes with spacers to allow it to fit (see pic). I LOVE THE UPGRADE. The RD clutch prevents any chain slap, and the shifting is much more crisp and instant than the crappy MicroShift components that I removed. I don't notice the extra couple MM on the non-drive side. It was a worthwhile upgrade, since I love the Giant Escape frame geometry on the XL (I am 6'). Just the perfect balance of fitness and comfort bike for casual riding of road and light trails. I have my Giant TCR for serious road riding and TCX for gravel. I telework, so I love to hop on this bike at lunch and do a quick spin, or cruise weekend trails with my wife. I mostly ride roads so I like the stock 38mm tires, but for trail preference, this frame will also handle 45mm tires (maybe even 50mm). I hear some people say I was nuts for doing this, but the bike is so much more fun having 1 trigger shifter along with the crisp/instant deore shifting, and the gearing is very adequate for rolling hills (did I mention NO chain slap when hitting bumps?!). PLUS I noticed that Giant actually sells a "Giant Escape 0" bike with almost the exact components over in Europe!!!! NOTE: Deore M5100 RD and M5120 RD have different cassette requirements for the low gear (42 vs 51ish). I recommend getting the Giant handlebar grip upgrade for comfort!

kedward777

Also, the new Shimano CUES 6000 10sp might be the better option for the Giant Escape frameset, and can be had for $175 on aliexpress. Using the Deore 11 speed on the Escape, I do notice a very, very, very slight bit of chain rub on the 42t low gear, so 10 speed might be a better fit for this frameset, but I still like my 11 speed. The chain rub is super minimum.

veganbikes

Just FYI that Shimano group will not be legit and will not be from an authorized seller, so any warranties are out the door and Shimano won't support it when you have issues. Also you are supporting knockoffs which is quite bad for everyone. About all it does it makes some scammers, crooks and already rich business people more money and everyone else is screwed.

There could be reasons for the chain run not caused by the frame because that would generally be on the 10 or 11t it might be the spacing is off or something else. I would have a shop take a look.

ethr

Great upgrade! What is the biggest chainring that I could use? I have the same bicycle and gears are a bit worn. I was wondering, if I should do a slight upgrade, or just replace the old ones(I can not find the same crankset). Something with 46T or maybe 48T would be great.

kedward777

Let me guess, -you are bike shop person. The parts are authentic from Aliexpress, so long as you buy from one of the established aliexpress sellers (with numerous comments from satisfied buyers). I am DONE with the absurd bike prices from bike shops. I know it is not all their fault, but they are selling bikes with jacked up prices, but with lower level groupsets, or outright crappy groupsets like microsheet. There is NO WAY you can go wrong getting rid of Microsheet components and replacing them with a Deore M5100 or M5120 or CUES 4000/6000 from Aliexpress. Even if they were knock offs (they are not), they would be better than the crap they are selling these bikes with. I bought a MIDDLE grade Giant Escape for $600 (nice frame, and aluminum fork) and upgraded it for $140 to Deore M5120 that shifts crisp and runs smooth!!!! My Giant Escape for $700 rides better than a lot of bikes selling north of $1,300 (I returned a $1500 Specialized Sirrus 4 that doesn't ride as good as my upgraded Giant). I could by 5 of these groupsets with the money I saved, so I don't think I am "screwed". I have already put a couple hundred high paced fitness miles (road and trail) on this upgraded bike, and it is SOLID.

kedward777

You have to have a good understanding of the components and their specifications. I am not an experienced bike mechanic by any means (far from it), but I did a lot of research, and asked questions. I also had access to a very reasonably priced Bike mechanic who quit the Bike Shop hustle to work on the side and give advice. Look at the Shimano Specification for Deore M5100 vs M5210 vs Cues 4000, or 6000 and it will tell you what the gearing is that you can use. Also, you have to understand the difference between MTB cassettes and road cassettes and the type of rear hub you have. It is not hard to do this upgrade if you have a couple tools and do the research. There are some really good videos out there that step through the upgrade steps.

ethr

I did some research, I might just replace rear derailleur, cassette and chain. Which one should I get: Deore RD-M952-SGS or SunRace RDM900 ? Same price)

veganbikes

Assuming the Deore derailleur is from an authorized dealer then Shimano always. If not and the SunRace is from an authorized seller then the SunRace but not really SunRace just get a proper Shimano derailleur from an authorized seller.